--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have…" description: "\"“Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? Am I read? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_do-what-the-buddhists-do-every-day-have_215501.png" --- # Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on… ![“Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? Am I read? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person i want to be?'" He turned his head to his shoulder as if the bird were there now. "Is today the day I die?" he said.” quote by Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_do-what-the-buddhists-do-every-day-have_215501.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_do-what-the-buddhists-do-every-day-have_215501.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/mitch-albom-187_buddhism_do-what-the-buddhists-do-every-day-have_215501.png) > ““Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? Am I read? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person i want to be?'" He turned his head to his shoulder as if the bird were there now. "Is today the day I die?" he said.”” [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A reminder to daily self‑check our purpose, readiness, and authenticity before life ends. **In simple terms:** Ask yourself daily if you’re living true to your goals. Key Takeaway Regularly evaluate your actions and intentions. Themes self‑reflection mortality purpose authenticity Mood contemplative serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - daily journaling - morning meditation - goal setting - end‑of‑life planning Key Concepts mindfulness existential awareness personal growth Questions to Reflect On - How often do you truly assess your daily purpose? - What prevents you from being the person you want to be? A Different Perspective May cause anxiety if over‑analyzed; balance with compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks-today-1341982/) [Bird Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird-today-746218/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Buddhists Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhists-day-1341981/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Shoulder Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shoulder-asks-2213684/) [Today Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today-day/) ## Related quotes > [Everyone knows they're going to die, but nobody believes it. If we did we would do things differently. Do what the Buddhists do. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/everyone-knows-they-re-going-to-die-but-nobody-believes-it-if-we-did/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, 'Is today the day? 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Stay focused, stay blessed and stay you!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricardo-housham/today-could-be-the-day-that-everything-turns-around-for-you-stay/) [Ricardo Housham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricardo-housham/) > [Wake Up, Smile And Tell Yourself: Today Is My Day .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ismail/wake-up-smile-and-tell-yourself-today-is-my-day/) [Ismail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ismail/) > [Live today as if it is your last day, because in reality you never know when death is coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-elise/live-today-as-if-it-is-your-last-day-because-in-reality-you-never/) [Angelina Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-elise/) > [One day you are 18,and you start planing for some day...some day is today and some day is yesterday,and this your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-day-you-are-18-and-you-start-planing-for-some-day-some-day-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Today is the last day of your life up to this point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-fink/today-is-the-last-day-of-your-life-up-to-this-point/) [Joseph Fink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-fink/) ## More by Mitch Albom > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [the words people do not speak are louder than the ones they do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-words-people-do-not-speak-are-louder-than-the-ones-they-do/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Once, lovers on faraway shores sat by candlelight and dipped ink to parchment, writing words that could not be erased. They took an evening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/once-lovers-on-faraway-shores-sat-by-candlelight-and-dipped-ink-to/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [Giving to other people makes me feel alive. Not my car or my house. Not what I look like in the mirror. 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