---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ask yourself throughout the course of…"
description: "\"“Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this were my last day on earth, would I do anything differently?”\" — Scott Hildreth"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg"
---

#  Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this…

![“Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this were my last day on earth, would I do anything differently?” quote by Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg)

> ““Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this were my last day on earth, would I do anything differently?””

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Encourages daily reflection on priorities by imagining the final day, prompting authentic choices.

**In simple terms:** Ask yourself daily if you’d act differently if it were your last day.

Key Takeaway

Live with intention today.

Themes

self‑reflection mortality authenticity

Mood

contemplative motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal decision‑making
- goal setting
- relationship building

Key Concepts

existential awareness values clarification

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you change if today were your last?
- How does this perspective affect long‑term planning?

A Different Perspective

May overlook practical constraints of everyday life.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Finding-parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-parker/) [Last day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/last-day/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Scott-hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scott-hildreth/)

## Related quotes

> [“We fear what we don’t understand and find serenity in what we’re incapable of understanding..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/we-fear-what-we-don-t-understand-and-find-serenity-in-what-we-re/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life every day as if you're going to die at midnight”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-every-day-as-if-you-re-going-to-die-at-midnight/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I come here to read. Dream. Relax. Find bits and pieces of myself I’m afraid I may not find elsewhere...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-come-here-to-read-dream-relax-find-bits-and-pieces-of-myself-i-m/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I always stood out as being different...and unwilling to accept the phrase 'I am a girl' as an ending to any type of sentence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-always-stood-out-as-being-different-and-unwilling-to-accept-the/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I wanted to resist, allowing the night to go on forever. As we walked along the beach, I pressed my feet into the sand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-wanted-to-resist-allowing-the-night-to-go-on-forever-as-we-walked/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Our ability to accept life's difficult offerings is a testament of our relationship with God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/our-ability-to-accept-life-s-difficult-offerings-is-a-testament-of/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“We don't always plan what happens in our life. Sometimes things just unravel”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/we-don-t-always-plan-what-happens-in-our-life-sometimes-things-just/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“The value of a person’s life is measured by the amount of people they touch in living it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/the-value-of-a-person-s-life-is-measured-by-the-amount-of-people-they/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life is easy. Live it while you’re alive. Because when you’re gone you won’t have an opportunity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-is-easy-live-it-while-you-re-alive-because-when-you-re-gone-you/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life is far more abrasive experiencing its individual components than the sum itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-is-far-more-abrasive-experiencing-its-individual-components-than/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“One moment of unwelcomed silence is more disheartening than a lifetime of incessant screams. And the silence deafens me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/one-moment-of-unwelcomed-silence-is-more-disheartening-than-a/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life's greatest treasures will never be held, purchased or bartered for. They will only be felt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-s-greatest-treasures-will-never-be-held-purchased-or-bartered/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I suppose a good recipe for life would be to allow nothing into it, knowingly at least, which is bitter. It’s disappointing we aren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-suppose-a-good-recipe-for-life-would-be-to-allow-nothing-into-it/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life id far more abrasive experiencing it's individual components than the sum itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-id-far-more-abrasive-experiencing-it-s-individual-components/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [Going to the golf course every day for work? That's a good job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/going-to-the-golf-course-every-day-for-work-that-s-a-good-job/)

[Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/)

## More by Scott Hildreth

> [“If you ever lay a hand on me. Slap me, hit me, grab me, push me, anything. I’m gone. I’ll leave you and never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/if-you-ever-lay-a-hand-on-me-slap-me-hit-me-grab-me-push-me-anything/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Wars are never won, they’re only fought.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/wars-are-never-won-they-re-only-fought/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life id far more abrasive experiencing it's individual components than the sum itself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-id-far-more-abrasive-experiencing-it-s-individual-components/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“The feeling of pain never leaves. With every beat of my heart, I am reminded that it remains. It festers within me like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/the-feeling-of-pain-never-leaves-with-every-beat-of-my-heart-i-am/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Christy Cross is boss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/christy-cross-is-boss/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I suppose a good recipe for life would be to allow nothing into it, knowingly at least, which is bitter. It’s disappointing we aren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-suppose-a-good-recipe-for-life-would-be-to-allow-nothing-into-it/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I felt like we were a machine, working in unison with one another. This was perfect. With my eyes closed, there was no time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-felt-like-we-were-a-machine-working-in-unison-with-one-another-this/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Children. Pay close attention to them. They grow up to be adults. The really heinous people we see on the news? The serial killers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/children-pay-close-attention-to-them-they-grow-up-to-be-adults-the/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“If we aren’t focused on living life to the best of our ability, we’re slowly dying a death that’s of our own choosing. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/if-we-aren-t-focused-on-living-life-to-the-best-of-our-ability-we-re/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“I have no idea where he gets these ideas, but he sure knows how to get in my head, and make me want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/i-have-no-idea-where-he-gets-these-ideas-but-he-sure-knows-how-to-get/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Vivian Simon, I love you. But always know this,” he paused. “I pizz you. And no one else on this earth has that, baby,”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/vivian-simon-i-love-you-but-always-know-this-he-paused-i-pizz-you-and/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“…you don’t give someone your love. They take it. Love is taken. And, when someone takes your love, you will know it…”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/you-don-t-give-someone-your-love-they-take-it-love-is-taken-and-when/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Life's greatest treasures will never be held, purchased or bartered for. They will only be felt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/life-s-greatest-treasures-will-never-be-held-purchased-or-bartered/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Get your little sticky note pad and get a new note, Kace. Write this on it. I’m coming, Kace. I’m coming for your heart,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/get-your-little-sticky-note-pad-and-get-a-new-note-kace-write-this-on/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

> [“Because two people met, went on a date, and nothing went wrong.  That, Marc, is love that is developed.” Then, she continued, “Then, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/because-two-people-met-went-on-a-date-and-nothing-went-wrong-that/)

[Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

[Explore all 97 Scott Hildreth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/)

## More Ask yourself quotes

> [“If you want to stop smoking, ask yourself, do you do it because you love nicotine, or because it provides a burst of stimulation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/if-you-want-to-stop-smoking-ask-yourself-do-you-do-it-because-you/)

[Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/)

> [Cultivate the habit of thinking ahead, and of anticipating the necessary and immediate consequences of all your actions… Likewise in your pleasures, ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/cultivate-the-habit-of-thinking-ahead-and-of-anticipating-the/)

[Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/)

> [“I've written about persistence and perseverance and yet for those of us with patchwork lives (projects, earnings, caretaking, home-tending, playing, friending, loving, celebrating, hurting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shellen-lubin/i-ve-written-about-persistence-and-perseverance-and-yet-for-those-of/)

[Shellen Lubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shellen-lubin/)

> [When you experience difficulty at work or in your life, instead of looking back on it as something that was really challenging, look at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/when-you-experience-difficulty-at-work-or-in-your-life-instead-of/)

[Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/)

> [“ask yourself how many people you have met who grumbled at a thing as incurable, and how many who attacked it as curable? How…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/ask-yourself-how-many-people-you-have-met-who-grumbled-at-a-thing-as/)

[G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/)

> [“I have seen plenty of ‘Struggle minus Success’ stories where you are forced to ask yourself ‘Why to him/her?’. There are few questions unanswered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/i-have-seen-plenty-of-struggle-minus-success-stories-where-you-are/)

[Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/)

> [“What is true for you? What makes your heart smile? When do you feel most yourself? What do you love to do? Ask yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stabile/what-is-true-for-you-what-makes-your-heart-smile-when-do-you-feel/)

[Scott Stabile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stabile/)

> [“When a bad experience shakes your faith in humanity, hold those depressing thoughts and ask yourself. 1. How many things in life have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani/when-a-bad-experience-shakes-your-faith-in-humanity-hold-those/)

[Drishti Bablani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani/)

> [“It is important you understand how fear affects you and how it drives human behavior so you can start to see situations and people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-giles/it-is-important-you-understand-how-fear-affects-you-and-how-it-drives/)

[Kimberly Giles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-giles/)

> [“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/it-is-idle-to-talk-always-of-the-alternative-of-reason-and-faith/)

[G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/)

> [Picture your life exactly the way you want it and then ask yourself, am I doing the things that will take me there? Take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-cook/picture-your-life-exactly-the-way-you-want-it-and-then-ask-yourself/)

[Stephanie Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-cook/)

> [“Just make sure you've taken a moment or two to ask yourself if it's really a need, and to reflect on the potential benefits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-laricchia/just-make-sure-you-ve-taken-a-moment-or-two-to-ask-yourself-if-it-s/)

[Pam Laricchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-laricchia/)

> [“Em's the first woman I've met who seems to be...well, the answer.' 'Answer to what?' He shrugged. 'All the questions, I suppose.' Fay looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-gillard/em-s-the-first-woman-i-ve-met-who-seems-to-be-well-the-answer-answer/)

[Linda Gillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-gillard/)

> [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/)

[Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/)

> [“Often the most tricky questions are the ones we secretly know the answers of. What are you running from? What are you waiting for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanhita-baruah/often-the-most-tricky-questions-are-the-ones-we-secretly-know-the/)

[Sanhita Baruah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanhita-baruah/)

Browse all 1,272 Ask yourself quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this were my last day on earth, would I do anything differently?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Scott Hildreth"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-each-day-if-this-were-my-last/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Ask yourself"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-each-day-if-this-were-my-last/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/621/scott-hildreth-6860_ask-yourself_ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-ea_2660349.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ask yourself throughout the course of each day, 'if this were my last day on earth, would I do anything…” — Scott Hildreth",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Scott Hildreth",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Ask yourself throughout the course of...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-each-day-if-this-were-my-last/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/ask-yourself-throughout-the-course-of-each-day-if-this-were-my-last/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
