As we navigate the mundane moments of each day, it’s easy to forget how precious and short life really is.
A doctor has gone viral after sharing an inspiring message which reminds everyone to “cherish every day”.
Doctor says ‘cherish every day’
“If I offered to give you $10 million right now, would you take it?” Dr. Joe asked in a TikTok video. “Yeah, and what would you say? Probably thank you.”
He then explained that there’s a catch. If you take the cash, you won’t wake up tomorrow, and your life will be over.
“Would you still take it?” the doctor asked. “Exactly, you wouldn’t. This should tell you that waking up tomorrow is more valuable than $10 million.”
He then told everyone to wake up with a smile on your face and try to appreciate the value that a new day brings to you.
In the caption, Dr. Joe said this piece of wisdom reminds us of the “immense value” of each new day we’re given.
“As we open our eyes, we’re richer than we realize, posessing opportunities worth far more than any monetary sum.”
He told everyone to “cherish each day” as “life’s true beauty is in the gift of living it”.
The power of optimism
A number of studies have found that having an optimistic outlook on life and appreciating every moment can have a positive impact on your mental and physical health, and even help you life longer.
One report found that pessimists were more at risk for depressive and anxiety disorders, leading to worse social functioning and quality of life. It also found that optimism is correlated with better physical well-being, including lower risk of cardiovascular and cancer death.
Another study by Harvard found that women who reported a positive outlook were likelier to live past 90, regardless of race.
Researchers analyzed survey responses from 159,255 women and found that the 25 percent who were the most optimistic were likely to have a 5.4 percent longer lifespan. They also had a 10 percent greater likelihood of living beyond 90 years than the 25 percent who were the least optimistic.
Dr. Joe Whittington is a board-certified MD in Emergency Medicine, who graduated from UCLA and St. Louis University School of Medicine, and went on to complete a residency program in emergency medicine.
