CARPE DIEM!

I'll often say or text the Latin words "Carpe diem" to family and friends. "SEIZE THE DAY," in English. Sure, I like to think that the sound or sight of these two words might provide someone with a much needed boost. That someone is also me.

Professor John Keating, portrayed by Robin Williams, in the 1989 film Dead Poets Society popularized this now oft-used aphorism in an unforgettable scene. His high school class is reading lines from a poem, one of which is "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may." He tells them the Latin term for this sentiment is "Carpe Diem" and that the writer used these lines "because we are food for worms lads." "Because, believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die." WOW. This is not something we are quick to remember when caught up in the midst of life's trivialities which, in the moment, do not feel so trivial.

Keating's class was reading from the 1648 poem "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" by Robert Herrick. I hyperlinked it in case you want to read the rest. While it fits thematically with the idea of Carpe diem, it is NOT the original source of the expression. For that, we have to credit the Roman poet, Horace, who lived from 65 BC to 8 BC. Here is the English translation of his original work:

Don't ask (it's forbidden to know)

what end the gods have given me or

you, Leuconoe.

Don't play with Babylonian

numerology either.

How much better it is to endure

whatever will be!

Whether Jupiter has allotted to you

many more winters or this one,

which even now wears out the

Tyrrhenian sea on the opposing

rocks, is the final one be wise,

be truthful, strain the wine, and

scale back your long hopes to a

short period.

While we speak, envious time will

have (already) fled:

seize the day, trusting as little

as possible in the next day.

The poem is written to Leuconoe and legend has it she was likely a slave who, like many ancient Romans, turned to astrology to predict the future. Horace wisely tries to refocus her attention on the present moment. Take advantage of today and manage through tomorrow, tomorrow. This is timeless wisdom. There are countless modern day versions of Carpe diem, including "one day at a time," "live in the now," "que sera, sera," and "life is what happens when we're busy making plans."

Yes, we are all unique in certain ways and living our own story. People have different personality traits, physical characteristics, spiritual beliefs, innate abilities, fears, comfort zones, interests, etc. However, Professor Keating reminds us of the great equalizer - death. Not one of us knows when this certain fate will arrive. Then again, if we are expending our attention and energy on TODAY, there is little to no surplus time to worry about tomorrow.

Carpe diem! Think about it........

Humbly yours,

W.