Every
now and then, and usually not very often, are some words spoken that deeply
resonate with you. They make you stop and reflect. The words and their meaning
will stay with you for a long time. They might even inspire or motivate you to
do something different or to change direction. These words can come from quotes
of famous people or can be words spoken by a friend, your parents, your child
or any stranger.
For
me, this person was my school teacher who we nicknamed LuLu. It was not a very
happy time in my life, I just lost my dad in a car accident and my school
performance was suffering. I was sad, probably angry at the world around me and
as a consequence a little rebellious. One of the few teachers who got me at
that point in my life was LuLu. I remember a chat with her on a day when I felt
particularly down and rebellious. She said to me "I have two words that
will change your life forever". This made me curious and I listened very
attentively to what she had to say. She said "The two words are very
powerful, they are: Carpe Diem".
I said "What do they mean?" Then she explained "They are in
Latin and are translated as Seize
the Day".
She
explained to me that the two words originate from a poem by Horace (65 BC-8 BC)
and that they were used in a Babylonian Epic in which Siduri spoke them to urge
Gilgamesh to forget his mourning and embrace life. Carpe Diem are two simple
words with so much meaning to me. They mean embrace life, grab the
opportunities and make the most of the present moment. These two words
helped me immensely at that point in my life and I have never forgotten them.
Even today I find myself remembering them and they always have a positive
effect on me. Instead of pondering the past or worrying about the future, you
should live in the here and now. We can waste so much time reflecting on the
past, the things that happened, why they happened to us, what we did wrong. We
can also waste so much time dreaming about a brighter future, about the things
we would like to do or become one day.
For
me, Carpe Diem reminds me that yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not yet here, and
today is your only chance to make a difference. If you make the most of today
then you will live your life to the fullest. We should see each day as a
present and an opportunity. Every minute is valuable because you can use it to
enjoy life, to get something started or to get something completed. The present
moment is the only time in history that you can use to do good and to change
the world for the better – no matter how big or small.
Each
new day is a privilege. When my dad left that morning before the accident he thought
he would see me again, he thought he would have many decades left to say the
things he needed to say and do the things he still wanted to do. The thing is,
we just don’t know what tomorrow brings. Therefore we have to seize each day to
do the things we want to do and say the things we believe are important. The
time we take up being unhappy, the time we use up worrying about the future or
pondering the past is wasted. It is a wasted opportunity and a wasted
privilege. Time wasted with unhappy and negative thoughts is time you will
never ever get back.
For
me, Carpe Diem tells us to free ourselves from the worries, the anger and the
negativity that is holding us back sometimes. It reminds us that it doesn’t
matter where you came from, what you went through in the past; the only thing
that matters is where you are going and that your future destination starts
with the steps you take today. Today is your only chance to make a difference
and live. Always remember that is in this moment, and only this moment, when
you can be happy, you can say and do something, you can love, you can feel, you
can enjoy and you can learn. Therefore Carpe Diem! After my memorable
conversation with my teacher that day I decided to take the long way home. In
walked along the beach and tried to take in the World with all my senses so
that I could smell the fresh sea air, see all the colors of the sea and the
sky, taste the salt on my tongue, hear the cries of the sea gulls, and feel the
wind in my face. From that moment onwards I felt awake and inspired to grab all
the opportunities that would come my way every day.
Carpe
Diem were the two words that changed my life forever. I wouldn't expect that
they have the same effect on you but I do hope they have been a little bit
inspiring? Please let me know what you think. I would also love to learn about
the words that changed your life - good or bad. Please share your thoughts…
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