Like many of my generation, I was introduced to the concept of carpe diem by Robin Williams as an inspiring teacher in the movie The Dead Poets Society.
Actually, when the movie came out, I was trying very hard to be that kind of teacher at a small private school in New England.
Carpe diem, from the Roman poet Horace’s Odes, is often translated as “seize the day.” However, a more literal translation is “pluck the day [as it is ripe].”
I think Horace is encouraging us to enjoy the moment while we can.
While time flies (or tempus fugit, as Horace would say), a day is long and comprises many moments. A better approach to enjoying the day might be to seize (or pluck) the moment (Horace would say, “carpe punctum”).
Enjoying (and employing) the moment is an exercise in awareness, gratitude, presence, and surrender.1 Leveraging these virtues is a heavy lift for an entire day but far easier to exercise from moment to moment.
Having trouble consistently seizing the day? What happens if you pluck the moment instead?
CSA: If you’re a paid subscriber, be sure to join today’s Friday on Purpose community call. We’ll discuss how to compress time to get what you want in life faster and how to find your flow so you expand time when you’re doing what you love!
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