Carpe Diem Doesn’t Quite Do It

The term “Carpe Diem”, which was first used in a poem by Horace and later used in English by Lord Byron in his “Letters” publication, is most often translated as “Sieze The Day”.  A noble sentiment to be sure,  but one which doesn’t quite do it for most people.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Carpe Diem, and the notion that one should get up with this phrase in mind and not waste their day but instead sieze it as the opportunity that it is, is something I completely agree with.

The problem is that although one can begin their day with this notion in mind, life can quickly keep us from our ideal with the challenges and hurdles that typically come our way on any given day.  And so I wonder if “Carpe Modo” might be a better sentiment to use.  Although this is likely not the proper use of Latin (my apologies to those of you who have mastered this language) the idea that we must ‘sieze the moment’ or ‘sieze now’ is perhaps the better way to capture the original intent of Carpe Diem.

If we can remind ourselves, throughout our day, at any given moment whether something positive is happening, something challenging, or if we are simply at peace; to seize that moment; to find the best in what is happening; to find perspective or seek out the happiness inside of us; that is truly siezing our day all day long.  After all, isn’t that what Carpe Diem is all about?  Don’t waste your day worrying about the past, or fretting about the future.  Live in the moment, stop and smell the roses of whatever is going on around you.  If we can do this throughout the day we can then look back as we lay down our heads to sleep and reflect that today, we truly did accomplish what Horace and Lord Byron extoled…. Carpe Diem!