Carpe Diem

"Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them." - Orison Swett Marden 

In the 1989 film, Dead Poets Society, Robin Williams plays an English teacher, John Keating, who strives to inspire a class of male students to seize the day and follow their dreams. As he and his students are reflecting on poetry, he delivers the now famous 'Carpe Diem' speech which has inspired many people who are determined to make their lives extraordinary. Here is an excerpt from that speech:

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. The Latin term for that sentiment is Carpe Diem. Now who knows what that means? Carpe Diem. That’s ‘seize the day.’ Gather ye rosebuds while ye may. Why does the writer use these lines? Because we are food for the 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.

Now I would like you to step forward over here and peruse some of the faces from the past. You have walked past them many times. I don’t think you’ve really looked at them. They’re not very different from you, are they? Same haircuts. Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is their oyster. They believe they’re destined for great things, just like many of you. Their eyes are full of hope just like you. Did they wait until it was too late to make from their lives even one iota of what they were capable?

Because you see, gentlemen, these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen real close, you can hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, Lean in. Listen. Do you hear it? (whispers) Carpe. (whispers again) Cape. Carpe Diem. Seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

Life has no guarantees. Yet we spend most of our time planning for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years down the road. Yes, we should plan for the future and preparing yourself for it, but shouldn't live there. Just as we shouldn't live in the past. We should live for today. Seize the day.

It is important for us all to live our lives one day at a time, and realize that RIGHT NOW this is enough. Reflect on the past for what you have learned from it, but do not grieve over it for it is gone. Look forward to what lies ahead of us in the future, but do not worry about it, for it has not yet arrived. Life starts NOW, Live in the present, and make it so great it will be worth thinking about later. Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice. Don't wait for it. Go out and achieve it. High achievers spot rich opportunities swiftly, make big decisions quickly and move into action immediately, each day.

What is it you want to do for yourself? Improve your health? Exercise? Eat better? Cut out something that's not benefiting you? Improve or learn a new skill? Start a new project? Finish a project? Get organized? To create lasting change?

What is it you want to do for someone else? Repair a friendship or relationship? Stand up for others? Reach out to someone who just needs a friend to talk to? An act of kindness? Help someone who needs it? Give to the needy? Donate? To add value and make a difference?

If you made a mental list, you know there are so many things we could do. So many things we want to do. So many things we need to do. There are things we want and need to accomplish. We just need to take action. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can get done today.  Don't wait to do later, what you can start to do right now. Be intentional with your thoughts, beliefs and actions. 

On a deeper level, right here and right now we all have the opportunity to do something to positively change and affect our own lives, and possibly the lives of others. These are tough times. The world needs change. The world needs to be better. We need to be and do better.  For ourselves and for others around us. Be the change you want to see in the world. All change can happen in an instant. The road to a better tomorrow always begins with that first step we take today.

Seize each day, seize each moment and take action. Any action is better than no action and there is never a better time to do something, than now. You'll feel better because you did. 

Make today great!

Curtis

"You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear. Do it! Develop an appreciation for the present moment. Seize every second of your life and savor it. Value your present moments. Using them up in any self-defeating ways means you've lost them forever." - Wayne Dyer