Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.

-John Keating, Dead Poet’s Society

Carpe Diem. An aphorism used everywhere these days. Perhaps that’s why I’ve never really been inspired by it before now. But after seeing watched Dead Poet’s Society, I truly felt what the words were saying for the first time. Yes, the irony that its use in a film script has been more inspirational than hearing the original poem is not lost on me, but the result is the same, so it’s all good, right?

Another poem quoted in the film was also very profound:

To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today,

To-morrow will be dying.

The glorious lamp of heaven, the Sun,

The higher he’s a-getting;

The sooner will his race be run,

And nearer heòs to setting.

That age is best, which is the first,

When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

Times still succeed the former.

Then be not coy, but use your time,

And while ye may, go marry;

For having lost but once your prime,

You may for ever tarry.

– Robert Herrick

Remember that life is fleeting and live it to the fullest. I suppose we all forget to do this in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In fact, I do wonder if it would at all be possible to have the idea constantly at the forefront of our minds. Wouldn’t it tire us out to be constantly trying to live everyday as best we possibly can? Should we feel guilty for sleeping in on a saturday morning? Or spending an evening surfing the internet? Surely downtime is important too?

Perhaps the answer is to consider things in the longer term. We may not be able to exert ourselves completely and utterly every single day, but I’m sure we can put our efforts towards a goal we are passionate about. Perhaps that it what is meant by Carpe Diem – seizing the ‘day’ that refers to our precious yet tremendously short lifespan.

(Note: I originally posted this article on michaelgakuran.com, but I will be re-vamping that site shortly to serve as a portfolio and business site. If you have any requests, wish to hire me or simply have something to say, seize the day and get in touch :).)