Carpe Diem

[pubbles]

Carpe Diem: seize the day. Any thoughts or opinions on what it really means? The definition is different to everyone...

[wer]

Mabey it meens to live every day as if it was your last. I don't know.

[Je33ica]

Don't let the day control you, you be in control of the day!

[I Bleed Blue]

Seize the day? For me thats an easy one. I wake up, lay in bed for a good 5 minutes and plan my day out. I don't just let it slide by. I control my day so that I can get the most out of it. Yeah I leave time open for whatever, but I plan it that way.

[Neil]

Some people say: "Live every day as if it was your last." But some say : ".... and soon enough it will be." For example, I might think to myself, "I don't want to go to work today. I would rather spend the day getting drunk and then going clubbing! Why not? Carpe Diem!" But then if you did that every day, you would get thrown out of college/ school/ your job/ because you would be partying all the time and not doing anything worthwhile! So my interpretation of Carpe Diem, "Sieze the day", is that we should see every day as an opportunity to improve our lives, not just for today but for tomorrow. Because our today depends on what we did in the past (yesterday). But only by doing the right things today can we make sure that in future days we can be happy. Today is an opportunity to make tomorrow better. Lets be honest, today isn't your last day on earth. Take responsibilty for your future! 8)

[Awaken]

Seize the day: To live each day as if it actually meant something, rather than planning our lives 2, 5, 10 years in advance. I'm not much for long-term planning when it comes to wide-open choices (job, school). The world is always changing and we can't really predict how things will turn out, so reaching forward, waiting, ignoring the present and striving for the future is not always a good thing! This moment. Now. What do you feel? How can you be sure what you feel now is what you will feel 10 years down the road? Investing a lot of time in the future means nothing to me. I'm not looking for a 6-figure income, a huge house and lots of cars. I want human contact, love and understanding. I want to thrive in what I'm feeling, not what I want to feel.

[OpheliaBlue]

I thought it meant "Sieze the Fish!" or was it "Day of the Fish!" Ok, kidding........but I kinda agree with Neil. Some people use it as an excuse to slack off. Those people should realize that the famous phrase does not apply in all such cases. I had a friend who tried to make me feel guilty by not going clubbing with him the night before a major exam. "Carpe diem!" Riiiiiiiiiiiiight...it took him, what 8 years to graduate? And now he's in loan hell while I get to carpe all the diems. But like Awaken suggested, it may be for those long-term planners who should lighten up a little.

[Awaken]

I definitely believe in the balance. If you're gonna do something, do it right! If you're going for your masters degree, don't give in to every opportunity to get sloshed, it won't help you accomplish your goal, and will most certainly hinder it. They're opposing lifestyles and can't exist simultaneously in full force. It's all about what you feel is most important. If drinking takes precedence over nuclear physics or whatever, you weren't cut out for the job - find what makes you happy. Don't dream your way to success...Kind of reminds me of the movie "Requiem for a Dream".

[pubbles]

My Current Analysis ----------------------- Carpe Diem may mean: -to have control -to enjoy yourself -to live each day as if it were your last -to not have too much control? I personally believe that you can't have too much control, because life is unpredictable. When something comes up, you don't want to be completely lost and helpless. Flexibleness is key. I also beleieve that Carpe Diem is not just about control or lack of it, or simply enjoying yourself. The conversation seems to be going mostly in the direction that the "day" is a literal day. I'm sure you've all heard the phrase "Back in my day...". Maybe the day to seize is really a period, during which we're extremely active. Squeeze every little drop out of life as possible-- before it's too late. I suppose that's basically what people have been saying. I guess what I'm really trying to say is along the lines of living life to its fullest. That would involve partying, but also getting through school to open up more doors in your life; balance. Balance can be the most efficient way to live your life, to sieze the day.

[insanejester]

ok..... whats so hard to understand? sieze the day... meaning:dont waste the day doing nothing and allowing your life to slip away... live, learn, experiance... do SOMTHING!.... not a very hard concept.

[kalam]

Yea i kinda agree with pubbles. but i reckon it means savour every moment, be it good or bad. i reckon control an that doesn't enter into it. you just go with the flow...