Still, no matter how often I would see it or how inspired others seemed to be by it, it never spoke to me in any way. I could imagine what it meant to other people, a sort of YOLO or Live Laugh Love type of thing. Recently however, I FEEL THAT PHRASE INSIDE OF ME. I have been able to identify with it so much lately because it's something that I realize I've been struggling to do: seize the day. There are three things that often block me from being able to live out these two lil' words, Carpe Diem:
1. Routine
With school back in session, the days seem to be flying by with unforgiving speed. One day its "Ugh, barely Monday..." and in the blink of an eye its, "OMG, already Friday!" Before you know it you've become buried in routine. Routine, of course, is a pretty comfortable and pleasant state to be in. It's what we crave to establish when we have to get used to something new in our lives. For example, being used to the summer and winter break habit of going to sleep at 2 am and not waking up till noon the next day, is something that takes a while to get UN used to once school has us waking up at 6 am.
Stability, comfort, security. These are all the great things that routine provides us with. However, routine is a double-edged sword. That comfort and sense of security can quickly turn into complacency. We begin to move through the days in a robotic motion. Do this, then this, then that then if you have time do that. This leaves little room for change and excitement and makes you forget all about taking life by the reins or spicing things up. Routine has the power to cloud up our minds with tight schedules and make us forget that life is happening right under our noses.
2. Living in the Future
Another thing that keeps me from seizing the day is planning. Yes, planning. Another great thing to do in order to manage your time effectively and stay on top of things. The downside is that I'm constantly thinking about what it is I have to turn in in a few days, what I'm doing on the weekend, what errands I have to take care of next week…I get so caught up in thinking about the future, that before I know it, my present is pulled from right under my feet. I always catch myself in anticipation for what is going to happen in a few hours, a few days, a few months even. Instead of embracing all the wonderful things happening NOW, I try to guess what good things might happen tomorrow. This leaves me detached from my current reality. Distracted by what will be's, that in return, make me forget about what is actually happening, causing my present fade away.
3. Living in the Past
With the present being gone quicker than you expected, it becomes tempting to look back on what if's and wonder what you could have done better. The past can creep up on us is many ways. It can come to us in the form of old friends, mistakes, regrets…
But as Florence implies, it's hard to dance while living with the weight of the past on your shoulders. too often I think about what I SHOULD HAVE said, what I COULD HAVE done instead, and how my life might be better if I WOULD HAVE taken that chance. But how can we embrace today if we are wrapped up in what happened yesterday? Or wrapped up in what COULD HAVE happened? Our present deserves more attention and love than than we may be giving it.
Life can be very tiring with all the things it makes us juggle on a daily basis. It seems like the more we have to do, the harder it is to slow down and make the very best of our present. Carpe Diem reminds me that I have to snap out of it and seize the day by seeing it as a unique being with a lot of potential to be great. Not just as another gray part of my routine.
As cheesy as it may seem, I want to be that person in that first photo up there! Even though we won't be standing on a majestic green mountain everyday and living through a vintage-y filter, we can pretend we are.
I know that Carpe Diem is seen so often and in so many places that it loses its power and meaning, but forget all about the fact that it may be overused and just SEIZE THE DAY.
:-)
Kristal
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