Make Every Day Count

Carpe Diem – from Roman Poet Horace’s Odes (23 BC) is one of the greatest maxims ever penned. It is loosely translated as “Seize the Day”. The dictionary definition is ‘to urge someone to make the most of the present time and give little thought to the future. 

The Latin phrase – Memento Mori – is closely related to Carpe Diem. It literally means, ‘remember that you must die’.

Both the aforesaid aphorisms are connected and our lives can be fulfilling if we are able to decipher how.

What does Horace mean when he advises us to ‘seize the day’? He advocates ‘making most of the present time and give little thought to the future’. He doesn’t imply we need to be reckless and live only in the present without any thought of the future. This will lead to undesirable consequences. Horace advocates making most of the available opportunities in the present so that we have a happy future. 

Now a little exercise in maths. Assuming a lifespan of 80 years for a typical city dweller, he/she inhabits this earth for 29,200 days. This typical urban person spends 22 years, i.e. 8,030 days, in growing up and in imbibing the skills necessary to make a living. The following 43 years, i.e. 15,695 days, are expended in providing for self and family. Most people start to withdraw from active life when they turn 65. This leaves us with just 15 years, i.e. 5,475 days. This is all we are left with when we enter the वानप्रस्थ stage. 5,475 doesn’t sound like a terribly large number! A few of us get melancholy and grieve about how our life has shaped up. There are desires which remain unfilled and dreams which are shattered. There is loneliness. Dissatisfaction, disillusionment and the occasional regret cloud the mind. 

Childhood is consumed attending school and tuition. Further, children are force fed various arts and sports without considering their natural aptitude. Children learn by rote and are denied the joy associated with learning. There is no awe, no surprise and definitely no curiosity. All students are expected to partake in the rat race of getting admission to premier institutes (if they can afford the fees). Children are now facing serious mental health issues which cannot be wished away. These issues compound as we grow. Society is unforgiving as expectations have now turned binary. One is either a success or a failure. We enter adulthood bruised and battered by the agonies of growing up. Various means of livelihood are then thrust upon us with little or no relation to our natural ability. Decades are then spent in providing for the family. 

Our desires, wishes and dreams remain unfulfilled and are either forgotten or postponed for another day. This day never comes. 

This is where one must understand the meaning of ‘Memento Mori’. Remember, all of us die.

Hence the importance of seizing the day. Not everyone gets employment or education of choice. Life is drudgery for most. People are engaged in jobs which they don’t like and are underpaid. Some get trapped in loveless relationships. Life is unfair. It is imperative to realise what makes us tick. Everyone has something which is unique. It could be singing, playing an instrument, meeting new people, travelling, running, reading, writing… the possibilities are endless. One has to pursue these tasks for the sheer joy one derives from these personal experiences. It is not about fame, money, winning or losing. While indulging in these personal pursuits it is also important to give time and attention to your immediate family and friends. One cannot compromise life’s small joys in the pursuit of larger ones. Evaluating our feelings for our close ones is necessary if you feel any distance or barriers to communication. Course correction at the right time will ensure happiness and satisfaction as we grow old.

Make every day count. Pursue things which interest you. Accept manageable challenges. Acquire new skills. Stay relevant. Learn a new language. Connect with your loved ones. Never forget old friends. Be reliable. Be truthful. Focus on the process rather than the outcome. Forgive and forget. Do not allow negative influences to clutter your mind. Keep an open mind. Be childlike. Experience joy. 

There is no easy answer to questions like ‘what is the purpose of our life If death is inevitable? Or ‘what is the purpose of our existence?’ Time is a precious and limited resource. We have only 29,200 days with us. These have to be utilised judiciously.

Notes: 1) Carpe Diem is the central theme of Robin Williams’ classic movie ‘Dead Poets Society’.  2) Some parts are inspired from the writings of Tim Urban