Reclaiming carpe diem: How do we really seize the day?

17 Jul 2017 / 15:08 H.

CARPE diem – seize the day – is one of the oldest philosophical mottos in western history. First uttered by the Roman poet Horace more than 2,000 years ago, it retains an extraordinary resonance in popular culture. The heavy metal band Metallica has rocked audiences around the world with their song Carpe Diem Baby, while the actress Judi Dench had carpe diem tattooed on her wrist for her 81st birthday.
It's a message found in Hollywood films such as Dead Poets Society; in one of the most successful brand campaigns of the last century (Just Do It); and in the social media hashtag #yolo (you only live once).
It is remarkable that an expression from a long-dead language generates more than 25m online search results. Yet just as striking is the fact that there is not one carpe diem, but many. While usually translated as "seize" the day, the original Latin is sometimes rendered as "harvest", "pluck" or "enjoy" the day. These variations tell us that carpe diem means different things to different people.
For some it's about taking a once in a lifetime opportunity, while for others it is about indulging in wild hedonism or living calmly in the present moment. We might casually use the term carpe diem when chatting with a friend, but how aware are we of its many personalities hidden beneath the surface?
For full report, visit:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/apr/02/reclaming-carpe-diem-how-we-really-seize-the-day

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