I am reminded of an old movie favorite, The Dead Poets Society, and its inspirational story of how a group of boys on the cusp of adulthood each came to grips differently with the challenging phrase, “Carpe diem.” Seize the day!
So much of what we are building in our careers is for the future. Secure retirements, buying a home, starting our own business, working our way up the corporate ladder, building a family, etc.
These goals are good things.
Most of the time.
Sometimes, though, we forget to live today in our quest to secure the future.
We can overlook this moment for the sake of the next moment. We miss the flowers at our feet reaching for the stars.
Now don’t get me wrong. I believe the capacity to plan ahead and work toward longer term goals is a necessary and valuable skill.
But the “future” is nothing more than a “present” we hope to enjoy on some other day.
That is unless we have lost our capacity to live in the present by that time. We risk not recognizing the fulfillment of the dream in our midst if our eyes are fixed so far out on the horizon.
In the spirit of “carpe diem”, let’s seize this Monday for its own sake! Let’s seize the day for life. Let’s seize the day for hard work, meaningful work, collaborative work, productive work.
Lend a helping hand, extend an overdue compliment, confront an unacceptable situation, rearrange an unworkable workspace, reconnect with an old associate, or simply go outside and get some fresh air.
Seize the day!
– Karl Edwards
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