on carpe diem
“Carpe diem”—two words you’ve probably seen stitched on throw pillows, printed on coffee mugs, or hashtagged under yet another filtered sunset photo. It translates to “seize the day,” but what does that actually mean in the messy, beautiful chaos of our everyday lives?
The phrase comes from a poem by the Roman poet Horace. He wasn’t telling us to quit our jobs and start a kombucha brewery. He wasn’t urging us to live recklessly. He was simply reminding us that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so we should make the most of today. Simple, right? But in a world where life feels like a never-ending to-do list, where does “carpe diem” fit in?
Let’s start here: when was the last time you truly felt present? Not distracted by your phone, not running through tomorrow’s obligations in your head. When was the last time you felt alive—so connected to the moment that time seemed to stop? If you can’t remember, you’re not alone.
The Myth of the Grand Gesture
We’ve been sold a lie about what “seizing the day” looks like. Social media loves to package it as something glamorous. Move to Paris. Write a bestseller. Get a six-pack. And while those dreams are beautiful, they’re not the only way to live boldly. In fact, they’re often not what most of us need.
For the majority of us, life isn’t lived in the grand gestures. It’s lived in the small, seemingly insignificant choices we make each day. Getting up early to watch the sunrise. Calling an old friend just to hear their voice. Taking a walk without headphones. Saying, “I’m sorry,” even when it’s hard.
Seizing the day isn’t about uprooting your life every time it feels stale. It’s about paying attention. It’s about finding beauty in the mundane.
The Fear of Wasted Time
If you’ve ever felt guilty for binge-watching Netflix or scrolling through TikTok for hours, you’ve felt the fear of wasting your time. “Carpe diem” has been weaponized against us, making us feel like every moment we’re not being productive is a moment lost forever.
But here’s the thing: rest isn’t a waste. Joy isn’t a waste. Sometimes, the most meaningful thing you can do is absolutely nothing. Lie on the couch. Read a book. Sit in silence. Productivity culture has tricked us into thinking that every moment needs to be optimized, but life isn’t a spreadsheet. It’s a collection of moments, and not all of them need to be accounted for.
Reclaiming the Ordinary
Seizing the day often happens in the least remarkable moments. The ones you don’t post about. The ones that don’t come with applause. But they’re the moments that shape you.
Think about your favorite memory. Was it a planned event or a spontaneous decision? A birthday party or an afternoon spent talking with someone you love? More often than not, it’s the latter. Life isn’t about the big days—it’s about the little ones, the ones that slip through our fingers if we’re not paying attention.
So how do we reclaim the ordinary? By slowing down. By letting ourselves be bored. By looking up from our screens and noticing the world around us. By asking, “What would make this day feel just a little bit brighter?”
The Courage to Be Present
Being present isn’t always easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things to do. Our brains are wired to anticipate the future and analyze the past. But here’s the irony: the future we’re so worried about? It’s shaped by what we do today. The past we’re stuck replaying? It can only be rewritten in the present.
Presence is a practice. It’s a muscle you have to strengthen, day by day. Start small. Put your phone down during meals. Take five minutes each morning to sit quietly. Notice the way the light falls through your window or the sound of birds outside.
And when your mind inevitably wanders, don’t get frustrated. Gently guide it back to the moment. Again and again and again.
Living With Intention
“Carpe diem” isn’t just about being present—it’s about being intentional. It’s about asking yourself, “What do I want this day to mean?” That doesn’t mean every day needs to be monumental. Some days, your intention might be to rest. Other days, it might be to learn, to create, to connect, to grow.
Living with intention doesn’t mean you’ll always succeed. You’ll have days where nothing goes as planned, where you feel like you’re falling short. But even on those days, there’s meaning to be found. Maybe the day you feel the most broken is the day you learn the most about yourself.
The Quiet Power of Choice
Every moment is a choice. Not always a big one, but a choice nonetheless. The choice to smile at a stranger. To hold your tongue when you’re angry. To forgive, to try, to care.
You don’t need to overhaul your life to seize the day. You just need to show up. To make one small, brave choice at a time. To say, “This moment matters, and I’m not going to let it slip away.”
And when you do? That’s where the magic happens. Not in the grand gestures, but in the quiet, unremarkable moments where you choose to be here. To be alive.
Reflection Questions
1. When was the last time you felt truly present? What were you doing?
2. What small, meaningful moment have you overlooked in the past week?
3. How do you usually define a “successful” day? How might you redefine it to focus more on presence and intention?
4. What’s one small thing you can do tomorrow to “seize the day”?
5. How can you balance the desire for productivity with the need for rest and joy?
6. What would it look like to reclaim the ordinary moments in your life?
7. What’s one fear or distraction that’s keeping you from being present? How can you address it?
8. How might practicing presence change the way you approach your relationships, work, and daily life?
“Carpe diem” isn’t about perfection. It’s about trying. It’s about noticing. It’s about choosing, moment by moment, to live a life that feels like your own. Because at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.
