Live for the Moment
Carpe diem. Seize the day, for we die tomorrow. This is probably one of the most used motifs in our vocabulary today. Many people use this as an excuse to do something they have always wanted. Mark Twain once wrote, "I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it had ceased to be one"(1) and, as most of us are aware, he was and is not alone. How many times do we kick ourselves for not buying something when it was on sale? Or miss out on a great play or movie that leaves town before we get a chance to see it? We don't realize what we missed until it has already passed us by. Carpe diem has existed for a long, long time. Research has shown that the first person that used the term was the Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus between 65-08 BC when he wrote, "While we're talking, envious time is fleeing: seize the day, put no trust in the future."(1) It's amazing how a quote from that long ago can still have tremendous meaning and influence in today's society. Many music artists use this motif for inspiration and use it in their songs. Artists such as Aerosmith, Dave Matthews, and Eminem show todays generation the big meaning of se
izing the day. In Aerosmiths song, "Dream On" the chorus says, "Sing with me, sing for the years, Sing for the laughter and sing for the tears. Sing with me, if it's just for today. Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away."(3) The Dave Matthews Band quotes, "Eat, drink, and be merry. For Tomorrow we'll die"(3) and Eminem's song "Lose Yourself" has an opening statement that says, "Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity to seize everything you've ever wanted in one moment, would you capture it? Or just let it slip?"(3) These are quotes from today's artists whose music seems to bring people together, despite petty differences. Saying we have to "live in the now" can be used positively and negatively. Some take seizing the day to mean doing something they have always wanted such as buying their dream car, taking the job they have always wanted even if it pays less, or going skydiving to overcome a lifelong fear of heights. Andrew Marvell seems to use this motif to lure a girl into bed in his 1681 poem "To His Coy Mistress". Marvell wants the girl to sleep with him because they might die tomorrow. He even becomes aggr
Some common words found in the essay are:
Mistress Marvell, Lose Yourself, Mark Twain, Horatius Flaccus, Matthews Eminem, , Matthews Band, Andrew Marvell, dave matthews, Dave Matthews, seizing day, girl bed, die tomorrow, carpe diem, seize day, sing sing,
Approximate Word count = 765
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
