Seize the Day… Again!
O Captain, my Captain…
Dead Poets Society is a great movie. The late, great Robin Williams brilliantly portrays John Keating, an English professor encouraging his students to break out of their norms, chase their dreams and…
Carpe Diem!
Seize the day.
It’s a wonderful battle cry. Many of us have taken up that banner and to figure out what we are passionate about and purse it to the fullest… or at least to an extent that was manageable. For some that might be career, family, a health goal, a hobby, etc.
Once you reach my age that cry can become a distant echo. Those pursuits have reached some level of success or denial. Some of us are still plugging towards the pinnacle of those pursuits (or maybe up to our necks almost drowning in them.) That may be a reference to managing kids during summer break.
You may be left in the doldrums of your dreams feeling a lack of worthwhile pursuit. Even in the later stages of realizing our dreams and putting in the hard work responsibility requires to see them to the end, something wanes in the heart.
Sometimes we turn to unhealthy ways to fill the void. I have.
At the risk of turning into a motivational speaker, my suggestion to (myself and) anyone interested is twofold.
1- Do some work to dream again. I’ve talked to a handful of people since I started this new venture of writing that are finding similar ways to reignite the flame. I think their utter shock that I’m pursuing something so outside of my abilities may have sparked some hope to say “If that fool can do something like that… I can: start painting again, learn french, pursue that side business, get those cooking lessons.” What has been sitting in the back of your mind dormant, a prisoner to procrastination? Who knows. It could bring great fulfillment. God has designed us in such unique and purposeful ways. Maybe there is something there waiting for you to make a move.
2 - Re-dream into your original passion. You’ve reached your career goal but maybe you’ve lost sight of something in the process? You’ve parented your cute kids through elementary school but what’s your game plan to invest in the lives of your teenagers? You ran that Ironman but have fallen into to a big bowl of spicy noodles since.
I’m asking some of those questions to myself. Not the ironman… but some of the other ones.
I know I’m not the only one.
Is it time to seize the day, again?
