Carpe Momentum

When I was a teenager, I had my first introduction to the concept "carpe diem" through the movie Dead Poet's Society. Anybody else with me here? Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Suck the marrow out of life. Do not waste a single day, get out there EVERY DAY, and live life to the fullest.


On reflection of my last post, I was reminded of a link a friend of mine posted on her facebook page a while back, and searched it out. A blog post by Brian D. Molitor.

Carpe Momentum.

Now this--this speaks to me.

Here are some excerpts:

...in today’s world, we rarely have a full day to seize, pluck or play with. Instead, when we factor in all of life’s demands, loud voices and obligations we are left with moments, not days, to be seized. No sense complaining…it is our current reality. So, how do we respond?

...our best option is a slight twist. I call it “Carpe MOMENTUM”. Pluck the moment. It works like this. In the midst of the madness of life, seize a few quiet minutes to rest, reflect, recharge. You may not be able to disappear for an entire day, but you can likely take a mini mental vacation to enjoy life’s blessings. Instead of working through your lunch hour…[or is it just 20 minutes?] turn off your phone and computer to truly enjoy the daily bread you have been given...take the long way home, just to see things you haven’t seen for a while. Go out for dinner…at some place that serves your meal on a plate, not in a bag. Stop by to see your parents, older kids and/or especially your grand kids. If you can’t get there physically, then call them, skype them, or just sit quietly and send up a prayer for them. Reflect on life and give thanks that you can see, move or even just breathe. 

We may not be able to seize an entire day, but there are some mighty sweet moments just waiting to be plucked. Get ‘em while they’re ripe.

This applies to me in so many ways. In fact, I believe there isn't a person alive who couldn't benefit from a little reflection on this concept. Of course it applies to me in all the obvious ways--play with the kids more, don't get so caught up in work or keeping the house clean that you miss those opportunities to cuddle with your little ones and read a story or play "This Little Piggy." Or to pop in to your pre-teens room to just hang out for a few minutes and talk about life. It's just a couple of minutes here and there, but how we use those moments we are given can have a dramatic impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.

And, of course, it helps me to make peace with the whole exercise thing. If all I can do is 30 minutes, let me seize those minutes and make them work for me, to make my life better. I won't get those minutes back. So is it 30 minutes of turning on the t.v. and half watching some show while I am also on the computer interacting with cyberspace?

Don't get me wrong, I don't waste time online. I'm not a gamer, I'm not a troll, I'm not a mindless "pinner." (ha ha! I am a pinner, but with a purpose). Anyway, why not spend 30 minutes exercising and then 30 minutes unwinding instead of 60 minutes unwinding. I need to turn off life around me and let myself escape into a world of exercise. Take a moment out for myself and let it breathe life back into living.

Carpe momentum. Easier said than done, but amazingly worth it.