Carpe diem

In the midst of uncertainties, I came across the Latin phrase “carpe diem,” which I immediately searched on the internet to find out what it meant: “seize the day.”

Much of its translation strikes me as poignant because it goes beyond the message that one should seize the day and the moment while learning the ups and downs of life, and enjoy one’s life because the future is uncertain. Yes, it really is. I believe in living in the moment, and I have always felt that one should live life to the fullest so that when death comes, regardless of when it arrives, one can be content and have a sense of fulfillment in any way. If we don’t, it will be a bitter regret.

Growing up, I was constantly reminded that life is too short to procrastinate, so I always tried to take charge of my short life (I say short because we never know what tomorrow brings) by doing the things that I loved and by doing the things that challenged me. As a child, I would spend most of my time with my friends, playing “tumba lata,” “slipper mannequin,” and watching our favorite fantasy series, “Super Inggo,” while imitating him and utterly believing that we also had superpowers. I recall how my friends and I would stay up late at night playing hide-and-seek, and the seeker would always end up fooled because the hiders were, in fact, already at their homes.

When I was nearly out of my childhood, I acquired a cell phone with a keypad and began to believe that I could contact anyone I wanted, not realizing that it would take a SIM card to actually contact someone. I recall how I used to strive for honors in high school; I did not slack off with my schoolwork or let my grades fail. In college, I remember standing on stage as an emcee, fearful because I have stage fright, but then I thought to myself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I also thought it was only a one-day event, so why bother seizing it?

Early this year, I was diagnosed with a gallbladder problem and spent almost a month in the hospital waiting for my turn to have my gallbladder surgically removed. Honestly, it did not make me feel most like I was at death’s door, but more likely, it made me realize how finite and unpredictable life is, and in a way, this realization apportioned my growth as a human being.

Above all, I am still alive. I can still do whatever I want. I can still fulfill my dreams, at least by seizing the day with joy to be with my family, friends, and God. My desire to enjoy each day to the utmost, I believe, is the driving force behind my little achievements each and every day. I hope that “carpe diem” allows people to perceive the essence of life: to live in the moment and take advantage of it as a blessing.

Right now, I’m living in the present, enrolled in a great university, and hopefully on track to have a bright future.

At 22, I’ve learned to appreciate the seconds, the minutes, and the hours of life even more. After all, we could not travel back in time, and we only live once.

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Jhon Steven C. Espenido, 22, writes from Surigao City. He is an English Language major at Surigao del Norte State University.