Carpe Diem: To Live is to Live Forever..?
“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.” Horace
Carpe Diem: To Live is to Die...
Carpe Diem: To Live is to Die…
Do you want to live forever? That is the writing prompt/question our blogging guides at Daily Post borrowed from Plinky. My initial reaction to the question was: At what cost? Isn’t the point of nature about rejuvenation, transformation and rebirth? Like the seasons, every life form has its time of birth, growth and death/rebirth so the idea of forever is a formidable and potentially disturbing one. Sure, our internet life is recorded forever and our Facebook and other social network accounts might too. But do you really..?
From a spiritual standpoint, the soul lives forever so, technically, we do live forever. For those who believe in karma and the afterlife, life is eternal, just not necessarily on this planet. We are born and reborn and then the cycle starts over again and again… Sure, we find fossils and remnants of times gone by and we have trees that have lived for hundreds of years but to live in a human form, in the body forever? Do you really want to stick around like a fossil in a human form?
It is a thought provoking question because life and death are topics that stay close to our hearts even when we avoid talking about them. When I first read the question, I immediately thought of Oscar Wilde’s Gothic horror book, The Picture of Dorian Gray. We cherish our lives and value our friends, family and others connected to it, and the prayer in many a heart is to live a full and long life. But do we want to be ageless and see everyone around us age and die? Death is, as some would say, the great equalizer and living forever might not be ideal. What do you think?
Below are two poems about the passage of time. Enjoy your life now and may we all be blessed with long, prosperous and fulfilling lives.
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May John William Waterhouse
Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.
Carmina – Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Don’t ask (it’s forbidden to know) what end
the gods will grant to me or you,
Don’t play with Babylonian fortune-telling either.
It is better to endure whatever will be.
Whether Jupiter has allotted to you many more winters or this final one
which even now wears out the Tyrrhenian sea on the rocks placed opposite Tyrrhenum
be wise, strain the wine, and scale back your long hopes
to a short period.
While we speak, envious time will have {already} fled
Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.
Positive Motivation Tip: Live your life with zeal and a joyful heart. Your next meal depends on it.
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PHOTO CREDITS: Waikawau Bay in New Zealand by Steve Burling via National Geographic
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
“It is a thought provoking question because life and death are topics that stay close to our hearts even when we avoid talking about them.” This is so true, I want to Live forever, sure but what does our Lord want for each of us?! I enjoy reading your insights, tips and words of wisdom.
Wonderful picture! Fortunately, for me, I lived a carefree and wreck-less life in my youth, so I guess you could say I was living Carpe Diem before I knew what it meant. But, now, in my declining years, those memories are a joy to behold (they also give me something to postaday).
My mantra is this: Please God don’t let me out live my usefulness.
I think modern medicine is wonderful in so many ways, but I also think we are sometimes saving too many babies and prolonging too many elderly lives, just because we can. Without quality of life, what do we have? I guess for me it’s about purpose and contribution. Without those 2 things I’d rather be gone.
Thanks for the thought provoking post!
Eliz…do you know why I love your posts so much and have to read them first thing in the morning, even though I have my own post to do and a million other tasks? Because you pose a question, give us some food for thought (and beautiful visual images to carry with us through the day), and encourage us to make our own decisions about the topic…that is not an easy thing to do.
I tried to write about the same topic…
I agree whole heartily with viviankirkfield.
WOW! What a breathtaking photo and post to boot!
Those are the kind of images and words I like having with my morning cup of java! Another outstanding post Eliz!….. Your awesome!
Since our noses & ears never stop growing, what do you think would happen to them if we lived forever? 😉 Thank you for the thought-provoking post!
I can imagine why anyone in their right mind would want to live forever.
We all have to make room for the next generation; our children and grandchildren.
Like you said, who wants to be like Dorian Gray? Not me?
A Thought provoking post!
B
Another great post…thanks Eliz…and I fully endorse Vivian’s comments
I love Debs observations about our nose and ears never stopping growing…what a prospect.
It is a very thought provoking question and I’m not sure if I like the idea of living forever if all my loved ones had passed on. And unless I was fit and healthy with a passion and purpose, I would wonder what the point of it would be?
Lovely photo! I wouldn’t want to live on this earth forever, and I’m not really sure why…looking forward to hopefully a full, healthy life here and then to whatever God has planned for my spirit.
Carpe Diem : To Live is to Die. I totally agree with you. 🙂
i totally agree with carpediem.life could end at anytime.it’s later than you think.