I recently asked my friends on social media for ideas for this blog. My intended request was for topic ideas. The first suggestion came from my father: “Change the name.” This is hard, because I respect my dad and, even as adult-children, one wants to please his parents.
So, this could, perhaps, be my last blog post under the current domain name. I am searching my heart for what might be the appropriate course of action and possible alternative title.
Carpe diem is, of course, a common phrase in our culture. Who hasn’t seen Dead Poet’s Society and Robin Williams famous scene “Oh, Captain! My Captain!”? It is at the heart of the message I want to deliver through this blog. Personally, I need to remind myself daily to go out and seize the day—to be my very best and work hard to be better tomorrow. So, if I need reminding, I trust there are others out there, as well.
My father’s objection is not with the Latin phrase: carpe diem. It is with that middle word. I do not intend for “the word” to be vulgar, though, I did choose it because it is a bit edgy. I now realize that it may be offensive to some. Causing any offense is contrary to the intent of this blog and the desires of its author. So, I am put in a bit of a conundrum. As an adult-child, we are forever bound in our desire to please our parents. So, here I sit pondering this challenge.
I was deliberate in naming this blog. “The word” is intended as a nonsensical intensifier–injecting American slang into a Latin phrase is itself nonsensical. I wanted the title to emphasize daily change and being one’s best today, while working to be better tomorrow. I wanted to encourage the reader to go out and seize the heck out of the day. To help myself and other reach for extraordinary heights; to not live each day as a routine. I wanted to make clear to everyone that every sunrise is an opportunity to do something spectacular. Am I being vulgar? Perhaps. (There are far worse American slang words I might have injected.) Is it my desire/intent? Absolutely not.
Most important to me is the message. I need that message every morning. I don’t want to celebrate the ordinary. I want to celebrate the extraordinary that is in each and every one of us. I am using the off-color language to make a point.; to underscore the importance of the message and light a fire under you and me. Can I do this with a different title? Most likely. The challenge for me is to answer to the question of whether I risk offending (especially my dad) to underscore the message; or will this be the last post at the current URL, and the message will appear under a new moniker and domain name??
Whatever comes of this, be extraordinary, today. Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe…diem!!