Anyone who is in touch with social media in any way has heard the term “yolo” or “You only live once”, and many teens/young adults are fashioning their lives after this phrase. The infamous YOLO has become an excuse for people to be reckless and live with no regrets because, after all, we do only live once.
Most people first heard the term from the ever so popular pop song by Drake, titled The Motto, yet many people claim it has been used for many years, just never in the same context. But, those on the opposite side of the spectrum, who roll their eyes at this overused excuse, cling to a similar, yet more respected and complex big brother to YOLO, Carpe Diem.
This Latin saying, that is typically translated to “seize the day”, has been treated as anaphorism, motto to live one’s life by, and an extremely popular tattoo, since it first appeared in Horace’s The Odes, written in 23 BC. The phrase Carpe Diem urges one to make the most out of the days they’re granted on this earth, and to live in a way that they do not leave the future up to chance but rather “do all one can today to make one's future better”. YOLO is used for focusing only on today, ignoring tomorrow, and doing what you please right now. Carpe Diem is meant as a reminder that life is short and we need to focus on what we want to accomplish and make those things happen rather than just waiting for them to happen.
While we are young we are told to make mistakes while we still can, but when we make these mistakes, are we supposed to wake up the next morning and forget about them and only focus on that day, or to learn from them and be sure that we do not make the same mistake in the future?
I went to the ever entertaining, and sometimes frightening, Urban Dictionary for a little help differentiating the two... Here is what people said about YOLO:
“The dummy's excuse for something stupid that they did.”
"’Carpe diem’ for stupid people”
“Anyone who uses YOLO in defense of their stupidity and sinful actions should be hanged, or the method of execution available widely in the state this person lives in.”
“A stupid motto that countless teenagers live by because it gives them the excuse to be promiscuous, commit crimes, drink underage, do drugs and deny responsibility for their actions.”
“Usually followed by OOPS when they turn 40 and have not amounted to anything.”
And the list goes on and on... But, for Carpe Diem, users said:
“Seize the moment/day, live your life to the full”
“Commonly used to justify spontaneous behavior and to make the most out of today, because one doesn't know if they'll live to see tomorrow. However, the actual phrase is not saying to ignore the future, but rather to do as much as one can now because they won't know if everything will fall into place in the long run.”
“To be an opportunist and take control of your life.” “Latin phrase literally meaning 'Seize the Day.' Has been overcome by idiots saying things such as swag, or yolo.”
Many recognize the fact that society has taken this inspirational and poetic term encouraging people to seize control of their future rather than waiting to see what will happen and only focusing on that moment, and turned it into an ill-advised excuse to do whatever they please without any thought of consequences or the future. Carpe Diem was once sacred, and ever since it’s cheap knockoff, YOLO, stepped onto the scene, it has lost it’s spotlight.
YOLO encourages the young and wild culture to “live with no regrets” and do as they please, but 10 years down the road, my bet is, the people who modeled their lives after the YOLO philosophy will actually be filled with more regrets than those who decided to follow the Carpe Diem path and mix fun with responsibility. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of the limited amount of days we are given; taking a chance, following your dreams, and fighting your fears are all examples of “seizing the day”. Whereas putting graffiti on a building, doing something illegal right by a cop, and skipping work without calling in are decisions typically preceded by someone shouting out “yolo”.
In the words of my, supposedly wise, and philosophically affluent big brother “Carpe Diem tells you to ask out the cute girl, YOLO tells you to tape that kid to the wall”. Which one could possibly end in a better future?
Carpe Diem isn’t a philosophy that limits someone’s fun, but rather encourages us to make the most of the present day, while still focusing on our future. If you pass someone that you’re dying to talk to, you may never see them again, why not seize the opportunity and ask their name. Boosting your human interaction and making a new friend, or possibly more than a friend, rather than putting your head down and staring at a life sucking device, is going to be much more rewarding for you in the years to come.
Too often we are encouraged by the media and our “role-models” in society to live in the moment without any thought of tomorrow. But, why can’t we follow the intelligent words of Horace and combine the two; live for today, with thought of the future. Carpe Diem grants us the assistance and fortitude that many need to “Seize the day”.
So, which one will you choose to live by, Carpe Diem, or it’s inadequate and troublesome knockoff, YOLO?
