Last week, our fellow blogger and in my case fellow New Englander Denis Wright's ten lessons of life featured in a news.com.au story, Life lessons from terminal cancer patient Denis Wright. Now it appears that the ten lessons have gone global, especially in South America.
I often refer to Denis's blog. He and I met when I was a posgrad back at the University of New England. He writes with humour and a gentle philosophical flavour.
One of the posts that I enjoyed was the story of his and Tracey's somewhat belated wedding, The wedding advice I wish we'd had. I chose this photo from that post (News used another) because of the laughter.
One of Denis's favourite phases is the Latin Carpe Diem. literally seize or enjoy the day. I have to be reminded or remind myself of that from time to time.
I don't know about you, but I find that daily concerns and pressures tend to crowd out the moment. Something to remember.
Goals are important, I have too many of them, but sometimes just to live is no bad thing.
Postscript
A friend advised me that the phrase comes from Horace Odes Bk 1;No. 11 -The Latin reads: dum loquimur fugerit invida aetas/ carpe diem quam minimum credula postero. Now for those like me who have either done no Latin or forgotten whatever they learned, she also supplied an English translation: "While we speak, envious time will have fled. Suck everything out of today, don't waste your belief in the time to come."
There you have it, adult education care of JC. I must tell you about my final failed attempt at Elementary Latin some time.
4 comments:
Thanks for the link Jim. He is very inspiring.
I did one term of Latin in high school.
The one phrase I remember is, "the elephant doesn't catch the mouse".
Well, to be sure, I had thought that JC spoke Aramaic - if not Hebrew - but if you say Latin, then who am I, etc.
My Latin was learned over four years whilst drearily trudging around Britain, in company with JC (the other one); as he subjugated, I conjugated. And I continue my interest via Blackadder's lackey, as he digs up various bits of olde England with shovel and 'geo-phys'.
But the end result was good, or at least ok: I scored an A as one of six in the SC, but was left wondering to this day why a word such as posterity (something about the future) can in any way be associated with one's bottom (posterior). Can your personal JC ellucidate?
All of which is to ignore the main point of your post about a fellow whose continuing sang-froid I much admire. Except I think that's actually french, so I guess you'd better consult another JC - Jacques Cousteau.
(There's an awful lot of these JC's floating around - no?)
kvd
He is Ramana. Now, Evan and kvd, I am going to bring your comments up in tonight's post!
By the way, ABC Radio New England North West apparently featured Denis's writing this morning. It's not available, however.
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