Lesson #10: Carpe Diem
The final Lesson Learned from Princess Diana will focus on her zest for life. And how she seized the day with gusto!
Zest for life is a feeling of enjoyment and enthusiasm for living.
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/zest-for-life
Princess Diana was warm-hearted, zesty, and full of spunk. She had the gift of knowing what to say and when. She didn’t overstep her bounds, yet she was able to get her point across through action and facial gestures. Diana knew that her every move was being microscopically scrutinized. And she learned how to use this to her advantage. Her early childhood dance lessons taught her to focus on movement with grace. And that she did throughout her life.
Even during the dark days of her marriage, she could hold her head up high and get through the day. Yes, she experienced the trauma of an adulterer. Which led to various ways of healthy and unhealthy coping. Yet, she pulled through and continued to push herself to greatness.
The greatness of humanitarian work.
The greatness of being a good mother.
The greatness of advocating for good mental health care.
“I want to do, not just to be.” – Diana, Princess of Wales.
26 Princess Diana Quotes—Inspiring Quotes from the People’s Princess | Reader’s Digest (rd.com)
Princess Diana warmed the heart of nations. She left an indelible mark on society, and that mark was to SIEZE THE DAY!
Do what you love.
Tell people you love them.
Hug them.
ACT.
Reflecting on my mothering skills, I showed my children zest for life. By loving them. Hugging them. Supporting them. Encouraging them.
To try.
To do their best.
To pursue their passions.
My kids were cub scouts and played t-ball, baseball, soccer, tennis, football, and lacrosse. They learned to swim and pursued the discipline of tai kwon do. They sang in the children’s choir for years and went to Sunday school. They were tutored and were tutors. They played keyboard, trombone, clarinet, and saxophone. They spoke French and Spanish. They were golf caddies. They graduated from respectable universities.
And they were two sons with divorced parents – unlike me.
Like Diana, my marriage failed miserably, and my zest was zapped. It led me on a dark path. Yet, after I spent time wallowing in my sorrow, I picked myself up. Thanks to God who whooped me in the pants to stop feeling sorry for myself.
I felt transformed. Full of zest. Full of life. And love to give. And receive. Freely. It was and still is a wonderful feeling.
Carpe Diem!
It isn’t easy the seize the day, every day. There are hindrances, like migraines or feeling tired. Or plain ole–old age. Yet, I have a bubble inside of me waiting to burst. To love and to be loved. When I love, I love hard.
What is the key to life? For me, it is creating a more peaceful and compassionate world. One where we seek to understand and respect our differences.
To live humbly.
To live with a purpose.
To inspire others.
To hope.
To love.
To as the University of Ozarks’ motto is, “Live life more fully.”
Love one another. Inspire one another. Laugh with one another and cry with one another. With vim, vigor, and a dose of zest!
I and Thou Reflections 