The Flat Earth Society
Other Discussion Boards => Philosophy, Religion & Society => Topic started by: QuietResonance on September 25, 2009, 06:31:55 PM
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I have often considered the contradictions of what we are taught as children and adolesents. For instance, our parents and gaurdians teach us to save for our futures so that in times of hardship we have an ample amount of savings to care for ourselves and our immediate family. In the same years we are taught the famous quote, "carpe diam". How does one live for today while saving for the future? Should we assume we will live long enough to make use of our savings or should we act as though today could be our last and savour every moment with all that we have?
I would appreciate any thoughts anyone of you may have. :)
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Should one be an ant or a grasshopper? It depends on your comfort level. Would a savings of six months' expenses give you an adequate feeling of security or would you feel insecure even with a two years' hoard? Determine that level and when you reach it, book passage to all the fabled places!
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I have often considered the contradictions of what we are taught as children and adolesents. For instance, our parents and gaurdians teach us to save for our futures so that in times of hardship we have an ample amount of savings to care for ourselves and our immediate family. In the same years we are taught the famous quote, "carpe diam". How does one live for today while saving for the future? Should we assume we will live long enough to make use of our savings or should we act as though today could be our last and savour every moment with all that we have?
I would appreciate any thoughts anyone of you may have. :)
I live every day like it is the last. Money has no meaning to me, so I might as well save it. Let's face it, there's no tomorrow. No, but really, is it such an oxymoron to save for the future while living for the present? I for one make more than I need to spend every month, so I just don't spend whatever I don't need. I don't live in luxury, but I get by well enough to become fat and lazy. To me, saving is the logical thing to do with money, for fear of financial trouble in the future. I've been right twice about that, so I'll continue saving.
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I would assume one would find a balance which suits them in order to both enjoy their lives while investing in their future.
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one would assume that in a perfect world....but in modern reality, we are living check to check. Right QuietResonance
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if your living on check to check I don't see how putting a tiny fragment of it into a savings in order to sustain some amount of financial security. would younreally just use all the money you get as soon as you get it? or would you just dump your entire paycheck into your savings while skipping dinner?
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I don't save anything now, if I have any money left over at the end of the month (which is rare, usually I'm broke for a week or so) then I spend it quickly otherwise I get less money the next month.
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I feel there is a false dichotomy creeping in, here. Why isn't it possible to seize the day in a thrifty and frugal manner?
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I agree. You can seize the day without money, and I would even dare to go as far as to say that what you must do to seize the day very seldom costs anything.
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I agree. You can seize the day without money, and I would even dare to go as far as to say that what you must do to seize the day very seldom costs anything.
Exactly, "seizing the day" just means taking a chance, make the most of life, or don't let opportunities pass you by. You can save for tomorrow and still enjoy today.
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Yes, but for some people - seizing the day has a price tag.
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My opinion is the term as Horace used it was more than just enjoyment of the day, more like give up hope in the future and give all to the pleasures offered at the moment. I think this is more what the OP had in mind also, "...savour every moment with all that we have?" This is contradictory to prudence (best word I could think of for the moment). It is a difficult task to achieve merriment, much less adventure, by exhausting all that I have today if I have the nagging feeling of having nothing for tomorrow. I won't even start on all the fetters just living places on us.
Most of my pleasures and enjoyments are also ridiculously cheap, a good book, good conversation with good friends, or a day spent fly fishing and I will drop most everything to enjoy these gratifying things, but that's not what I imagine Horace had in mind.
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Yes, but for some people - seizing the day has a price tag.
Those people are idiots and whores. I'm sorry, but if you can't enjoy your life without spending money, you've got some thinking to do.