Get Everything Done

The columnist and writer Harry Eyres (who wrote a book on the Roman poet Horace) says that Horace's famous quote/motto "carpe diem" is too often translated as an aggressive "seizing". Eyres says the motto can be better thought of using the metaphor of extracting the best from a grape, to savour and appreciate and enjoy it. If a grape is seized violently it will be destroyed. But it can be picked, using the right amount of pressure, and then it can be savoured, fully. And this is something that can be done quite gently.

Applying this concept to the various lists and rules in Mark's systems we can have the aim of being "productive" in this modilied sense of aiming to savour the day, so getting the most FROM the day rather than getting the most done IN the day. For me this permits more consideration of slowness, inner reflection and others points of view and generally "unproductive" moments which are none the less satisfying and meaningful, activities. For me it's a reminder to sometimes go deeper into a moment to find more meaning and fulfillment than to feel self-pressured to move onto the next activity. Some of the things I do IN time have subjective meanings outside of time.