Americans don’t throw around much Latin these days. Decades ago, students were required to take Latin classes in school, but not anymore. I can’t even think of Latin being offered as a class option, not even in college."Carpe diem" is one Latin phrase that seems to role off many tongues without hesitation. I am sure few know its origin, but almost all know its meaning: Seize the day!This fine little phrase was given to us by a Roman poet named Horace a long time ago.Lately I have changed the phrase to meet the needs of those around me. I have several people in my life who are either just beginning or are planning for great adventures. I encourage them to "carpe adventum" — seize the adventure.Life-changing adventures often follow less than appealing and uninvited life changes. These changes, whether a job loss, a death or an accident, can start out to be horrifying. The adventure that is to follow rarely presents itself in a pretty package or with a big neon arrow. Generally, it takes a search — a deep soul-scarring and gut-wrenching search.But usually an adventure can be found. It may not seem like an easy or probable solution to the situation, but there it is just begging to be tried.I can think of three lives around me facing such adventures and my dream for them is that they can seize it for all it is worth.The first of the three have been entrenched in their adventure for just over a month. My parents, who are in their late 50s, recently decided to use their retirement "nest egg" to become business owners. They purchased Pike Haven — a bait shop, restaurant and campground on Lake Oahe.They have never worked in the food or hospitality industry but somehow one of life’s unfortunate surprises pointed them in that direction. Now here we are as a family, cheering them on — watching them struggle to learn new things, hoping the adventure is worth the effort and that they never look back with regret.Their new life keeps them far too busy to evaluate how they feel. They are too busy seizing. Nearly every hour of the day they are improving the business or trying to find ways to make the lives of their customers better. The adventure is underway, and I don’t think they have ever felt younger.The small struggles they are facing and overcoming are taking years off them – I think they are beginning to feel like nothing can defeat them. That is the spirit one needs to hold on to when adventuring.The second couple I know is just waiting for their adventure to begin. After 10 years of security, friends and family, a co-worker of mine and her husband are planning to head south for adventures unknown.They have a plan to earn money and a possible idea of what they will live in, but no idea where they are going or how long they will stay.After spending a winter apart — again due to unforeseen circumstances, they have decided their lives are better together. For them, I hope the adventure keeps them together and happy. A lot can be said for financial security, but when you don’t have anyone to share it with, perhaps it is not that great after all.I know the couple will seize the adventure — their stories will be grand and their experiences will be rewarding.I am waiting for the final tale of adventure to unfold. A family who is very dear to my own is facing one of life’s worst tragedies following an accident experienced by their 18-year-old daughter. Just a few weeks after graduation, a promising future was nearly taken away from her.She was airlifted to Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls with head injuries, and suddenly her family and friends were facing a horrible situation. Doctors didn’t have much in the way of good news for the first week or so, but as I said, many adventures take a search.This young lady is still searching for a way out of her tragedy. As her brain begins to recover, she will be forced to evaluate her next adventure. It may not be what she pictured just a month ago as she graduated and spoke of scholarships, but I am sure life will be kind and will give her something extraordinary.Her adventure has not yet begun, nor is it even a thought in her head, but I remain hopeful that it will be there soon.When life knocks a person down, we have to accept it. After all, we have little choice. The sun keeps rising and setting and days go by. When we can finally accept a change in life, our eyes are able to open a bit wider and perhaps we can find the adventure hiding behind the change.Most importantly, when the adventure has been found, we need to live it and own the decision. We need to take in every aspect of it — the good, the bad, the triumphs and the failures. Carpe adventum.Story ideas or comments can be e-mailed to Lexi Moore at lexim@star-herald.com or called in at 962-3561.