Tomorrow marks the Ides of March, a festive day in ancient Rome dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war. It was during this festival that the citizens of Rome would enjoy military parades and the like. If you’re American, think of it as a sort of ancient Memorial Day. The Ides of March is also notorious for being the day that the famous Julius Caesar was betrayed and assassinated.

It is only right that we should quote Gaius Julius Caesar, the great Roman general and dictator whose influence has spread through time and through many different cultures.

Even before becoming a dictator of the senate, Caesar had achieved victories in various military campaigns in Gaul (modern day France and Germany) and at sea against pirates in the Mediterranean (the so called Roman Lake.)

In 49 BC, by crossing the Rubicon on the borders of the Roman frontier, he officially rebelled against the senate who wanted him prosecuted for irregularities during his term as imperator or governor of Spain. Julius Caesar would go on to become one of the most famous people in history… but before that, while at the Rubicon river, he was facing his moment of fate. There was an air of uncertainty as to whether he should rebel or submit. It was then that he was quoted as having supposedly said “Alea icta esto.”

“Let the die be cast.”

My friends, I sincerely believe that we have only one life to live. And while making hard choices and facing uncertainties, much like Caesar did, lead to the unknown, let us strike out and grasp that which we cannot yet reach. Let us take some risks! Let us step out of our comfort zones! Let us seek out the best in this life! Take the steps to achieve this. Alea icta esto! Let the die be cast!