Now for then

Some Latin phrases are familiar: Carpe diem = “Seize the day.” … Cogito, ergo sum = “I think, therefore I am.” … Amor Omnia Vincit = Love conquers all. Those are good, though there’s a lesser-known Latin phrase that helps me every day. I say it often: Nunc pro tunc. It means, “Now for then” = Something done retroactively to correct an earlier error … the sympathy note not sent … the promise made but not kept … my thoughtless words or outright impatience, now regretted … Nunc pro tunc!  “Now for then!” I do now what I should have done then, and I am the better for it.