Reader advisory: It is my opinion that many times people are too serious, continue to read at your own risk.
If you invest long you think that the market will grow up. In summary, you have a long time perspective, you area available to to
wait.
If you invest short you think the market will go down, in summary, you have a short time perspective, you wanna get a profit quickly.
Let's have some examples.

The green ones are long term investments, the red ones are short term investments, the orange ones (??? middle term ???).
Another example:

The red ones are long term, while the black ones are (sweet) whort term.
It is my very personal opinion that to have the opportunity to invest in such a kind of asset it is a great luckiness.