Written by Karen D. Swim

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure – measure a year?
In daylights – in sunsets
In midnights – in cups of coffee
In inches – in miles
In laughter – in strife
In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life” –Seasons of Love, from the musical Rent

As I danced around in the gym after my workout singing this song along with the TV, (yes I danced and sang and could care less who was watching!), I considered the question. It is a brand new month, how would I measure it? What would I do with the next 31 days? What would I do with this day and the minutes, seconds and hours that stretched before me? Would my month be measured in smiles or tears? Would I measure it in chances taken or opportunities that passed me by?

Sweaty and winded, and flying high on endorphins I heard the music – the music of life. A heart pumping bass line accompanied by joyful horns that reminded me I was fully, completely alive.  I am here in this moment, in this time.  Yesterday is gone, but this moment is here. I could waste it with petty worries of things gone wrong, or plans that failed…or I could rejoice in the present.

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying;
And this same flower that smiles today
Tomorrow will be dying.” —  From To the Virgins, To Make Much of Time, Robert Herrick

I have no stinking idea what tomorrow holds but today I intend to live and to live boldly. I will dance in the middle of the gym, laugh at my own jokes and live life at my own pace.  This month I will not play it safe, because the same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying. If I take a risk and fall flat on my face, who cares? I will have lived, learned and created another blog post.

Now, it is your turn. How will you measure the month?  Be bold, express yourself, the mic is open.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCuMDMGLDKU]

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