Leaping Ahead! Are you?

Well, we on the Gregorian calendar have an extra day today, Leap Day. 

Wikipedia says, "February 29, known as a leap day in the Gregorian calendar, is a date that occurs in most years that are evenly divisible by 4, such as 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. Years that are evenly divisible by 100 do not contain a leap day, with the exception of years that are evenly divisible by 400, which do contain a leap day; thus 1900 did not contain a leap day while 2000 did. Years containing a leap day are called leap years. February 29 is the 60th day of the Gregorian calendar in such a year, with 306 days remaining until the end of that year." 

Frankly, while that's all well and good, here's what I know: I get an extra day today. I know what I want to do with mine. What will you do with yours?

Life and time are very precious things. If you read my blog about the terrible, untimely death of Sally Meyerhoff (http://richyacks.blogspot.com/2011/03/so-fragile.html), you know what I mean. We just don't know what tomorrow has in store for us, so it's best if we live today!

My advice is the same for me as I would and will give to you: enjoy it. Today, like any other day, is the day to have a little fun, work hard and love even harder. It's a great day to make a new friend and to hug an old one. It's a day to realize that despite all of the cynicism and negativity out there, we still control what goes on in the inside of ourselves. It's a day to savor!

Jim Loehr, in his book Athletic Excellence, defined savoring the moment as "Being right here, right now, loving every minute of it." There is no "what if" or "if only," in this moment. There is simply NOW! Talk about an incredible philosophy, both challenging and rewarding in that exact moment you are living.

Imagine what our relationships, our work and our play would be like if we could truly SAVOR the moment; each moment. I'm guessing we'd be happier, more productive and probably contagious. And it'd be nice to be contagious in a good way!

Enjoy the day, in fact, SAVOR it. And then keep it going for this whole Leap Year (by then it'll be more than a habit, it'll be the way you/we live!

Happy Leap Day!

Rich