Hello, my Daily Feelers!  It’s been a while, and I’ve missed you.  I’ll be starting off this post with a portion of the lyrics to a song from the musical, Rent

Seasons of Love (Jonathon Larson)

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 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 525,600 minutes – how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love. Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes – how can you measure the life of a woman or man?

Who doesn’t love that song?! Did that bring back memories for some of you?  It does for me, I love that show… 

Wow, a lot of the words above hit home for me…and probably do for many of you, too.  The past few years have stolen things from each of us, whether or not we’d like to admit it.  For some of us, the lives of loved ones were stolen too soon.  For others, health was stolen.  Time was stolen- time with loved ones, memories that we had hoped to make, even just the experiences that we took for granted: like going out to dinner in a restaurant, or being able to visit with friends and loved ones in person.  Vacations were cancelled, opportunities lost, relationships redefined, brought closer-or even ended. There’s been so much loss, but also so much opportunity for growth, healing and really taking measure of what we want our lives to be- and what we want to accomplish going forward.  

“How can you measure the life of a woman or a man?”– Jonathon Larson is asking a HUGE question in those lyrics- How DO you measure a life?  How do YOU want to live- WHAT do you want your legacy to be?  Then he asks an equally important question:  “How about LOVE?”  

We go through so many twists and turns in life, and it’s often so easy to get comfortable in being angry, resentful or sad- and we all know why:  because it’s easy to get comfortable in being or feeling a certain way, and it takes work, sometimes A LOT of work to pull ourselves out of those spots and force ourselves to go forward.  None of us are immune to this- not even the people who we think are perpetually happy and positive- We all have our dark spots in life.  The trick is to do whatever you need to, in whatever baby steps you need to take, to pull yourself up.  

How do you want to be remembered?  What will be the measure of your life? I know that for me, I think, “How about LOVE?”  This year had been hell on wheels for me, and I got knocked down in a way that will absolutely change me forever- but I’m taking my baby steps to get up again- and I’ve always wanted my legacy to be love, kindness and compassion, and I will be damned if I let ANYTHING change that for me!  There have been some dark times, really dark times- but with the support from family and friends, I have been inspired to keep getting up, and to keep moving forward- and I will ALWAYS support, encourage and help YOU to do the same. I firmly believe that our lives are not measured in how much money we make, or in how many possessions we have, but rather, in how many lives we touch.  

Keeping with the theme of this post:  I’ve recently gone to a program at our local public library, and while there, was told about the chosen book for the Summer adult reading program.  It’s called The Measure (How appropriate!) and it’s written by Nikki Erlick, who I’m told is from my hometown!  I’m mid-way through the book, but it’s really a well written book, and although it’s a fiction work, it’s so timely and it’s a perfect read for the times that we’re in.  Here’s a little summary about it that I found online:

The Measure

Nikki Erlick

Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice.

It seems like any other day. You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, and head out.

But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. This box holds your fate inside: the answer to the exact number of years you will live.

From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise?

As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge?

The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

Sounds like a great story, right?!  I recommend for all of you to check it out.  So- we go forward, and we MUST go forward always…Take a moment to see which direction your life has taken recently, and if you need to re-adjust, and take stock of what the measure of YOUR life will be, and what you truly wish your legacy to be for future generations.

Love to each of you!

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