525,600 Minutes

” 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.”
(From the Broadway musical, “Rent” ~ Jonathan Larson)

One of my favourite routines is rising early on weekends. With my weekday alarm generally set for 4:am, it’s nice on the weekend to sometimes sleep in until 6: or 7:, and then sit quietly in the living room sipping coffee, playing a couple of morning puzzles and scrolling for the latest news. Last Saturday was New Year’s Eve and as I savoured my java with the holiday add of a little Baileys, I found myself looking through some Facebook Memories.

I’ve shared a lot of hopes and dreams in recent New Year’s Eve posts. There’s been a lot of gratitude for friends and family and for a pretty great life … There’s also been an underlying theme of longing … longing for something more … longing for home maybe.

2022 was a big year for me. After 2 years of “pandemic life” the slow return to a more normal pace was, well … educational to say the least. I’ve learned a new appreciation for using the word “no” more often and rationing my yeses for the people and things that are important to me. I have a new found appreciation and bigger love for my family and friends.

I developed a bit of an addiction to historical fiction in 2022, which I rarely consumed without Wikipedia open. It would often take me twice as long to get through the story because I was curious to research the people, places and events for truths and context. What I learned from that, is that there have always been fear driven tyrants, unethical politicians and myopic haters of decency on our planet.

With the over-availability of news (fake and otherwise) I have experienced some periods of hopelessness with current events but realized this past year that I can’t let those hopeless thoughts paralyze me. I still believe there is more good than bad in the world and that the only way forward is for you and I to keep trying to do some good each day. We all have a tiny bit of light we can offer and if we all turn our lights on, the darkness doesn’t stand a chance. An idealistic or corny thought perhaps but that doesn’t make it any less true.

I’ve known for years, but I finally feel ready to embrace “time” as the most precious commodity I will ever own and the only true longing I have these days is to use my time well. Even if that means doing nothing some days.

As the new year begins, my hope is that I will use the next 525,600 minutes to shine my light a little more, to say yes to all the love I have in my life and to rest more in a wonderful human who is the home I’ve longed for. #MyPerson We have many adventures planned for 2023 that we’re ridiculously excited for.

Wishing so much for you: peace, hope, love, a little adventure and a light that shines. Happy 2023.

#NewYears2023
#525600Minutes

Images this week are a retrospective carousel of some favourite shots from 2022, by month.

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“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” ~ Neil Gaiman

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Categorised in: Blogs, Mornings

This post was written by Phil Main