Seizing the bonus day: Leap year’s extra leap.
My observations today were inspired by an old episode of one of my favorite shows, Frasier, where he challenges his radio audience as well as his family and himself to “take a leap” on the “bonus day” we are gifted on February 29. Of course, being Frasier, it all goes comically wrong for everybody, but the idea of doing something out of the ordinary on this out-of-the-ordinary-calendar day, seems fitting, and I have some mellow but compelling suggestions.
Resolutions? What resolutions?
Does anyone still make resolutions in this day and age where we are moving away from the hustle (yes, please!) and at the same time everything remotely ambitious is being labeled as a hustle? That argument is for another day… If indeed you have set some goals this year, as I have, now may be the perfect time to do a little review. Maybe you’ve made some progress on a goal, or realized that the freshness of the new year let you write down things you aren’t actually excited about. Remove the burden of what doesn’t light your heart, and have a plan for what does.
Longer days, joyful hearts
February is the hardest month of the year for me: we're in the midst of those chilly winter days, but kind of past the cozy blankets and hot cocoa of the holidays. It’s just mostly cold and gloomy (where are my fellow Seattleites at?) But, the days are getting longer, purple and yellow flowers are braving the frost around the sidewalks, and springtime is ready to burst forth with its sunnier skies. Well hopefully, because.. Seattle. Use this extra day to make the decision to shake off the winter blues and plant seeds of sunny joy despite the rainy weather.
3 x gratitude
Maybe you roll your eyes at the sight of this word which is so superficially overused nowadays—but have an open mind just today. Take a leap: if you don’t usually practice gratitude, just take a minute to at least think of, if you don’t want to commit to writing, three things you are grateful for. Try to go the extra few yards, and make it a little specific instead of general, like “grateful for the longer meal we had last night as a family and realizing how delightful and funny my girls are,” instead of “grateful for family.” Gratitude is part of my daily routine, and today I am grateful for not having to turn the light on in the early morning anymore because the mornings are brighter.
Setting intentions
Another thing you can do, especially if you haven’t done that before, is setting intentions. That’s different from goals or resolutions. Intentions, the way I think of them, are more about the general vibe that you, yourself, want to be. My intention for this month is to just be more mindful, more aware and less on auto-pilot. It’s an intention because it’s not a place you arrive at or something you achieve and that’s it. It’s something that you gently focus on and it fluctuates, and you don’t judge your progress. It’s like a subtle note in the back of your mind.
Something bolder
Maybe you can take advantage of this extra day to take on Frasier’s challenge and actually do something bolder that you’ve wanted to do. Maybe that’s a cold ocean plunge, taking your teenager to a local music show, or the family on the ferris wheel. It could be having the haircut you’ve collected photos of on Pinterest or trying a totally new kind of exercise… No commitment, just do this thing today to practice positive discomfort, and the joy of making a seemingly ordinary day a little extra.
Who knows, maybe the detour from the ordinary will create a spark in you.
Even though the leap year only comes around once every four years, the spirit of adventure and possibility can be alive and kicking every single day if you let it. It’s up to you. And if you think about it, today is not the only bonus day we get. Every day we wake up is a bonus day, and an excuse to take a leap.
