LEAP YEAR 2008

Guinea Pigs

A colleague at school had two guinea pigs. One died. The remaining guinea pig was really upset and lonely. My colleague put a stuffed teddie bear in the cage. The guinea pig started to coo and nuzzle up to the bear. This weekend, a guinea pig rescue society is going to bring another guinea pig to my colleague's house.

What you must know is I am not a big pet person. So, everything from putting a teddie bear in a cage to finding a guinea pig rescue mission are actions that are quite foreign to me. What I do know, however, is that compassion toward any living being can have an impact on us all.

King Cake

There were King Cakes for sale at the grocery store. Being that it was Tuesday, I assumed that tonight was Mardi Gras. I bought one and brought it to my class. While the students seemed appreciative of the purple, yellow and green iced cake, a couple of people mentioned respectfully that Mardi Gras was next week. For a moment, I felt a little foolish and then I remembered that celebrations do not begin and end in one day. Take it from me. It's ok to be a week early for any leaps, big or small. Laissez les bon temps roulez.

Safety Net

In order to graduate this spring with a master's degree in Communication Studies, I have to write a master's thesis. This past weekend, my advisor read and critiqued four drafts of my prospectus. I remain in awe of her ability to shepherd me through this rigorous maze. What this experience made me realize is the beauty of someone who is willing to stand firm with a safety net underneath as I cross the tight rope of this academic experience.

This afternoon, my daughter Frances decided she wanted to leap from a great distance to swing on a monkey bar. She wanted me to spot her. When I held her, she could not leap. When I looked away, she could not leap. When I stood firmly underneath in anticipation of her leap --but with no physical contact-- she soared. I was her safety net. As we leap, so shall we be safety nets for other people.

Pull-Out Couch

A six-year-old boy took a leap last night and embarked on his first ever sleep over at our house. When he left his mother, he wasn't sure if he would be able to do it. At bedtime, our son and the boy read books together on the pull-out couch and fell asleep. There was something both heartbreaking and affirming to be a witness to this leap. Remembering some of our early leaps in life can help us be bold today.

Power Hours

We all have power hours, times of day when we are at our best. In a conversation about this topic today, I heard some fascinating responses. One person said she is at her best when it is raining outside. Another person said he is a night owl and gets a surge of energy between midnight and three am. When he writes emails during his power hours, he saves them and sends them out at a more "socially acceptable time" like 7 am. What are your power hours or power weather? Figure out a way to leap then.

Leap of Doubt

As I talk with people about Leap Day, the response is often "oh, you mean a leap of faith?" Yes and no. If your leap is inspired by faith, wonderful. Carry on. Recognize, however, that a leap of doubt can be just as effective. For Leap Day to soar, the most hardened cynics and critics must participate. Doubt does not have to stand in the way of action. I think I can becomes I probably won't but I will try anyway. You may not succeed and you really won't if you don't try.

Plucking

In the past month, I have flat out missed three functions. Truth be told, they never even made it to my calendar. The worst was forgetting to take my daughter Frances to her first reconciliation. For any non-Catholics, this omission is a big deal. Today I missed an important school function. Am I losing my edge? Perhaps these omissions are actually self-preservation disguised as ineptitude. I am somehow intentionally putting the reins on my tendency to embrace schedules and multiple daily commitments. If I have a guardian angel, she is plucking out certain emails right now and putting them safely in the trash. Clear the deck, knowingly or not, and make room for your leaps.

100 Bottle Caps

My daughter Frances is collecting 100 bottle caps for a school project. For a few days, we looked for bottle caps on the ground as we walked around town. We found no bottle caps. Yesterday, we went to three bars and asked the bartender if he or she had any bottle caps. In five minutes, we collected 20. All of the bartenders told us to come back today for more. There are a couple of lessons here for leapers. ONE-Instead of staring at the ground, ask for what you need. TWO-. Don't muck around in the periphery. Go to the source.

Giving Back

This morning, my kids and I watched the "I Have A Dream" Speech." The message is just as important to listen to now as it was almost forty-five years ago.

I used to think the King Holiday was too close to the New Year holiday. Now I think the timing is inspired. Three weeks after the holidays, I am ready to ask how my intentions will actually make a difference in other people's lives? The King Holiday is the time to consider how we are and are not giving back to the community. Yes, I have successfully made some small adjustments in my own life. How can I leap alongside others in the future?

Januaritis

My graduate school advisor calls it Januaritis. It is an illness that has struck many of my colleagues at school. It makes you sick. Often, you go to bed for several days. It is no joke. While there is no doubting that a virus, bacteria or the crud has entered your body, Januaritis is also the result of plain overexertion.

January is the month of resolutions and overextension. We are trying to make right by the world and the world by us. We are leaping with a vengeance and many of us are tired. The sudden discipline around WHATEVER is too much. Slow and steady, remember? Blow off your daily leap for a couple of days and I will too. It will be there when we return. I will write again on the King Holiday