What if C-A-T Really Spelled Dog?
When I was in elementary school my soccer coach called me “space cadet” and a family friend said, “he lives in the clouds, but when he comes down he lands on a dime” (a compliment that I now cherish). I knew one wasn’t being kind in their assessment, but I didn’t really put a lot of thought into it either, maybe to their point, I was just spacing out.
I wasn’t contemplative, or didn’t think I was. What was going on in my brain? What was going on in space? ‘What’s Leap year?’
My youngest memory of caring about Leap year was when my middle school math teacher’s birthday was on February 29th and we all joked that he was younger than us. Now it only helps solidify time, and that time is malleable.
It takes the earth 365 days and 6 hours to go around the sun. How would we organize ourselves with calendars, equinoxes, etc. – if we have this universal bobbed 6-hour tail to manage every year?
It would be really hard and confusing, so for over 2000 years, we’ve been constructing and optimizing the concept of Leap Years in an attempt to smooth things out, and it all goes back to being right in the world - if we even noticed it wasn’t already.
[Fun Fact: Leap Year is not every four years. See which and why below.]
We sit on the couch, staring out the window.
Maybe it’s serene, as we gaze at the landscape, a knot on an Aspen, or the sun glistening on our neighbors roof.
Or maybe it feels chaotic, as our neighbor's dog angrily and annoyingly barks, or the neighbor's small child tenuously climbs a jungle gym, while their parent tries to multitask.
Whatever we think is going on, the earth is still spinning at 1,000 mph, and in order to get around the sun every 365 days and six hours, we’re flying through space at 67,000 mph. Everyday what goes on around us defines our senses.
What if the Aspen was unfortunately rotting, and that peaceful glistening roof was a terrible leak inside the house?
What if we couldn’t see the mats below the jungle-gym, or the other parent intently watching and the annoying dog was scaring a fox who was stalking the family cat back into the woods?
‘I can do ____.’ ‘I can’t do ____.’ ‘I am ____ .’ ‘That person is always ____.’
What would happen if in that moment in time we adjust our senses and intent to give us the outcome that we want or prefer?
Like Leap day, you can construct your history, a limiting belief, any narrative – to be one that works for your needs and desires. You can be the hero barking dog, flying around the universe at 67,000 mph, and not just one every 4 years.
Peace be the journey!
Pete