Earlier this week, on a day typical of late December, I took a long walk around our town with my constant canine companion, Maggie. On the way home, we walked up busy Germantown Avenue, stopping to talk with others enjoying the brisk weather, window shopping, and taking time for Mags to properly greet all her four-legged friends and her many two legged admirers.
The store windows along the avenue were still bedecked in their holiday trappings, making a last- ditch effort to lure today’s walkers into their shops for the post-holiday sales.
Our walk took much longer than usual…admittedly I’m a window-shopping rock star – and Maggie has a lot of friends. As we strolled by a little gift shop, the wording on a tiny notecard in the crowded shop window caused me to pause for a few minutes of reflection. Beautiful, I thought, and we continued on our way. But as we were almost home, I found myself still thinking about that card’s message, contemplating its unquestionable relevance as we bring this crazy year to its end. I felt I had to have that card and I also felt I wanted to share its message with you.
So Mags and I retraced our steps back to Windfall…that lovely gift shop. Before going inside, I took the above photo of the card as it was displayed in the window.
The measure of a year, it reads, is in the ways we have learned to love.
I have no idea with whom these words originated but as I walked out of the store with my little treasure, I found myself filled with a sense of relief. These words…the ways we have learned to love…had instantly allowed me to validate the year I had considered wasted.
Returning home, I immediately sat and began this post, attempting to explain to you the impact this simple message has had on me. I’ve been despairing – you’ve heard me – for months there has been little for us to celebrate. There’s been deep loss and sadness, and the future remains uncertain still. Yet here, on this modest notecard is a prescription for reframing the worth and perhaps, the significance of these last months.
If I measure these days in how much I have learned – or re-learned – to love, then it has been time well spent. I am thinking of how many instances I have witnessed total strangers giving of themselves, reaching out to each other, and I have learned love. I recall images of all the first responders risking their precious lives to save others, and I have learned love. I consider all the volunteers at the small non profits that have popped up to meet the needs created by these times, and I learned love. And from the protesters crying out for the rights of the vulnerable, I have learned love.
Closer to home I have felt how deeply my children feel for Bob and me in the way they have ensured we are safe, and I love. I see them with their families, sheltered, adapting, enjoying if not quite relishing, their “pods” and I love. And I think of my husband of 55 years, knowing we, too, have been drawn even closer during this time, and I love.
So, as I measure 2020 given this profound touchstone, it becomes clear that it has not, thankfully, been a year wasted. For this conclusion, I am ever grateful to the anonymous writer of these words. I am thankful that Maggie and I took that walk. And I am beholden to the shop owner for providing me the opportunity to re-think how my time has been spent.
In closing, the following song from the Broadway musical, Rent, comes to mind, reminding us to measure our lives in the smallest amounts – in the ways we use each year’s 525,600 minutes.
Seasons of Love
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred 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 five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a year in a life?
How about love?
How about love?
How about love?
Measure in love…
Seasons of love…
Seasons of love…
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
Five hundred twenty five thousand journeys to plan
Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes
How do you measure a life of a woman or a man?
In truths that she learned
Or in times that she cried
In bridges he burned
Or the way that she died
Its time now to sing out though
The story never ends
Let’s celebrate remember a year in a life
Of friends
Remember the love…
(Oh you gotta remember the love)
Remember the love…
(Oh yeah, its a gift from up above)
Remember the love…
(Sing out, give out, measure your life
In looooooove…!)
Seasons of love…
Seasons of love…
Happiest, Safe, Healthy and Peace-filled New Year to all my MOL friends! May each of our 525,600 minutes teach us love.
Although I usually never make a comment I felt the need today to tell you thank you for your blog. Often times my mind will return to something you wrote and then wonderful memories will flood my mind. In this year of such turmoil I found those moments so refreshing and mind opening. I am sending love and hugs to you and all your family. You are a very gifted and special lady and I’m glad Denis brought you into my life.
God bless
Gladys
We have been blessed with so many special people in our lives who have joined us on our journey.You are one of those, Gladys. I am so happy you are enjoying these posts.
Wishing you a new year, 2021, filled with learning and love. My husband and I just celebrated our 45th anniversary and our love has continued to grow as we lived through this globally challenging year. We, too, are grateful for the caring love of our daughter, son-in-law and grand-children and our friends both here and abroad. We are utterly grateful for all the front-line workers in health care, grocery shoppers and delivery people, mail carriers, UPS and FEDEX drivers. The list goes on as we give deep thanks to those serving and saving others. On to a new year! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us all.
Thank you, again, for keeping up with MOL. Can I look forward to posting some of your writings in 2021????
Pat,
Thank you for guiding us through this year! You have been so inspiring! I just celebrated my birthday two days ago with my husband and my kids at my table with both of their fiancé by their side, and thought, this is the best birthday I can remember because my heart is full with the love to see their happiness and to have the time we have spent together this past year. Because we had to, but it became a gift to me! So that card resonates with my! This year opened my eyes to what and who I love so deeply! We did fine without the rat race and I think we will all learn a valuable lesson for years to come. Keeping it Simple can show you the beauty in things that we may have missed!!
Happy and healthy New Year!
Sweet Darlene! First of all…happy birthday! It sounds like your day was PERFECT. I love reading the realizations that this year brought to you. Let’s all hope that the events of 2021 bring us lots of comforting opportunities to be with with those we love. Thanks so much for this!
Sincere gratitude for all you shared with us this year, I too often go back and reflect on your thoughts & reflections which have helped me make sense of somethings during the year. At times I thought ‘is she inside my head’ several times I truly echoed your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing the song from RENT, beautiful. I will definitely pay it forward. Stay safe & well.
Dear, Dear Assumpta…you have been so very supportive since day 1! I hope we can one day meet. Thank you for all your encouragement…it means so much to know there are those out there who feel as I do. Happy 2021!!
Once again you have added good thoughts to these tough times. DO you remember the Joan Walsh Anglund books ?” Love is a Special way of Feeling” ! SO true. And one that I think you gave me “A Friend is Someone Who Likes YOU ” They go so well together when thinking of you and Bob. Happy 2021 for our world . And Thank You for making life abit easier with your words and thoughts. LOVE YOU
Happy New Year, Linda…Sure I remember the Anglund books with those cute illustrations. And I do remember giving you the one you mention. You were a friend then and remain dear to me today. Be well and happy and I hope we can get together soon. Bob and I were just looking at the picture of all of us at Mohonk. What a great day!
Mrs. Harrington~
I absolutely loved this! I feel like I was walking with Callie and you and Maggie through town.. I love the saying and this is what we needed to take away from 2020! Couldn’t be more true! You’re positivity and caring ways have always touched my life! Happy Nee Year! ❤️
I would love to walk with you and Callie…if only! Thank you for your kind words. Happy New Year!
Thank you!!1
Beautifully written … stumbled upon your site roaming down rabbit holes, curious about blogs and writing. In your stories there are so many random gems that just resonated deeply … perhaps a kindred Celtic soul … Hygge … Hallelujah … unsettled times and self tending … grown children, blessed connection … books and travel – such a broad spectrum of interests. I tried to leave a comment but it didn’t take … felt I wanted to say “thank you”. Your words are inspiring, oddly comforting … thinking we’re all on a similar path in this human life, and sharing voices makes the darker times a little brighter.
(The above comment was written by casey.em@gmail.com and delivered to the site’s email).
Dear Eileen…thank you for your kind words and soulful insights. I am so very grateful! I apologize that you had difficulty leaving the comment directly on the site. I had hoped this was fixed. I copied and pasted your comment and went to the site and so it could appear here. I will look at this issues again today.
I have added your email address to our MOL family. Have a beautiful day, and again, I thank you.
Thank you so much Pat for your beautifull colorfull and inspiring words. I can just picture going into that little shop and finding such a gem. I love the song you choose from RENT. Never really knew all the words and how very meaningful they are. You have such a very special way of expressing so much of what we are feeling in our own minds and hearts. You are a Blessing! I am full of gratitude ! “Keep on keeping on” Happy New Year 2021! Looking forward to another year reading your blogs!
Thank you so very much for all your support this year, Kathleen! I am so grateful.