As of today, I have been alive for 18,000 days.
I know, that’s a weird thing to know. I only know it because some other day in the past, I discovered a counter that told me how many days I had been alive, and I did some math and put a reminder in my calendar for today.
I got an alert yesterday (you know, so I wouldn’t miss it), telling me that today marks my 18,000th day on the planet.
I don’t know what past me thinks this me is going to do with this information, but I do know that this me did some calculations and has now added an alert to March 2030 me about my 22,222nd day.
(If you want to know your own days, here’s the link I used.)
Weird, right? Time.
The funny thing about countdowns or ups like this is that I am not motivated or unmotivated by them. I’m more… befuddled by them.
This week I had a moment missing old friends. I was telling my husband a silly story and I realized that the two people who had been with me that day are now gone.
At that moment, Time came into the room. I felt it as a palpable presence. I could feel it on my skin and in my bones. I have felt this presence many times over the years, (it is this presence that has pushed many of my decisions) but it doesn’t make its visits any less full-of-thought.
Yes, I miss those people, and wish for more time with each of them, but I miss them because of how much I loved - and still love - them. What a gift. What a beautiful, impossible gift.
Someone I know is having challenges with a loved one, and I just want to shake that person and say, “You are wasting so much time. Pick love right now. When Time comes to visit you later, you’ll be so glad you did.”
Pick love right now. Of all of the choices you can make in this singular moment that is pure potential, please pick love. Whatever that looks like for you right now, for your people, for your home, for your body, for your work, for your self-expression, for your inspiration, for your health, for your job, for your brain, for your space, for your world.
It’s simplistic, and a cliche, I know. But Time and I? We’re pretty close. (Sidebar: He/She/They doesn’t like me saying that They aren’t real (which I do. A lot.) But They get that I mean the human-created limited version of time. So we’re good.) And They want me to tell you that the amount of time we get/spend/share/create/use doesn’t matter one iota. Not one.
What matters is how many of those 18,000 days included Love?
How many times did I choose it? How many ways did I share it? How often did I fall into it? How much do I lavish on my own self/life/choices/space/people/world?
Rob Brezsny writes: “The Universe is conspiring to shower you with blessings.”
People usually stop the quote at that point.
But when you read further into his book, he asks: “… here’s the loaded question: Are you willing to start loving life back with an equal intensity?“
I’m 18,000 days in, and I refuse to see that as anything but an invitation to up my love game. How can I begin to do even more conspiring to shower the Universe with blessings?
How can I arrive in March 2030, at day 22,222 knowing that over and over and over again I chose love?
Because what if that’s all we have Time for?
What about you? How does it feel to think about conspiring to shower the Universe with blessings?
Sending you so so much love,
P.S. Have you signed up for my newsletter or seen my other wonder-full offerings? I have something really exciting coming, and newsletter subscribers will get first dibs, so I hope you’ll join me there.
What a wonderful way to start the day. Thank you for the simple, yet profound idea of sharing more love. I always thought love was reserved for family and romantic partnerships. I am grateful that I have expanded my view to include everything. Strangers, friends, family, birds dogs, cats, trees, plants, sun, moon... The more I love, the fuller my heart is. Imagine what our world would look and feel like with more LOVE!!!