Every four years the month of February receives an extra day. 

An extra twenty-four hours.
A bonus day.
WOW!
What a super gift! 

This reminds me of snow days when I was a kid. These were days when school was cancelled because of a snow storm that came too fast and heavy to clear for buses to  make their rounds.

A collective cheer rose over the blanketed world, when the cancellation announcement came over the news. Even if you liked school, you were still thankful for the day off. (As a teacher I learned that I hadn’t lost my childhood enthusiasm for these unexpected gifts.)

It was as if the heavens had opened and liberated everyone from their usual routines. Fill your day as you wish, was nature’s proclamation, over the dazzling brilliance of its icy world.

As a kid, this meant snowmen, snow forts, and snowball fights. Followed by drying out and warming up with hot soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. 

Inside, there was bonus time for my favorite pastimes; like playing games, reading, drawing, or TV. 

Ahh yes, for a procrastinator, such as myself, I had extra time to complete school assignments, study for a test, or complete a project. The snow day eliminated my late night scramble the evening before assignments were due.

Of course, Mom saw a great opportunity for me to clean my room, a chore which was always at the bottom of my to-do list. 

But doing these necessities seemed lighter and more joyful, done within the bubble of the snow day. When school resumed, I enjoyed the feeling of being prepared and on top of things. At least for one day.

I propose we make February 29th a special day, like a snow day.
What do you think? 
One day every four years, we stop from our usual rush, give ourselves permission to take time to appreciate the people around us.

Hide ourselves within a “February 29th bubble”, letting go of pressures from without and within.

What will you do with your extra day?

On February 29th, I’m going to take time to readjust my goggles, shed unnecessary burdens, and be thankful for those around me and for the gift of another day. 

Let’s get ready to leap into March!