Alex M. Eduque                   Today, is February 29th. A day we only get to celebrate every four years. This means, we have an extra day in our calendar this year – an extra 24 hours to do as we please. Leap years are believed to be lucky, especially for those who believe in numerology. The energy is supposed to be higher, and filled with enthusiasm, optimism, compassion, love, and all the good stuff. It is also supposedly a great year to search for spiritual wisdom, if you so believe in that. If the first month of this leap year though is any indication of what is to come, then it suffices to conclude that most would believe a leap year to be the opposite – unlucky. But I shall not delve into that as I have already spoken extensively about it already in the past. What I do know for sure is that our mindset conditions what is to come – what we focus our minds and hearts on are more likely than not the disposition we will take as we work towards our goals for the year. Perhaps, if we so believe, this is the year to take a leap – in career, of faith, in love, or even just in adventure by crossing something off your bucket list. And personally, I would much rather allow that perspective to govern my leap year. On a personal note, I will undoubtedly be taking quite a leap in my life later this year when I get married. A lot of things will certainly change, many adjustments will need to take place, but I know in my mind and in my heart, that of the most important things in life, more will stay the same. There will be adjustments in how my every day will be, my priorities and time management to an extent, the commitments I take on, and who I spend most of my time with from hereon, but that is not to say that many things will not remain. Because the concept of change in and of itself can be quite daunting, we tend to gravitate towards thinking about that which can sometimes overwhelm ourselves, when reality has it that change can (and is oftentimes) be beautiful. And for us to learn to live our best lives with it – most especially because it is really one of the only constant things in this world – we must learn to embrace, rather than resist it. In a world that has already become ridden with so much negativity, we must condition ourselves to see change for the better, and even if only through that, a shift in perspective is a big leap that can change the course of your life from hereon forth. To take leaps and bounds in whatever area or arena in life is not an easy task, but it is indeed an achievement and a worthy feat once you reap the rewards. That is not to say that there are no hurdles and curves along the way, or waves to wade through. It all comes with it, and the older I get, the more I believe that everything happens for a reason. Whether or not the purpose is clear from the very beginning, or one must read in between the lines to get a more vivid picture, I truly know in my heart now more than ever that God speaks clearly to those He loves, and to those who make it an effort to not only give Him a place in their minds, hearts, and lives, but to those who include it in their mission to serve Him by carving out time in their every day to pray. In the same way that I also believe that God puts people in our lives for a reason, we must continue to live our every day with a grateful heart. Despite the challenges that may come our way, the renewed opportunity to have a new day is enough reason to smile and celebrate. Let us not look past the small things, for most of the time, they matter most. Perhaps the leap you need to make is not after all a big one – start by tip-toeing and feeling your way through what it is you want to change for good – to make better and brighter. That is the leap that will take you miles.