Today is a very special day. Not that many of them come along in a lifetime.

February 29 is the hallmark of a leap year – a special part of our calendar that keeps it in equilibrium. It only comes around once every four years. And every four years are marked out as being special through the Olympics where the finest athletes from across the world compete in the ‘friendly games’. It is as much about celebration and comradery as it is about competition.

But today is not just special because it is 29 February. It is special because it is another day in which you wake up to find yourself alive. Days become so common place in most lives that it is only the ‘significant’ days; birthdays, annversaries, holidays, special event days, days off of work, that we tend to take notice of. But that is the quickest way to wish ones life away.

Our relationship to life tends to be marked out through this man-made creation and relationship to time. You had no concept of time as a baby. As a bay you were not hankering after tomorrow, the past, the future or some special moment. But soon were taught to ‘plan for’, ‘look forward to’, ‘wait until’ and so on. Much of this is born of good intention but actually can mean that your life is merely about waiting, hoping, wishing, reflecting, yearning, rushing.

An interesting thing has happened to me ‘recently’ when I’ve not rushed to get up but stopped to enjoy the moment and, uinstead of thinking about what needs to be ‘done’ , ‘worked on’ or  ‘ accomplished’ instead I’ve started the day being grateful for being and breathing.

Every day is a special day.