Monday 29 February 2016

Happy Leap Day/Year

Image from Google home page today 

'Leap day' or 'leap year' is an interesting use of language. I'd like to explore more how the language we're using can help solve a challenge you're facing on this leap day, or during this leap year.

First the bad news - I'm sorry to tell you there is no extra 24 hours this week - nor an extra Monday ie no additional day plucked from the ether to be slotted between 2 normal days. Just an additional day in February that means the year is not 365 put 366 days long - meaning anniversaries are an additional day away longer than normal. Although when it happens 25% of the time - that's really quite 'normal' anyway.

The good news - we can use this 'leap' to help solve challenges in our lives.

So how does that work?

It's so much better to experience it than explain it - so - think of a problem you're facing today? It might be one you're procrastinating about - or not. Trust that the first situation that comes to mind is the right one.

Put that situation to the back of your mind, and only revisit it at the end of the post - no sneaking and wondering how it relates. Let your imagination and creativity fully explore the concept of leap year or day, and only once that's been done, then wonder how those insights might apply to that real life situation.

The aim now is to explore what images 'leap day or year' bring to mind.

Before considering my suggestions you may want to take a few minutes considering your own internal representation for a 'leap day' or 'leap year'. What images come to mind - what does a normal day look/sound or feel like, and how does that compare to a leap day, ditto a normal year versus a leap year.

What happens if you think of it as leap 24 hours, or leap 1440 minutes, or leap 86400 seconds. Which already has me thinking about Seasons of love from Rent, the musical about how we measure a year - one answer being in 525,600 minutes (in a regular year), and then takes me off down another tangent with Glee's dedication to the quarterback using the same song.

I went to Pixabay to look what images they had for 'leap year' and found nothing - just lots of leaping people and animals - and so share them below.

Remember no wondering how an image relates to the original situation - just observe your thoughts as you view the images - and take yourself off down the rabbit holes as they appear (even watching this video might provide the nudge you've been needing - who knows).


There is no right or wrong with metaphors so I share some of the images from Pixabay in case one resonates with you at this time.





I'm reminded to ask where are you leaping - backwards or forwards, up or down, right or left?

Don't rush as you review the images - take time for your mind to make associations with them to past events and insights. You may even want to go back and look at the above images again before continuing.

Remember - no right or wrong - just associations and tangents your mind will take you on in order to find a solution.

Don't dismiss a passing thought - in the same way that the 'seasons of love' song above is likely to hold the solution for me at this time.

Take time to explore the tangents and associations as they come to your  mind - whether associated with these images or not.





Does the leap require a leap off of, or on to, anything?





Who will be there to catch you?

And a few videos I've found on twitter's #LeapDay feed - all about leaping

One giant leap

Here's Cirque Du Soleil practising leaps


Huge death defying leaps

Cliff diving leaps

And just because they make me smile (think I may be off down one of my tangents now) Britain's got talent's Diversity's leap
UK SYTYCD - Trust in others

and here for golfing's greatest leaps.

Keep exploring the leap for yourself until you're getting no new ideas, or getting distracted.

Then bring to mind the original situation you wanted some clarity on - what insights and actions have come to mind? When will you take the first step leap?

Do let me know how you got on.

Alison Smith
Landscaping Your Life
Using nature to inspire change inside and out 

Landscaping Your Life (LYL) inspires change by using nature as metaphors for problems in our lives. Here 'nature' was being used in its widest sense to include: the passage of time, days, nights and seasons. The language we use also provides great insight, and can be used to inspire change too - as any one who is Making mountains out of molehills can verify.

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