Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes How do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets In midnights, in cups of coffee In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes How do you measure, a year in the life? How about love? How about love? How about love? Measure in love —from “Seasons of Love,” by Jonathan Larson
It is my one-year anniversary as publisher of Natural Awakenings Long Island. I cannot believe a year has passed. I can’t help but look back and ask myself, “Was it a success”?
Humans are notoriously searching for a success measuring tool. Was I successful at my new job? My first year as a vegan? My first year as a mother? How do I measure that? Most often success is measured in the money we make and in the money we spend. That’s probably why there are so many expensive cars on the road today (I gotta get me one of those
When measuring, it is probably best to start at the beginning: Last year, I purchased a magazine and formed a company. Three weeks later, super-storm Sandy tore through Long Beach, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. It was months before I was whole. Rebuilding parts of my home and office was a long, mostly torturous process of insurance, apologies and construction workers. When I look back on that beginning, I could say it wasn’t as great a launch as I had planned. However, if I measure in love, I can only seem to remember that I witnessed a beauty in humanity during those days and months after the storm that I never would have experienced had the storm not occurred. I guess you could say, in a perverse way, I loved that storm.
Yes, Jonathon Larson had the answer: Measure in love. 525,600 minutes of publishing; I hated the pressure, but loved the magazine. Deadlines were tough, but I loved my writers, Julianne and Theresa, and editor, Sara. Due to the storm, I lost access to three months of initial training. Hated that, but loved, loved my graphic designer, Erika, for understanding and still training me till this day. I love my distributors, Bill and Clem, and my advertisers, new and old, who quickly all became friends. I loved the experiences that I had as I ventured deeper into a more holistic lifestyle.
My job as publisher would not exist if I had no one reading this magazine. I absolutely LOVE Natural Awakenings Long Island readers!
For this anniversary issue, I give you a present: more content! Look inside to find more wellness information, more local events, more eco-friendly tips, more pages (we are up to 64; keep us there by supporting our advertisers)—quite simply, more love!
Personally, during these past 525,600 minutes, I loved sunsets, from Long Beach to Fire Island; I loved my kid’s first surf contest; and I loved my wedding anniversary (15 years married to my best friend). Sure, there were things I hated. Things like the passing of someone dear to me, and the wakes that I had to attend. But I love that I was able to say at those wakes, “I had the opportunity to know and love that person and that my minutes with him or her were so amazing they were immeasurable.”
So, thank you readers for your loyal support and love. And, when you find yourself calculating your own past, make sure to measure your life in love!
