Life’s Limits

Claire Doll
MSMU Class of 2024

(2/2024) Humans often struggle with the concept of limits. There is limited time to travel, limited time to pursue our careers, and limited time to spend with family and friends. In fact, there’s limited time on this earth. We plan for so much because it’s all we know. Life is short, so do it all! It’s what we hear all the time, and it’s a statement filled with pressure. Since when is there the time to "do it all"?

This year, we have been granted an extra 24 hours in 2024. I’ll be honest—I’ve never really thought much of the leap year. I have one friend who was born on February 28th during a leap year, so we laugh about that, but it’s never crossed my mind otherwise. In fact, I didn’t know that 2024 had one extra day until I was assigned to write about it. But after some research, I realize that it’s quite a gift. It’s a little loophole in the whole system: extra time. We could always use extra time.

The last leap year was 2020. Anyone who has any memory of that year knows how haunting, eerie, and unbelievable the events of 2020 were. The more I think about it, the beginning and end of my college years are bookended by leap years. The way I see it, this year, I have more time to enjoy my dwindling moments at Mount St. Mary’s and await the future. And it’s hard, when you’re on the brink of a vast change and you can’t help but plan for the months and years ahead. It’s hard to enjoy the now. But this extra 24 hours, in this transformative year, could help.

I have 122 days until graduation. If this were an ordinary year, I’d only have 121.

February 29th, 2024 falls on a Thursday. I think Thursday might be my favorite day of the week; there’s a sense of anticipation for the weekend without the disruption of routine, and you still have Friday to get through, and then the weekend itself. Only, my weekends will be from Thursday to Tuesday, due to having no classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, giving me probably the most relaxed and flexible schedule I’ll ever have. Sometimes, I joke to my friends that I will be living the retired life this spring. I’m able to work out when I want, travel on long weekends, schedule lunch dates in the middle of the day—all on a fixed income, too! On Tuesday and Thursdays, I’ll be taking three classes: ethics, personal finance, and ceramics. I haven’t decided quite how the structure of my days will go yet, but I intend to give myself time to sleep in, get in some movement, and have free time as well.

I want to truly soak up my last months of college, and I fully believe that this leap year was meant to help me. Although an extra 24 hours is not a lot in the grand scheme of things, it grants me one extra day of the Mount experience, one extra day with my best friends. One extra day to be 22. One extra day in my life, often gone unnoticed—but not this time.

So, let’s imagine it’s February 29th. I wake up to one more day in February, in one of the most underrated months of the year. If I’m lucky—if we’re all lucky—it will snow. Maybe I’ll wake up to fresh flakes dancing in the air, or ice painting the roads. Or maybe it’ll be an ordinary day with ordinary, crisp, February weather. It’s Thursday, and to my surprise, I’m already on spring break—can you believe the Mount’s spring break starts in February and bleeds into the month of March? Last year, I spent spring break at the beach with my friends, and it was freezing. Wind sweeping sand in the air, and icy cold ocean water, not yet warmed by the sun. I had to leave this trip early because my sister and I had also planned a trip to Nashville. I found myself in Delaware one day, and the next day, on a plane to Tennessee. The year before, I was in London with my very best friends, exploring the historic, beautiful city. Now writing this, I realize am so fortunate to have amazing spring breaks that I can reflect upon.

This year, I want to do the same. Go somewhere I’ve never been.

I’m planning a trip with my boyfriend to Boston because I’ve always wanted to go, and I’ve never been that up North before. Or maybe I’ll hang out with some friends and travel to another totally new and random spot. What they say about college spring break is true: you need to soak up every last minute of it. Travel and be with friends and enjoy the moment. I think we were meant to have spring break during the leap day, during that extra 24 hours.

I challenge you this leap year to spend February 29th intentionally. What are your favorite, little moments of the day? Making your coffee in the morning and having that first sip? Driving to work and passing scenic views? Your lunch break? Finally getting home and settling on the couch? Reading a book or watching a movie before bed? Or, do you find yourself with some free time this leap year? Who would you be with? What would you do? What spots can you explore nearby, or far away? I urge you not to waste this extra day. It is a lucky thing to go to bed on February 28th and wake up on February 29th, if only for every four years.

Like I said, life is full of limits. Choose to spend your time wisely. Do not feel pressured to fit everything into this leap day, but rather take it slow and truly reflect on the fortunate experience of having an extra 24 hours to live. For one day, the limits are stretched just a bit. Enjoy it.

Read other articles by Claire Doll