525,600 Minutes

When the movie “Rent” came out a few years back, one of my friends insisted that I come along to see it.  After all, it had been such a big hit on Broadway and I needed to be “more cultured”. Well I went kicking and screaming. All I remember about that experience is that they SANG A LOT! I didn’t get a real feel for the story except that somebody was a filmmaker, somebody had AIDS, somebody was being evicted, somebody was a performer, somebody was on drugs and they SANG A LOT.  Even the girl who appeared to be dying at the end got up and SANG.

During Christmas this year I was sharing my experience with my theater actress niece who couldn’t believe I didn’t like the movie. She absolutely loves the play and insisted that I watch the video of the actual Broadway play that she forcefully handed me. She was convinced that I’d really like it.  Reluctantly, I took the video and watched it. What I remember from the video is:  somebody was a filmmaker, somebody had AIDS, somebody was being evicted, somebody was a performer, somebody was on drugs and they SANG A LOT.  Even the girl who appeared to be dying at the end got up and SANG.(Sorry Ty)

What was ringing in my head after watching the video was that powerful song at the end. It was by far my favorite song from the movie/play. That chick with the big voice really took it home. In addition to liking the song I learned that there are 525,600 minutes in a year.  I guess I should have known that but I've never really thought about breaking the year down into minutes. It really got me thinking since we’re winding down 2012 and heading to 2013.

I began to think in the few minutes I have left in 2012 (and I say ‘few’ because it is a small amount compared to 525,600). I began to think back on how I spent the bulk of my minutes this year and how I can make the best use of my minutes in 2013. I started thinking back and wishing I could get some of those minutes back. My sad reality is that I can’t get those minutes back.  I think we could all agree that we have wasted some of our minutes on things that didn't matter in 2012.  Maybe that’s what all that SINGING was about in “Rent”. Maybe that was the message. We can’t afford to waste the minutes we have.  This is so true in every faction of our lives. It’s true whether referring to the time our governmental bodies spend to make decision on things like the Debt Ceiling or the Fiscal Cliff. It’s true in referring to  the time a person has left on their job that will be ending  “in a minute”, the time a person battling a terminal illness has left or simply time spent away from family, friends or loved ones. You can’t get back the minutes lost regardless to how they are spent.  I’m reminded of a little poem I sometimes quote—not sure where I got it from:

            

            I have only got a minute. Only sixty seconds in it.

Forced upon me.  Can’t refuse it.

Didn't pick it. Didn't Chose it.

I must suffer if I lose it

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a tiny little minute

But Eternity is in it

Powerful, isn't it?

Well at 12:00 am on January 1, 2013 we all will have 525,600 minutes of the year 2013. What are you going to do with yours?