I guess that I cannot claim this to be a Leap Day message.

Yesterday was Leap Day. A Thursday. Which means it did not fall on a Friday this year.

Since each year we slide our calendar one day, then next year it will fall on a Friday.

Two problems with that.

First is that we had a Leap Day this year so that we slide our calendar two days making Friday in 2025 a Feb 28th. The second is that there is no Leap Day next year.

This is causing our math to become that of a second grader trying to do multiplication for the first time. They carry the ten to the top but forget to include it when they add down. When they end up with an answer that is smaller than the numbers being multiplied, they wonder what happened.

Enough on the math, I will tell you that after doing the math, the next time Leap Day will fall on a Friday is in 2036. Not sure what I will be doing then, but decided that we may have a greater chance at setting foot on the moon again (though it has been 55 years) than for me to still be writing Friday Perspectives in 2036.

Are there things that we wait to do that really make no sense that we waited at all? I have always been a person who plans. For most of us, that comes naturally. Schedule things a week, one or two months in advance. It is the nature of having a calendar.

I want to claim here that doing some things on an impulse can have a wonderful lasting impact.

Have to be careful saying this one, because impulse shopping can be a very bad thing. The word impulse means a compelling force. To say I have to have that is most often a misguided compelling force. Like when we bought our shuffleboard. Probably used it three times in two years now. Instead the grandkids spend hours playing on the used foosball table that I got from my parents.

I also bought a bow on impulse. As in bow and arrows. Went right after most stores had just reopened and we were in our mask wearing requirement. Dropped my wife off at the airport for a trip to see the grandkids, then googled a store that sells bows. With nobody there, the guy that runs the department for training and selling of bows spent an hour with me. I got all the tips and learned how to operate a composite bow. Totally a great move since I use it 10-12 times every year and can train others who visit.

Calling a friend on impulse is a good thing. Saying sorry on impulse is a good thing. Doing something on Leap Day or for your birthday on impulse is a good thing. We can’t plan everything. But check those compelling reasons.

Enjoy a Happy Friday.