The earth revolves in orbit around the sun in 365 days, six hours and nine minutes at a speed ranging from 29.29 to 30.29 km/s.

The six hours, nine minutes adds up to about an extra day every fourth year, which is designated a leap year with the extra day added as February 29^th. The movement of the earth around the sun in a fixed path or orbit is called a Revolution.

This day marks my day of birth and I can tell you I have had quite a few revolutions in my time figuratively and literally. On my day of birth, the moon was a Waning Gibbous with the full moon having shone bright two nights prior. The moon sat in Scorpio which creates the need to delve into one’s feelings as deep as possible. It creates a desire for meaningful emotional exchanges even if it is not easy and many things are forced to change. Shallow relationships do not satisfy because they are not purifying enough.

My sun sign is said to be Aries, the first astrological sign in the zodiac, spanning the first 30 degrees of celestial longitude and originates from the constellation of the same name. Under the tropical zodiac, the Sun transmits this sign from approximately March 20 to April 21 every year. Aries zodiac symbol is a Ram, its’ element is Fire and the ruling planet is Mars. It is said to give strengths of courage, determination, confidence, enthusiasm, optimism, honesty and passion. The weaknesses can be impatient, moody, impulsive and short tempered and they say men are from Mars. In short, an Aries has a sense of adventure and loves to explore. They are determined and bold and are good at initiating new projects, have high energy and can initiate quick actions. 

Regardless of whether you follow the signs of the zodiac or other personality divining ways, it remains true there is only one of each of us, no two people are born the same, not even identical twins. So, the lap around the sun each year should be cause for celebration as there is certainly a lot of people who don’t make it to their next revolution.

Currently, worldwide coronavirus cases stand at 498,813,085 and the death count is 6,202,669 (as of yesterday). Australia has 5,019,894 cases and 6550 deaths, New Zealand 760,540 cases and 445 deaths, Fiji 64,492 cases 834 deaths, Tonga 7931 cases nine deaths, Samoa 3665, seven deaths and the Cook Islands (as of yesterday) 3171 cases and thank God and science no deaths to report at this time.  Globally according to World Health Organization’ estimates the flu kills 290,000 to 650,000 people per year and winter is coming.  

Celebrating life is what we should be focused on, and as the number of years stack up, the higher the celebration, after all the round red border speed signs on the side of the road show that the higher the number the faster you can travel. I take it to mean fast and furious into the next adventure, not sliding down the slippery slope into age care and despair.

I remember my mother at the age I am now and I compare myself to her and where I am and what I have done and what is the same and different. I do the same with my daughter at university as I vividly remember my days at Otago when I was her age, and sharing time with friends whom I remain in contact with to this day. It is probably an indication of my age advancing that I have very little difficulty in remembering decades back conversations, actions and feelings yet struggle to keep pace with remembering what was on my shopping list I wrote and left behind only minutes earlier.

The magic of memories is you have to make them to remember them and in doing so can relive them as if they were happening once again. The sad fact is more of us like to remember the drama and the not so pleasant more often and in greater detail than those instances of light and love. I suppose it’s a characteristic of human nature to dwell and wallow in the mire of life looking for sympathy, empathy or reasons and excuses not to change and take charge of our lives for the better from this moment on.

As an optimistic Aries I will always look for the bright side of life, the cup half full, the silver lining in all events as everything can be a lesson, a turning point or a road sign to avoid making the same mistake twice, or perhaps thrice as one doesn’t always learn the first time.

So, here’s to another 365 days of adventure, 8760 hours of fun, 525,600 minutes of exciting times and 31,536,000 seconds of happiness.