actually, numbers do lie

It’s here again. The turn of the year. A time when our attention is drawn to numbers. Twenty twenty-five becomes 2026. The first quarter of the century is over (remember the excitement and fuss over Y2K, the turn of the millennium?). We go from the twelfth month to the first. We count down the seconds in celebration of what was and what will be.

This is a season for looking back; we remember people who mattered to us and brought us joy, either personally or professionally. We count the number of pounds we gained or lost, the steps we took, the miles we’ve logged, the books we’ve read. It’s a season for looking forward, too; we anticipate big events that will happen this year – births, birthdays, graduations, weddings – and we anticipate goals we aspire to – trips we’ll take, skills we’ll learn, talents we’ll master, projects we’ll start or finish.

All of this can be fun. It can be helpful, even. But it can also be a snare. Numbers are just a system, so don’t make the mistake of thinking they are infallible. The shortest day of the year has just passed here in Connecticut. But just like the longest day, it’s still 24 hours. The same, but different. The 10 pounds I lose are not the same as the 10 pounds you lose. The hours you sit by the bedside of your dying loved one are not the same as the hours I spend reading a good book.

As one year turns into the next, remember to just be. Let your days be measured by kindness in surprising moments and in unhurried appreciation of goodness directed your way. Let your months be meted out in gratitude for the presence of good companions. Start your year over again in April when spring pops up in glistening green crocus sprouts or in June with your first wade into waters not yet warmed by months of summer sun. Measure your sorrows one breath at a time until you forget to keep count. Remember that you’ve been here before, and you’ll be here again. The numbers aren’t really what matter; it’s what you count that matters.

© 2025 www.megreilly360.com

12/29/25