Measure in Love

"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,

five hundred twenty-five thousand moments so dear,

five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,

how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets? In midnights, in cups of coffee?

In inches, in miles? In laughter, in strife?

In five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes,

how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love?

How about love?

How about love?

Measure in love." -Rent

The first time I watched Rent I was disgusted; I absolutely hated it. I didn't understand what was so wonderful about this movie. It wasn't until I watched it a second time that I found the deeper meaning behind the film; this wasn't just a movie about gays, lesbians, and people with AIDS. It was much more than that, it was about a group of people bonded together through love; about putting your personal problems aside and learning to care for someone else, and living for the moment with no regrets. This movie, and the lessons it's taught me have helped me through some of the toughest times in my life.

However, while I have always related to the more depressing portions of Rent, I was never able to fully identify with the sense of community and family expressed in the movie, until last fall. Dating Josh has been one of the best things that ever happened to me, not just because of him, but also because of the fact Josh was able to introduce me to a group of people that I now consider close enough to be family. I've always had a group of friends, no matter where I lived, but I never felt such a feeling of comfort and acceptance as I do with the group of friends I have now. I have finally found a group of people who genuinely love me for who I am; never before have I felt so loved. In the past I have always had to suppress at least one aspect of my personality- whether it be my nerdom, or my sexuality, or anything in between. Now I don't have to worry about that, and I love that feeling. I can just be me.

The past eight months have been the happiest months of my life, and now I can't imagine it any other way. I am fully content with life; for once I have no desire to get up and move somewhere new. Now I have finally have a sense of home- a place where I belong, a place where I'm accepted, all because I finally found a place where I am loved.

So, Rent has told me to measure my life in love, and from now on, that's exactly what I'll do. :)

Fact: I have the best friends, I couldn't ask for better.