How Do You Measure a Year? And Happy New Year 2026!

Terri Tomoff
2 days ago
5 min read

For the last several years, I’ve used the 1996 Broadway Musical Rent song, written by Jonathan Larson: Seasons of Love, as my signature sign-off for the year. The song’s lyrics ask what the proper way is to quantify the value of a year of human life in 525,600 minutes. Here is the equation: 365 days × 24 hours per day × 60 minutes per hour = 525,600 minutes in a year.

Plus, over the last two weeks, I’ve been pondering how to end my blog on the last day of the year, capturing the sunshine and magical moments. I hope my “rendition” will help my readers find their insights covering the last 365 days, too.

Here are the lyrics and original cast recording song from 1996 that seem meaningful no matter when we read them or listen to them:

Seasons of Love (2:51)

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?

Measure In Love

Seasons of Love.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand

Six Hundred Minutes

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand

Journeys To Plan

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand

Six Hundred Minutes

How Do You Measure The Life

Of A Woman Or A Man

In Truth That She Learned

Or In Times That He Cried

In Bridges He Burned

Or The Way That She Died

It’s Time Now - To Sing Out

Though The Story Never Ends

Let’s Celebrate

Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends

Brené Brown says that practicing gratitude invites joy into our lives and can positively affect our health. For my family and me, we pretty much live and breathe this “attitude of gratitude” daily. Worldwide, and in our own country, there is strife, no doubt. Since I know I can’t change things on a grand scale (or even a small one), I focus on my little world of family, friends, and the amazing communities I’m part of each day. I will continue to celebrate life’s big and small moments - and we know - life is in those small and joyful moments.

On various walks this past week, I’ve come to share with you, in this last post of 2025, that attitude is everything; gratitude keeps us grounded; thankfulness, in even the smallest detail, makes the world a better place; and HOPE. Hope isn’t loud. Nope, it doesn’t announce itself with fireworks or tidy bows; it shows up quietly, often after fear, exhaustion, or heartbreak already had their say.

My gratitude runs deep with the people in my life: my NeedleOnFull clients, my Pickleball peeps, my quilting bees, the cancer-fighting moms all over the world, my writing groups, and you, my faithful readers of this blog, who continue to inspire me every single day. And, of course, my family, who bring light even on some dark, cloudy days sprinkled throughout the year.

What sets this year apart, and what I’ve thought about every day since May, is the adventurous, magical trip to the Tuscany region of Italy with a baker’s dozen of family and close friends. This included my 14-month-old grandson at the time, Bodie, who was not yet walking and therefore loved seeing Italy from the stroller or the baby chest carrier, or even his car seat. I’ve written several blog posts about the trip, but reflecting this past week has me misty-eyed while I pound out this post. A shout of Thanks to our fantastic group: Bill, Ryan, Olivia, Bo, Bodie, Ann Hudson, Linda Misencik, Don & Beth Tomoff, and Jodie, Scot, and Carmen Smith, it wouldn't have been the blast it was without all of you! Plus, we met up with Don & Beth's son, Alex, at the Trevi Fountain!

I’ve been excavating those soft memories in my mind: getting caught in a rainstorm in the Roman Ruins, the Conclave electing the pope while we scampered around the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica (couldn’t see the Sistine Chapel!), gelato (I had it two times - for those that don’t know me, that was HUGE since I have a difficult time eating soft ice cream), THE FOOD (need I say more?), DAVID, the Pietá, the Colisem, the cooking class in Florence, taking the high speed train, the “window” at our Villa in Poggibonsi, Jodie Smith’s 64th birthday dinner with all of us gathered around the large wooden table within in moments of Pope Leo waving to the crowds (we had left Rome the night before the final election count), and the light in the Pantheon (we stayed in the 2000 year old relic for over an hour and a half checking it all out and taking lot of photographs).

More sweet and frankly, epic memories over the two weeks spent there include Ryan researching the best leather shops in Florence and finally arriving to buy a wallet and belt at Misuri (others in our party also bought a few of their esteemed leather goods - I got a bookmark), everyone pitching in or taking turns making dinner at the Villa with whatever was in the fridge, or bought that day, lot of wine flowing, all accompianed by a little dog that “came with” the Villa (half-kidding), traveling back and forth by train to Florence, San Gimignano, Siena, and Monteriggioni.

Thankfully, the weather was great for most of the trip. The walled medieval fortresses in all the above-named towns were unbelievably intact and very cool! One town we did not get to, let tourists ride bikes on top of the ramparts - all brick, too, and probably bumpy.

Our travels to California at the end of August for Hunter and Allee Gawne’s wedding were also a fantastic adventure with my guys, Bill and Ryan. We enjoyed a week in San Luis Obispo and explored many of its offerings, as well as those in the Central Coast - Hearst Castle, for one. We also snuck in a wonderful trip to Williamsburg, VA, with our friends from California, Katy and Ron Dalgleish, and Olivia and Bodie, too.

As much as the travel was life-changing, I loved watching our grandson grow from infancy to the early stages of toddlerhood this past year, now stringing a few words together and “following” some directions. He truly is the light of our lives!

NeedleOnFull was busy, and I got my first international quilt order in January! That was exciting, as well as my quilt retreats and bee swaps. We also enjoyed visits from family and friends from Colorado, Maine, Ohio, and Virginia, and we upped our pickleball game, playing as much as we could.

Well, that’s a wrap! This year had its curves, potholes, and a few unexpected detours (because of course it did). I didn’t get to publish my second book, Joy Ride Journeys, but please stay with me as I plan to publish in early 2026! However, this year also included a lot of hearty laughter, community, kindness, and more moments of grace than I probably noticed in real time. That’s the magic of living; it rarely unfolds neatly, but it almost always reveals itself later.

So I’m ending the year with hope in my pocket, love in my rearview mirror, and deep gratitude riding shotgun. Ready to keep going. Ready to keep sharing. Ready for whatever the next mile brings.

Thanks for being part of my ride in 2025. #Blessings

Onward to 2026—same heart, fresh road, and a lot of Manufacturing Sunshine!

Ciao!

Terri