Thoughts for a New Year

Tonight and tomorrow, Jews around the world will be fasting, praying, and delving deep to understand their deepest selves, their motivations, their innermost desires and their wish to improve and move into a new year with a refreshed sense of personal duty, dedication to community and hope for the future.

It’s a heavy load to lift.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about how to use this moment in the calendar to take stock and recommit myself to a life well lived. I’ve been worried that I’m too busy, always too busy, to stop and listen, whether it’s to my children, my husband, my colleagues, my friends and family or just myself.

A group of close friends and I had an email conversation before Rosh Hashanah about ways in which to enter the sanctity of the High Holiday season. Read Heschel, said one (and I did.) Take a walk/bike ride/kayak ride and then come to the community and share yourself in prayer, said another (and I did.)

But still I struggle.  This morning, though, in that mundane and often-annoying world of Facebook, I found a lovely inspirational poster.  Usually I hate these things, now that they’ve become hackneyed and ubiquitous. But this one spoke to me.

 

From the Brazilian author Paulo Coehlo:

 

Be present.

Make love.

Make tea.

Avoid small talk.

Embrace conversation.

Buy a plant. Water it.

Make your bed.

Make someone else’s bed.

Have a smart mouth and quick wit.

Run.

Make art.

Create.

Swim in the ocean.

Swim in the rain.

Take chances.

Ask questions.

Make mistakes.

Learn.

Know your worth.

Love fiercely.

Forgive quickly.

Let go of what doesn’t make you happy.

Grow.

 

And there stands my poem/prayer for the new year.  Shana tova.

 

Comments

[Miriam Isserow]

Love it. But do not swim in the ocean in the rain. That gets dangerous and I want you to be safe!
XO