ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: DECEMBER, 2021

As we are presently in the atmosphere of Chanukah , I know that for many of us, it may be quite emotional and difficult, despite the lights all around us, the getting together of family/friends, and yet, some/many of us find it quite difficult to ‘cheer up’ and smile despite all.

And so, my blog at this time will be to share with us all a message from Louise L. Hay, whose poster hangs in my office, and reading it once again, made me decide to quote her message entitled:

‘HOW TO LOVE YOURSELF’

1.    STOP ALL CRITICISM. Refuse to criticize yourself. Accept yourself as you are. When you criticize yourself, your charges are negative. When you approve of yourself, your changes are positive.

 

2.    DON’T SCARE YOURSELF. Stop terrorizing yourself with your thoughts. It's a dreadful way to live. Find a mental image that gives you pleasure – e.g. yellow roses, and immediately switch your scary thought to a pleasure thought.

 

3.    . BE GENTLE AND KIND AND PATIENT. Be gentle with yourself as you learn the new ways of thinking. Treat yourself as you would someone you really love.

 

4.    BE KIND TO YOUR MIND. Self-hatred is only hating your own thoughts. Gently change your thoughts.

 

5.    PRAISE YOURSELF. Criticism breaks down the inner spirit. Praise builds it up. Praise yourself as much as you can. Tell yourself how well you are doing with every little thing.

 

6.    SUPPORT YOURSELF. Find ways to support yourself. Reach out to friends and allow them to help you. It is being strong to ask for help when you need it.

 

7.    BE LOVING TO YOUR NEGATIVES. Acknowledge that you created them to fulfill a need. Now you are finding new, positive ways to fulfill those needs. So lovingly release the old negative patterns.

 

8.    TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. Learn about nutrition. What kind of fuel does your body need to have optimum energy and vitality? Learn about exercises. What kind can you do and enjoy right now? Cherish the temple that you live in.

 

9.    MIRROR WORK.  Look into your eyes often. Express this love you have for yourself. Talk to your parents/family while looking into the mirror. Forgive them too. At least once a day say: “I love you, I really love you.”

 

10.                    DO IT NOW. Don’t wait until you get well, or get the new job, the new relationship. Begin now-DO THE BEST YOU CAN.

 

I PRAY FOR ALL OF US: IN SPITE OF EVERYTHINGS, SAY

‘YES’ TO LIFE!  Until we meet again in Jan. 2022, G. willing,

CHW

 

ALONG OUR RIDE ON THE TRAIN OF LIFE, NOVEMBER, 2021

 

 

ALONG OUR RIDE ON THE TRAIN OF LIFE, NOVEMBER, 2021

 

Shalom dear Readers:

As I ride on the train of life, I am aware of my fears and worries, and, as well, thankfully, of my goal of awareness, inner peace, and positive actions.

As the writer of my blog,  I am trying to help both myself and all readers of my blog, as we all cope with our issues in life.

 

FEAR

We are advised not to be AFRAID. Life is incredibly precious and we don’t get the minutes back. So let’s see if we can change from:

“I will be happy when…..into I am GRATEFUL now because…..

 

Fear does not stop death.  It stops life!

And WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s trouble. It takes away today’s PEACE.

 

From Rebbe Nachman Breslev we learn that:

‘MAN HAS TO PASS OVER A VERY VERY NARROW BRIDGE.” The main principle in general is to NOT BE AFRAID.

 

The sages ask us to shine a light on the POSITIVE things that we see around us and to focus on those. When we examine ourselves, our family members, and our environment-not through a critical prism, but by focusing on the good points.

 

A Chasidic saying tells us: “THING GOOD AND IT WILL BE GOOD.” Our thoughts influence, if not determine our reality.

 

AWARENESS: “Awareness is the greatest agent for change, “ says Eckhart Tolle. 

 

Hopefully, by practicing and following some or all of these tips, we can find some INNER PEACE. Our attitude determines our happiness and fulfillment. Habits create success. TIME is our great treasure in life!

 

While we go through our own personal trials of life, hopefully, we can try to help ourselves with some/all of these ideas and suggestions.

 

G. willing, we will meet again in December. I wish for all or us a Refuah Shlaima, both physically and mentally.

CHW

Chayaof Jerusalem.blogspot.co.il

 ALONG OUR RIDE ON THE TRAIN OF LIFE:  OCTOBER, 2021

At this special time of the year, the Jewish New Year, the beginning of the school year 2021, fall weather in our midst, this is a good time to remind ourselves and those around us of the joy we are supposed to feel in our hearts for every good  DEED and for  every good DESIRE to change. Only by concentrating on being POSITIVE, and limiting sadness can we be empowered to be victorious in our inner struggles. Mankind is yet fighting the Corona/Delhi virus all over the world, as well as a world where we see hate, one people versus another. It is often depressing to see and to fear all that is pressing upon us.

Let us remember to appreciate what we can-POSITIVITY- and keep moving forwards with our inner heart appreciating the important things like family, friends, and accepting and loving OURSELVES. We are alive here TODAY!

LET'S TAKE TIME FOR OURSELVES; Here are some guidelines of life, that we are encouraged to follow:

1. Let it go!

2. Ignore others' comments.

3. Give it time (to heal).

4. Be yourself!

5. WE are in charge of our happiness.

6. SMILE! Enjoy what  and while we can!

7. Let's reach out to friends and family far and near, that we love and miss, and need their encouragement, love, friendship and caring!

8. Let's take the time to list nor only in our minds but onto paper all the things that give OUR lives ABUNDANCE. Doing this daily, weekly, helps us see just how much we DO have and need. Let's let others comfort us in their own ways. Let's soak in all the good feelings that we can EVEN in our dark dark periods. 

In Psalm 121: "I lift my eyes up to the hills: from where does my help come ? My help comes from the Lord, maker of  heaven and earth."  I add on: My help also comes from my loved ones, family, friends from far and near.

 G. bless all of us on the train of life- hopefully, we will meet again in November.

CHW

chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

 ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: SEPT. 2021

Shalom dear Readers:

In Psalm 121, we read: 'I lift my eyes up to the hills; from where does my help come? My help comes from the  Lord, Maker of heaven and earth.'

This month of Elul leads up to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. tTis month is a fitting time to notice and appreciate the goodness and grace that G./Hashem showers upon us as well as the generosity that others share with us. Elul is a wonderful time to pick up the phone to send a quick message to someone, thanking them for a kindness done,  in the days prior to Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.

It challenges us to feel appreciativeness and gratefulness for G.'s mercy (even when we are at home/ in bed/alone, to use our blessings for the good of others. Let us aim to practice gratefulness for WHAT IS, and to try to complain less (and that is a difficult challenge). It is a unique, special time in our calendar. 

Let's think of some everyday miracles in our midst:

Fresh coffee, a phone call from an old friend, good music to listen to, to sing along when possible, etc. You add on more of your own miracles for you.

We will not be remembered by our words but by our deeds. life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath! Let's each search for our personal things that take our breath!

Can we be less a 'difficult' patient? to fear is o'kay. But: FEEL THE FEAR, BUT DO IT ANYWAYS! Let's reach out to others, let's try positivity, prayer and acceptance of what is. We can't change the situation, but we can try coping tips as mentioned above, or whatever helps you!

I close with my prayers for all of us to adjust to our life as best we can, and to wish all of us a  HEALTHY NEW YEAR, both physically and mentally.

CHW

chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

 

 

July, 2021

Shalom dear readers:

How do we find JOY?

We all know that suffering is part of life. All human beings at some point, go through tough times. What can I do to change the negative, or rather to tune above the negative into good thoughts? Such a difficult decision to make! We so much want to live, have a life, see the good each day, and not focus on our possibility of death soon.

As I struggled recently with physical and mental situations, that left me smashed physically and mainly mentally. I suddenly remembered – let’s see what I still have to be GRATEFUL FOR:

1.

2.

3.

The higher happiness that I can strive for, will have me focus less on my grief.  Can I accept whatever GOOD is in my life?

IS WHAT I AM DOING/FEELING good or negative for me? Is my thinking helping or harming me?

I suggest that we write down three (3) strategies that will help us in our attitude and actions. Each one of us will have different strategies of coping. But let’s check with ourselves that we are adapting positive things in our lives, no matter how simple they are, in order to feel good, TO FIND JOY!

This practice of RESILIENCE will hopefully benefit us more than the medications that we have to take, and will open the door for us to receive and accept love that is coming our way from friends, family, neighbors.

I wish us all a good month of August despite all the negative that may rear its head, but paying attention to the GOOD in our life. G. bless!

CHW

Chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

********

Chaya/Harriet Weinberg

Jerusalem, Israel

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Shalom  to all on our ride on the train of life, this July 2021.

I read recently a short sentence. ‘A smile can make you happy! That right away reminded me of the famous song of Nat King Cole:

“Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it’s breaking

When there are clouds in the sky

You’ll get by

 

If you smile

Through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You’ll see the sun come shining through for you    etc. etc.

 

At this time along our train ride through life, we have had to deal with the “Miami disaster”, of many of our Jewish brethren. I heard many bereaved family members saying: “If only I had told him/her that I love her, that I miss her, if only I had visited her this week, etc.

 

That is why we must make EACH MINUTE COUNT!

 

We also have the return of the Corona, plus a heat wave to contend with, restricting many of us in our homes again.

So I ask myself: how do we ‘savor’ each moment that we have, how do we appreciate life as it is, with our physical difficulties and mental adjustments to make?

 

Can we try to make note of the good things around us, can we THINK POSITIVELY?

 

Research show that even small, simple activities can improve our overall well-being. Examples for me would be speaking to a close friend even far away, hearing her voice, sharing a special few moments together, reading a good book, sharing a coffee with loved ones, praying for another’s refuah/healing in health.

 

Some our mankind have achieved great things despite their fierce handicaps-e.g. Vincent van Gogh.

 

I send you my best wishes as we share our ride on the train of life. May we all find something positive to focus on each moment in time.

 

CHW

chayaw@blogspot.co.il

Hopefully, I will send the next blog on What’s app as well.

 

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Chaya/Harriet Weinberg

Jerusalem, Israel

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 ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: JUNE 2021

In this month's blog, I am actually writing to myself, with our background of  'CORONA',  and its effects on me, us, as well as our reality of the 'MIRON' happening and its immediate deaths of so very many of mankind, plus the reality of  living through another war against Israel, and its aftermath.

In the weekly reading of 'Bechulotai' in the Torah, we read: 'It is in YOUR power; you can change your life.

I have chosen to share with you this month points, fact, ideas that I am trying to deal with, knowing that many of you readers are battling with illness of whatever form, whether physically, mentally and spiritually. We need COURAGE to face the difficulties of life. I, you, we need to 'MAKE EACH MINUTE COUNT!'

What I have learned anew, or have taken upon myself to help me/us; is to 'make the best of life as it is.'

Let's take a step back  and  ENJOY THE MOMENT, live it all the way, hug, caress and kiss our children, our family.

We will never know how long we have on this Earth, no matter how rich or powerful we may be; we will never understand G.'s ways and decisions. He has HIS plans. e.g. Miron

We need COURAGE  to face the difficulties of life!

Let's cherish what we DO HAVE every single day, as if every single day is our last on this Earth.

Each day we begin our prayers with 'MODEH ANI- RABA EMUNATECHA'. We have hope and faith in G.'s plans.

Let's make EACH MINUTE COUNT!

The BEST gift you and I can give to ourselves is to take care of ourselves, in a way that makes us feel better, and when dealing with an illness takes super effort.

Let's be MINDFUL as to how we are reacting to unpleasant behavior toward you. If a neighbor, family member has behaved /behaves unkind to us, remember that hatred embitters the life of the hater. Thus the passage: 'love your neighbor, forgive your neighbor or relative, for that is one way of learning to love YOURSELF.

What will make us laugh? Is listening to music nourishing your soul?  does reading books take you to other places /minds of people? Are we exercising our body parts where possible? 

Have we learned to 'LET GO' of those many things that we can't control?

We are constantly making decisions, to be patient, kind, and to appreciate that we are alive, despite all our handicaps.

Let's MAKE EACH MINUTE COUNT!

Let's look at our GRATITUDE journal; can we add on another thing to be grateful for today? If you haven't started a gratitude journal, try one now. Days and times are flexible-you choose the moment to add on another good feeling/reaction/deed that you have felt lately.

Please note that this blog is aimed at sharing with you issues that I deal with on a daily basis, while battling challenges, both physically and mentally as well.

Until we meet again next month, I send you my best wishes.

CHW

chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

 May 4, 2021

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE

Mankind has been shocked beyond belief after the collapse of a pathway during Lag B'omer celebrations, killing many youngsters, young teenagers, adults, all who had so much Emuna (faith) in G., enjoyment of the moment to be in Miron, close to G. Hashem. It has been a harrowing unbelievable experience, and my tears flow without stop.

They were all 'healthy' functioning, believing people in G.s ways, fulfilling the ultimate dream, to dance and rock together in such a holy place. But there comes our famous saying in life: 

MAN PLANS AND G. DISPOSES.

And so we cry for all of those families, we cry for ourselves, for our pain and losses.

We all need faith, EMUNAH.  G. has HIS PLANS.

We can hope, we can pray, we must accept. In one of our opening daily prayers, we say: Modeh Ani, I thank you, O Lord. Your wonders are.......

In the book, the sefer of Devorim, it says: Choose life. U'vechar bechaim'!

Crying is normal, sometimes it even helps to give us hope once again. Negativity will give us constant 'downers'. Let's pray for all those who lost loved one, mothers, father, brothers, sisters, friends; we pray for for our loss of total understanding of how G. rules this world.

Again, we all simply resort back to: 'modeh ani, lefanecha', thanking the one above for restoring us each day again; we are not perfect, our health is not perfect, but we are here on earth for now. Can we rise above the not understandable, and give love, hope, friendship, help to others and to OURSELVES? We each have great challenges, now more than at other times. A smile can make us feel happy, despite the situation! 

I pray for us, for others, for mankind to somehow cope with G.'s plans. We are but instruments in His hands, instruments that have the ability to accept what we must, to be an angel of G. and help others ,in deed, in friendship, in the hope that we will see and feel good moments in life yet.

G. bless until next month!

CHW

chayawofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

chaya.weinberg76@gmail.com

 In this month of April, 2021, we witnessed and were part of the Corona virus attack in Israel. We had to endure being alone for about a year, coping not only with our major illness at the same time as coping with the loneliness from the corona separation of families and friends from one another. It is said that there is always a silver ling, but at times it is difficult to see it. Since so much of this is beyond our control, the best advice recommended is that no matter how difficult things are at the moment, we can at least control by being KINDER TO ONE ANOTHER. Let’s give the other some SLACK! Since we well know how difficult and challenging our circumstances are, many of the actions we see by our people are way way out, and even improper. And so we fail to CUT EACH OTHER SLACK. We tend to look for the worst in others, to be easy to anger rather than give people the benefit of the doubt . Ian Maclaren, the 19th century author once said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a bttle you know nothing about. Cutting slack, giving the benefit of the doubt, is a chesed, a kindness that absolutely every one of can do. There is a book by Ron Shapiro entitled ‘THE POWER OF NICE’. It’s time for the world to make US feel good, to feel worthwhile, while we fight our malaise. When we practice kindness, we ourselves feel warm and good to be able to show love and attention to those who suffer along with us and for us.

Life includes both the honey and the sting, the bitter and the sweet: we must embrace them both, because we cannot edit reality. Let’s enjoy what we can, let’s be kind to ourselves as well, give love, give attention, and enjoy whatever we can.

I wish us all continued safety from the pandemic, to tolerate and accept what ailments we have, and to enjoy whatever we can, and I wish us all some beautiful moments in time in this life.

Until we met again next month, G. willing.

CHW

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Chaya/Harriet Weinberg

Jerusalem, Israel

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March 3, 2021 ALONG OUR RIDE ON THE TRAIN OF LIFE

 March 3, 2021  ALONG OUR RIDE ON THE TRAIN OF LIFE

We began “THE BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE” last month. I hope that you were able to try some of the suggestions for coping with life issues that we all face. We continue on our ‘Balance sheet of life’

The greatest ‘shot in the arm’ ENCOURAGEMENT: we need encouragement from our family, friends. But we also need to encourage OURSELVES, that we are doing the best that we can for ourselves, for others and giving ourselves a ‘shot in the arm ‘ to hang in there, and encourage ourselves to cope with what is. ‘IT IS WHAT IT IS’. Let’s deal with what is, and keep encouraging OURSELVES.

The most powerful force in life is……LOVE   

We need to feel loved, to love ourselves, to love others and to tell them about your love for them.

The worst thing to be without is ‘HOPE. As long as we are here on this earth, let’s not forget to HOPE, for better times, for adapting to what is, and to help ourselves with our thoughts and prayers.

The most beautiful attire that we wear is SMILE! We feel so much better when we smile at every small positive step that we take, smile to others to show our love and affection for them and to carry us along.  

When life/health/work issues frighten us, let’s remember this motto by Susan Jeffers, in her book-‘FEEL THE FEAR, BUT DO IT ANYWAYS’.

I, for one, am quite fearful of many things. But I remind myself, over and over: ‘Feel the fear, but do it anyways’. Once I practice that motto, I have made one stride forward!

I wish for all of us better situations to be in, and the ability to soak in and act on some of these tips  for:  our ‘BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE’.

Until we meet again next month, G. willing,

CHW

Chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il

Feel free to write to me at the address above.

 Feb. 4, 2021  ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE

One can only imagine what the other is feeling ,and/or is coping with.

When I enter my blog, I enter my feelings and reach out to share with you.

Am I hurting? Yes

Do I feel alone, and great loneliness amidst the Corona lockdown and within my health worries? Yes.

Am I filled with despair sometimes/often as you may be feeling? Yes.

Do I give up? Perhaps momentarily I think of it, but then I somehow still hope, hope.

Do I have utter fatigue? Yes, but then I remind myself to perhaps walk a bit, even within my walls if I can't venture.

Do I feel the endless hours per day? Wouldn't I have been so happy when I was out and working, to have such days to be free at home?

THE BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE

In the next few blogs, I will guide us how to make some balance of good actions and thoughts.

GRATITUDE: let's try to focus on even small things in our life to be grateful for.

EXERCISE: Let's walk outside (if possible) or even in our home to move our bodies, somewhat. When unable to move, let's 'walk' in our thoughts, move whatever limbs we can, rove in our imagination.

MIND WANDERING: what moves our minds: jokes sent by friends, music, reading, praying, watching television, etc.

To balance our sheet of life, can we handle our effort to stop worrying which is a MOST DESTRUCTIVE HABIT.

Perhaps one of the greatest problems to overcome is FEAR. Remember the motto: FEEL THE FEAR BUT DO IT ANYWAYS!

We need to fill our mind with I CAN! These are the two most power-filled words.

for all of us to remember: LIFE ends when you stop DREAMING. HOPE ends, when you stop BELIEVING. LOVE ends, when you stop caring.

I challenge all of us to use this BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE (Part 1).

I wish all of us the strength of courage, of mind, to take some control of our existence and work on balancing the difficulties with the determination to think and ACT positively as best we can. G. willing, we will continue on the BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE next month.

Yours, Chw

Chayaofjerusalem.blog.spot.co.il

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE, JAN. 1, 2021

 Shalom dear readers: 

Here we are in the New Year, 2021. We have made it until now! Are we afraid of what is next? Probably, yes. We need to remember always, the motto for me and possibly for you:

 FEEL THE FEAR, BUT DO IT ANYWAYS!

In general, one often feels SAD-ness in the winter. We can't control the natural weather patterns or the existence of the pandemic we face. Can we remember to appreciate the small things and moments in life? Just as we need kindness given to us, can we give kindness to another? Let us remember that-

WE ARE SPIRITUAL PEOPLE IN A PHYSICAL BEING. What we crave and need, others need from us as well.

I challenge us to practice HUMAN RESILIENCE: to do whatever helps us achieve some serenity: rest assured it will enhance our lives. Do we dare to create for ourselves an ABUNDANCE of hope, despite our most difficult challenge? To practice our human resilience!

We certainly have some burn-out from the CORONA FATIGUE: again, can we try to create for ourselves an ABUNDANCE of light and hope, despite our most difficult challenge: human resilience?

I remind us to go back to GRATITUDE: let us appreciate more life's small moments, show compassion to others tending us or whom we see needing out input? Let's fill in such a list of things to be grateful for. Hopefully this will leas us to optimism, which leads us to live longer, G. willing!

We have yet some challenging months ahead, BUT now is the time to bond together and be kind to one another, with the thought: THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER.

LET'S DAYDREAM; MIND WANDERING: What helps you? Music, walking, even within your own home, watching television, reading, studying, daydreaming, etc.?

WALKING-is sublime in its simplicity or mind wandering if walking impossible. Even a short walk can help us.

WOW! so many aspects of life to consider!

A suggestion: If the above seems a bit too many topics, perhaps pick one suggested to work on this month, and change topics to explore as you feel ready to work on/bless us all until me meet again next month, G. willing.

G. bless all of us until we meet again next month, G. willing.

chayaofjerusalem.blogspot.co.il