ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE, February, 2023

Shalom dear Readers.

Today, as I ride on the train of life, I am thinking, mulling around in my head what seems to be disruptive, deterring me (and others) from my(our) living with a positive focus. I  ask myself ‘What is wrong? What is missing in my life? My studies have pointed out to me a possible and much needed focus. Dr. McHugh, a master psychotherapist, tells us the secret foundation of our soul. How do we use or abuse our daily schedule in life?  What is our time management? and our spiritual time management asks Dr. McHugh.

-How do we make ourselves busy? With what? The revered Rabbi Elya Lapian, the mussar shmuessen , spoke of the fundamental importance of one’s use of time. ”A man who goes through life without taking the time to consider his ways is like a blind man who walks along the edge of a river. “Der velt sagt”, he said in Yiddish, “the world says that time is money. But I say time is life! TIME IS LIFE!”

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato, known by the initials of his name as the Ramchal, says in the second chapter of his widely studied ethical treatise, Messillat Yesharim, Path of the Upright, he writes of the tactics of the yetzer. “A man who goes through life without taking the time to consider his ways is like a blind man who walks along the edge of a river. To become so busy and have no time to reflect, not time to really live, is bondage into slavery.  Time is life! Spiritual time management is the secret of life.!

The power of the soul! There is proof of the connection between resilience and vaccination, between mind and body. Doctors and medical staff must give spiritual mental support to strengthen the patient’s spirit. We must give to ourselves an upward approach of time well spent are good thoughts to live by, rather than focusing on what is lacking in our lives and inside of us, where we think and dwell in thought and beliefs. Let’s practice MINDFULNESS. Distraction, says Dr. Kelner, is an enemy of awe. AWE means meditating, reflecting, deep delving within our soul.

Let’s practice mindfulness..  Let’s slow down, breathe deeply and reflect on our life. Dr. Kelner writes that people who find awe all around them, are more open to new ideas. Let’s be more open to experience, and find awe all around us, and the wonders of our planet, of our souls.

Some suggestions of how to relax, and to be more aware of all the ‘awe’ of our lives, of our people, of our planet are:   

1. Breathe.

 2. Meditate,

 3. Write down our feelings, our successes.

4.  Let’s go outdoors to walk, to see and feel the wonders of the sun shining, the flowers blooming and/or budding, nature in its constant wonders.

5. Let’s listen to music instead of the constant bombardment of the news.

6. Let’s get rest periods when we feel the need.

7. Let’s try to get more hours of sleep.

 8. Let’s do something DIFFERENT   for a change. Something positive that warms our heart and soul, whatever suits you and is pleasing and fun and gives us a good feeling within our bodies, within our souls and in our hearts.

I wish each of you, my readers, a healthy month ahead, with good thoughts, with some smiles in your hearts and soul, and within your/our reality.

Until we meet again, G. willing, in March, 2023.

CHW

 

 

Along Our Train Ride of Life - January 2023

Shalom dear readers:

Thoughts for us to ponder during the winter.

How should we handle life at this point along our ride on the train of life.

• How do we conquer fear?
• How do we think positively?
• How do we accept ourselves right now- where we are - despite our feelings of fear, inadequacy, or pain. To feel fear is fine; to give way to it, is not.

According to Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Hashem has faith in us even if, at times, the best lack faith in themselves. After Shabbat, we often sing the refrain of well-known liturgical song: “Do not fear, my servant Jacob”. Why do we sing this song specifically after Shabbat? Because when the Shabbat descends upon us, G. spreads a tabernacle of peace upon us; however, when Shabbat departs, fear may take over. When Shabbat is over, we feel the dark night outside and we may fear the difficult weekdays ahead, days bereft of a feeling of revealed divine sanctity. This exactly how Jacob felt when he left the land of Israel and his parents’ home. An angel of G. made him a special promise, “Behold I am with you, and you have nothing to fear!”

  

Let’s try to leave our worries for another day, another time.

There is a saying: “Different strokes for different folks”. And that’s okay! We must believe we are okay as we are, despite all.

Many of us have different ailments (such as scoliosis, or arthritis), and the list goes on for different folks all around us. We keep trying, plugging along with our body and mind.

There are always hazards along our way, but knowing that G. Is with us, gives us strength if we align our will with his.

Remember! Faith is not certainty, but the courage to live with uncertainty.

On the other hand, we can read, think, write, and reach out to others. We can relax and be thankful for every day for life, for our gestures towards other people, and for their offers of help and being there for us as well. In Tehilim chapter 34, it warns us from bad mouthing others, “Who desires life? Love each day to see good! Guard your tongue from evil and your lips form speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”

 

I am reminded of the saying: “I’m okay, you’re okay.” We each are what we are, and where we are on our train ride of life. We each have our high and low levels that we are able or not able to do at this moment of time.

 

We are taught to always be happy ((להיות בשמחה תמיד - positive thinking!

It is hard work to be positive after periods of pain, and physical and/or mental stress and difficulties. Who is happy? One who is satisfied with his lot in life.  

איזה הוא עשיר? השמח בחלקו!

 

We are encouraged to think good, and it will be good! Sometimes self-praise is necessary. We tend to be very hard on ourselves! Let’s give ourselves credit for all our efforts!

 

Some of us are addicted to watching/hearing about all the negativity on the news over and over each day! Let’s try to minimize our time spent on negative habits. Perhaps we may think more positively without all of this negativity all around us! Let’s remember to thank G. every day by saying, !מודה אני

 

And so, dear readers, I wish us all a good month ahead, chodesh tov, and the strength and faith to continue on our train ride of life!

Until we meet, G. Willing, in February 2023.

CHW