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

********

 

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.

 

**********************

Chaya/Harriet Weinberg

Jerusalem, Israel

**********************