ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE, SEPTEMBER, 2022

As I travel on my train of life, I wonder if you share some of the same fears, concerns, and if any of my tips for positive actions, will appeal for you to try to do for yourselves.

I am usually fearful of all new endeavours at the start. Yet I know that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself!  Why not take a chance, why not make a mistake? We are fearful, BUT the only thing we have to fear is FEAR itself! We may have some nervous feelings about an action that we are considering to do, but there is also a positive aspect of what we are anticipating to do. Anxiety and excitement are sister emotions. Let’s try to acknowledge the POSITIVE!

Dr. Reuven Bruner was well known for his adage: “BE ALIVE AS LONG AS YOU LIVE.’  He suggested that we should and could add on one new health habit: e.g. a daily walk, eat more fruits and vegetables, a commitment to eat less junk food , or to get more sleep.

A Weight Watcher instructor taught me: “Don’t push your weaknesses, play with your strengths.” Let’s see our food  challenges as POSITIVE. How can I enjoy a barbeque and still eat healthy?

Jennifer Lopez suggests to us : What DO I have? Let’s think of ALL that DO HAVE!  We all recognize our the negative in our lives-let these negative not possess our attention, but rather let’s rise to think and act with POSITIVE MEASURES.

As we age, we are facing many difficult challenges on our train ride. We are challenged to somehow adapt to what comes our way, with hope, with mental and physical effort.

The famous Bruce Springsteen challenged mankind: ‘We were born to run’. And we were born to run EVEN if quite slowly!.

At the 7^th day of each week, we are all privileged to witness and participate in this SABBATH, this PALACE IN TIME’.

Every week the sun sets behind the trees, darkness falls, and a great light miraculously appears finding us, a herd of lost souls standing in time to receive our additional portion of spirituality.

And every week

Shabat descends and gathers us to her breast

Accepts our souls

Marked by the travails of six days of toil

To separate the holy from the mundane.

Until we meet again, G. willing, in October, 2022

CHW

 

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: AUGUST, 2022

 

As we travel on our train of life, we find periods of a smooth, tranquil ride, and as well, we experience many curves, difficult periods during our journey, -we may feel weak, tired, somewhat failing in body and spirit, but we somehow need to learn and  cope with, to adapt and to somehow find some sunshine on our life, some peace, and to somehow adapt to what IS.

 

Since CO’VID’S appearance, many of us have cancelled trips, outings, malls, meeting with friends/family. Yet we NEED things to look forward to. What’s exciting about a trip for an outing is ANTICIPATION. Numerous studies suggest that having something to look forward to, improves our mood and lowers our stress. Imagining good things ahead of us makes us feel better in the current moment. A psychologist, Carrie L. Wyland, suggests that at the end of every day, we should write down one thing that we are excited about for tomorrow. Maybe it’s anew book or getting a visitor, a zoom call, etc.

 

The Sabbath time has been called our ‘palace in time’! write Joshua Heschel. We revere this time period of renewal of our faith and bathe in the aura of Shabat. Shabat gives us a quiet time, of peace no television, what’s app checking, - time to relax emotionally and mentally to the outside world of noise and disruption. Time to ‘bathe’ in ourselves, in our connection to the Universe/G.d  What a 24 hour period of BLISS -prayer, food, family, friends, rest for our mind and body!! Time to rest our body and mind and enter the realm of ‘being’, of serenity.

 

Can we think of all our difficulties and decision making as negative, or can we change our mind attitude to of them as CHALLENGES to deal with.

 

There is a saying: “ You’re only as old as you feel.” Let’s aim to be resilient and to practice OPTIMISM, self-esteem, and satisfaction with what we DO HAVE. Putting one foot forward in front of the other, will enhance our physical and mental fitness. There is a power in walking in our country of choice -it is a challenge, and we can do it slowly, and quickly as fits our needs at the time.

 

Bruce Springsteen sang and influenced many of us with his music and optimism. ‘We were born to run” (even if we have to do it slowly). Let’s keep moving along thinking: “I think I can, I think I can, like the little Engin” who puffed his way up the hill, and then puffed: “I thought I could, I thought I could” I DID IT!”

 

Somehow we must accept the constant flux of feelings. The negative thoughts prevent our happiness. Feelings of both positive and negative is what it is. Our constant daily challenge is to somehow count our blessings, (rather than our troubles), and to fill our minds with courage, hope and to help others along their way!

 

Until we meet again, G. willing, in September.

CHW

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: JULY 1, 2002

 Shalom dear readers, this July 1, 2022

Recently, I was treated to a performance of a piano player, Gershon Wachtel, in his home, as part of birthday gift to me on my birthday. 

I found this evening a total time of pleasure, wonderful memories of my time in life when I studied piano, taught piano lessons, gave concerts accompanying a wonderful violin player to raise money for Mizrachi women. It reminded  me of my love of kinds of music. I returned home full of wonderful memories and music in my soul. The music touched my soul, to the point that upon returning home full of wonderful memories and music in my soul. The music touched my soul, to the point that upon returning home, I took out my several boxes of tapes of music to listen to once again. The words of many of these melodies gave me strength, love, happiness, from way back in years, and still live vibrant within me. It brings peace into my soul. I would never have thought that this resource would give me such an 'up' feeling and such pleasure! the words of many of these songs are as precious today as they were many many years ago. I thank my sponsors for this magnificent evening that opened up my soul once again.  We are blessed when we can help others!

Perhaps our task in this bewildering world is to make magnificent music with all that we have. And when that is no longer possible, we must transcend our private, personal tragedies, retune the strings of our life, and transform the divine instrument we each embody to make still more beautiful music with what we have left.

Is there any hobby, sport, activity that you  have left behind, that might lift your mood-to remember, to try to do again, or a new activity that you would like to investigate to give your soul a real lift of pleasure to live by, to follow, and to open up our closedness. It is so easy to mope, to feel 'down', when things are complicated, difficult during our train ride of life. Is there any hobby, sport, activity that might lift your mood to remember, to try to do again, or a new activity that you would like to investigate to give your soul a real lift of pleasure, anticipation? Perhaps a study group on Zoom, a book group to join, a study group of Torah, of Tehillim (Psalms), etc.

It is so easy to mope, to feel 'down', when things are complicated, difficult during our train ride of life. I wish all of us riders on the train of life to find good thoughts, activities, friends, family members, books, music, crafts, sport, etc. to help us get a boost in life to live by, to follow, and to open up our closedness.

I wish all of us on our train ride of life, the strength and challenge we face to continue finding wonderful people around us, the courage to keep our spirits up. Let's be kind to ourselves and to the other! G. willing, we will meet again in August.

CHW

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE JUNE 1, 2022

ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE JUNE 1, 2022

As I survey friends, neighbors, family members, all riding on this train of life, I see/feel that many of us are struggling to keep our spirits up, despite pressures and changes in our personal lives and in our communities. In this letter to you, I am suggesting several tips that I am trying to adapt, to cope with it all. Hopefully, several of these tips will spur all of us to infiltrate into our daily living. 

HOW TO BE HAPPY: HABITS FOR US TO ADD ON TO OUR ROUTINE IN LIFE

1. SMILE: to yourself, and to others. 

2. EXERCISE. At least 10 minutes a day, with a walk outside. Even walk by yourself and life in the children playing, in nature's beauty, a sunrise, a sunset, the blooming of so many beautiful flowers of all colors.

3. Get plenty of sleep. slow down before bed, with our television turned off, our phones off, dim the lights, and sink into a peaceful sleep, hopefully/

4. Be grateful- for everything you DO have; feel your gratefulness and elicit all the things that you are so grateful for, that are in your life today!

5. Give another person a compliment. That makes them feel good, and it also makes you feel terrific.

6. Breathe deeply. Let's teach ourselves to relax, to think positively, to unwind from our many demands.

7. Acknowledge your own 'unhappiness'. speak to a good friend. Describe it in your personal journal.

8. Keep a journal. I call mine 'MY BOOK OF ABUNDANCE'.  Every few days, I stop my race in life and sit down to elicit the various good people, happenings, feelings, that I have from so many sources.I do realize the YES, there are some very difficult moments in my life, but look how abundant many other factors are there for me.

9. Keep a 'GRATITUDE JOURNAL'. Perhaps you prefer to have a person to call, or to write to.

10. Plan your week. Knowing that you have a social outing in your planning, gives you a boost of morale.

11. Turn to nature! Enjoy the flowers blooming now all over, the tall trees that we have here in Israel, the chirping of birds, a lovely bench in the shade to sink into and 'just be!'

12. Try to meditate for 5 min. or more. Concentrate on all the blessings that you have, despite all the negatives. Relax and be mindful.

13. let's take care of our body. Treat yourself to a nourishing cream, an occasional massage or a manicure, pedicure.

14. LET GO OF GRUDGES! Yes, some people family members, et al may have been ride, insulted you, but breathe out and just be, despite their actions. Reach out to the wonderful people around you.

15. There are so many other good habits to add on to our routine of life. Let's help ourselves to better ourselves, both externally and internally.

I close with the PRAYER OF SERENITY, a constant reminder to me.

"G. Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the tings I can, And, wisdom to know the difference."

Until we meet again next month, G. willing

CHW

 

 Shalom dear Readers: May 1, 2022

On our train ride of life, each of us is so pleased to be part of mankind. We try to enjoy special moments and the seemingly smooth ride. But... along comes a bump - a scare. With health issues of ourselves, and/or family members and/or friends, and the ride on this train of life becomes very very bumpy, one that we could not imagine in our worst of nightmares. C'est la vie? We can cry, we can scream out, but: IT IS WHAT IT IS.

How then can we pick ourselves up and think/say: 'IT IS WHAT IT IS'.-we must pull myself/ourselves together and adjust our mind into a new operational mode. We will cope, and adjust as we are yet on the train of life! 'MIND OVER MATTER'. I can forge ahead, build myself up from these negative thoughts. Reaching out to you, my readers, I will yet encourage us, despite life threatening illness, situations, and strive for all of us to yet enjoy riding on the train of life!

In Rabbi Zelig Pliskin's book entitled "Gateway to Happiness and Gateway to Self-knowledge", I want to share with you 3 or his suggestions: 

1. Accept what cannot be changed and try to make the best of it.

2. Instead of telling yourself how awful a situation is, tell yourself that although it may be difficult, you can still cope with it.

3. Think of difficult situations as a test and a challenge.

This month's entry has been a very difficult one to write and to express myself after the death of my daughter, Deena. Indeed, life must go on: yet we do never forget. I am the whole and the broken, the intact and the shattered. My heart is both whole and broken, as the Kotzker Rebbe taught: " The only whole heart is a broken one." We cannot live in this world, love, see its pain, lose those we love, and not have a broken heart. Things can and do break and fade and die. It is such through broken, that we find our way to G.  Each time we reach out, we take the chance of being  broken. Rabbi Alexandri in the Talmud taught: 'Human beings are ashamed when they use broken vessels, but G. seeks out broken vessels. As it is said: "G. is the healer of shattered Hearts" (Leviticus Rabbah 7:2).

Some of us may find art as therapy; others find comfort through faith and spiritual practices. Many find joy in their work and lifestyle, and practice a daily gratitude process, in mind and on paper. Concentrating on one's diet, exercising, more sleep, walking outside daily help to maintain some joy and order in our lives.

We all have l ow moments, for some unfortunately, more and longer than for others. Each of us has his own little 'peckele of tzores'. As a Talmudic rabbi pointed out so wisely, 'ein b'olom b'lee yesurim' -there is no man in this world without his share of private suffering - it is just then that we need to confront our difficulties head on and with faith. One can be depressed, overwhelmed, suffer illness, et al, but le's not give up on life, and not become bitter and disheartened. 'This too shall pass'.

I close with my best wishes for all of us. Hopefully, we will connect again in June. Let's pray for our country and for our brethren all over the world, and for all mankind.

CHW

ALONG THE TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: MARCH, 2022

In the air, one feels the approach of Purim. Purim brings out our feelings of happiness, sadness, aloneness, our hope for us as a people, as a nation, as individuals in the midst of the Corona, Omicron, flu season, and with our challenge of being both physically and mentally challenged, in this month of  March, 2022.

It seems like a long winter for us. We are anxious, impatient to see and to feel flowers blooming, growing, to feel warmth in the air, to be part of any outing...or not. We are coping and learning -where do I fit in now, as I am, what can I still try to do while hampered physically, or mentally. We hope, hope, to live on and to continue, to use our minds well, to accept what we must...to find and/or make new parameters of happiness, despite.....

Hashem gives and Hashem takes, each of us, in his own time: how do we continue in our present framework, despite all, and do some good actions while on this earth?

some TIPS that I have adopted and suggest:

-let's walk for at least 10 min. a day, move our hands, feet, face, neck, even in bed.

-you and I need to hope to be able to create our new 'now'! We can't go back to what WAS. This is one lesson that I am coping with right now, and must stop the 'crying' and accept what I must.

What give you/me enjoyment? What worked for you today? How can we make it work, despite all?

Let's practice our breathing to relax, enjoy our cup of coffee or tea, enjoy our bathing ritual, enjoy a great book, watch a good movie, chuckle while we read some jokes, etc.

A great source of hope and happiness, comes to me from being in touch by phone, e mail, what's app, and/or telephone calls to our beloved friends and family who can fill our neshamas/our spirit with warmth and love.

In short, let's do what feels good for us, and avoid the actions and down feelings that don't do well for us!

I must add on here, let's pray for all our soul Jewish brethren caught in the terrible war going on right now, and pray that many lives will can be saved by our  Jewish brethren.

Until we meet again, G. willing, in April, I wish you all the best!

CHW

In short, let's do what feels good for us, and avoid the actions and down feelings that don't do well for us!

 ALONG OUR TRAIN RIDE OF LIFE: FEB. 2022

The greatest challenge is to have the courage to change those things which we can and should be changed, and the serenity of and to accept those which we cannot.

This passage is taken from THE SERENITY PRAYER by Reinold Niebuhr.

 

‘BIDUD’: ISOLATION

 

My feelings: not really happening to me; wow, time for me alone to be, to read, to rest, to not be dressed,-to stay in pajamas: time suddenly found to read, to eat, to rest, to think, to ponder, to watch and/or listen to the news, etc. – I have received a ‘present’ of time for me to use as I please! Not just what I MUST DO!  On the other hand,  I worry , as I do have quite a sniffle, and have tissues on hand everywhere I am in my home. TIME to think back about my parents and their end of life period, how they persevered, and did I really understand where they were at, or could I really understand the feelings of aging and facing medical issues and the prospect of dying hovering about? How I wish that I had the insight back then to understand better where my parents individually felt about their future and status. When I put on music that my mother loved, I cry as she cried way back then, ‘A YIDDISHE MAMMA’, I cried with my mother, about my mother, and how my own children somehow cannot understand how I and others of my age feel—apprehensive about what is/may come, and how we can  leave them and not know what lies in their future and be there with them to share in the good and the difficult times. Not to see my great grandchildren, let along my grandchildren graduate, get married, have babies. I WANT TO BE HERE through it all! But,  that’s  not the way the world works. We each have our time on earth, no matter how good we are-Hashem takes the best of us and the rest of us as well. Our time is LIMITED. I pray to be able to keep giving to others, by calling, by writing, by my prayers, by my visits-in person, by e mail, by zoom, by whatsapp, by my phone calls.

 

BIDUD tells me that whatever is, IT IS WHAT IT IS! G. bless us all within our time period of life allotted to us. I already long for and miss what I will eventually miss in my little world. G. BLESS us all!

 

PART 2:

HOW CAN WE STOP WORRYING and ACCEPT THE LOCKDOWN:

I know that each one of us must find our way of coping with this BIDUD situation. Some suggestions for all of us to ponder:

We can begin to appreciate our family more intensely, as many have tragically succumbed to the disease. We are beginning to understand that LIFE SHORT, AND MUST NEVER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

 

Because of the lack of entertainment centers, we can learn to entertain ourselves by being creative. We can read more because we now have the time. We can write/draw more. We can choose to cook for ourselves, and can experiment with new dishes. We can ‘work out’ our own exercise regimes. One of the greatest joys come on Shabbat and Holidays. Once the clock is in SHABAT mode, SERENITY starts. We can pray at all times and not worry if we are falling behind as a chazzan chants on the bimah. We can sing, learn together, discuss issues without the thought of having to elsewhere on this precious day.

 

Perhaps this new world, with all its worries and anxieties is actually  G. giving us a GIFT OF TIME, to connect with Him more, to talk to Him! The less pressure to be here, there, everywhere, eases our time to connect and be with G.  We can ponder our purpose here on this planet-is this really a blessing for we humans, to learn simplicity in time and thought? I ask for all of us ’what and how can impact our attitude toward life and those we love? Maybe we should be embracing this lockdown and seek and find more serenity within our own borders of “home”. What can we do that we, in ‘normal’ times, we can find no time for e.g. pondering, relaxing, finding “time” to be creative-art hobby, cooking beyond the rush to put two items together, to read, and ponder the universe, to really enjoy your home, such as it is. You are within, somewhat protected, you can relax both mind and body and just ‘BE’! We can reach out to others, by phone, by fax, by e mail, and send out warm thoughts to the ‘other’. How good it is to send out our warmth and love and caring to others- I am always so pleasantly surprised and extremely warm and happy when I see their replies. G. bless us all as we face our present and future, with no guarantee of what will be, as in reality, without this pandemic, we don’t know what lies ahead individually and as a people in g.’s world, in 2022 and beyond.

G. bless all of us. Until we meet again in March, 2022.

CHW