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

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

 

 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