The days of awe (Yamim Noraim) are coming to an end. I have spent the last ten days thinking, mostly tossing and turning when trying to sleep. One night I got little to no sleep at all. Other nights, I probably snored a lot (So sorry Susie if I woke you multiple times in the night). You may wonder what was troubling me so. Well, it has been quite a roller-coaster of year. So, there is a lot to process and think about.
During this time, we are supposed to look back upon the year that has ended and contemplate about what we can do better in this next year to come. Not only in terms of ourselves, but in how we work with others and our spiritual connection. None of us are perfect, and that definitely includes me (and my temper). Reviewing the past is a hard task for most us. Such an activity is very challenging for me. For as many of our friends and family know, I am a person who thinks mostly about today and tomorrow. The past is something that cannot be changed, so I tend to let it go.
It is interesting that on Yom Kippur the story told is the Book of Jonah. The story’s central message, in my opinion, is however far we flee (from God, our challenges, ourselves…), we are but steps away from returning to the path. We want to flee at times. Susie’s favorite phrase last year at this time was ‘Let’s go to Hawaii, I would prefer a vacation over brain surgery.’ We stayed the course, but then course seemed to deviate from the path we thought we should be on. It is the hope that we all have the courage and wisdom to take the necessary steps to get back on the path and heading in the right direction. This can be difficult when there are three opinions for two people.
As I look at this last year and its massive list of events, I am filled with the love that everyone around us has provided unconditionally and shared in times of great sorrow and adversity. If I have not said thank you, acknowledged my appreciation and shared a smile and hug, I should have. I hope in this next year to do so.
For now, we’ve made it a year and we are onto year two.
May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for Good, Gmar Chatimah Tova!
