Jewish Musings, Sunday 10/2

[lee058]

What’s on your mind — how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

[lee058]

Good morning everybody. Hope you are all well today. I'm feeling good although still a bit hazy; I stayed up late and then slept in. Last night was DS's first time working the evening shift. I picked him up a little after 9PM, then we decided to celebrate by going to IHOP for pancakes. It was fun! I was a little surprised at how many people were there. I guess a lot of people had something to celebrate.

Since the HHD are here this week of my leading our thread, I think it would be a good idea to focus on them. I feel inspired by Holly's lead last week, and later on, will have some daily topics that are results of that.

For today, how about if we write about what the HHD mean to us? For me, they mean introspection, gratitude, and determination to do better. Whoops, nature calls, be back soon!

[lee058]

Back again. Okay, let me think about introspection, gratitude and determination to do better. Introspection is something that seems to happen naturally around the HHD for me. I try to remember what happened during the past year, what I did (or didn't do), and how I feel about these. I feel like I've been through a lot of changes this past year; it's been very busy and I have done my best to rise to the occasion(s). As for gratitude, I have a lot to be grateful for this year. Right now, I am especially grateful that DS found a good job and that he has been doing well. For myself, I am grateful that the thyroid scare I had turned out to be nothing, and that my other health problems continue to be under control. I'll be seeing my endocrinologist this Tuesday and will listen to what she suggests, too.

Now the tough one, determination to do better. Despite my many efforts this past year, there are many areas in which I did not do as much or as well as I would have liked to. I did not lose weight, I did not de-clutter my house, and I did not always examine my motivations. On the other hand, I was good to my family to the best of my ability, I bought and wore some nice clothes which helped me feel better about myself, I tried to eat reasonably healthily (although I did not always succeed), and I tried to be as positive as possible about life. During this coming year, I can do better in all of these areas. I will try to do so.

I will also see about reading, talking and thinking about how the universe is put together, and what humanity's and my part is in all of this!! I think this will be good for me.

AND I will keep up with my chores and responsibilities better. Speaking of which, I need to go check the laundry. I'll be back later to see what people are thinking about. Have a peaceful day, Lee

[savtele]

Boker Tov All! For me it all goes hand-in-hand - the changing of the seasons, the changing of my life. And yes, introspection, gratitude & determination - they all go with that. I've never understood "New Year's Resolutions" - somehow the idea of getting drunk & then making resolutions to change for the better seems at cross purposes. Tashlich "resolutions" (we don't call them that) - would be an entirely different matter, since we have been in a time of introspection & are now going into 10 days of intense introspection & awe. And while we don't call them "resolutions" I think the intent is the same: to come out the other side of this as kinder, more generous and more "aware" people. And every year, we crawl out of "The Narrow" space we have worked ourselves into, moving toward our "new home" for about 40 days (the month of Elul & the 10 days of Awe) and then settle in a new space, hopefully.

It's raining. There's a chipmunk family chattering in my fig tree. It's hilarious to me - the squirrels don't go near that tree, but the chipmunks scamper up & down the branches, eating what is left of the fruit!

Have a good day ladies!

[peachymom1]

Good morning everyone! I thought of you all yesterday while I was standing at the Torah scroll. Whenever I read Torah, it always helps me to look out at the congregation first (while whoever has the aliyah is chanting the blessing) and feel like part of it. I thought of all of you too, then focused on the scroll and started. There is something so powerful about chanting from the actual scroll that just doesn't happen when I'm reading from a printed book, even if it's the pages printed with what the actual Torah text looks like. I read all four of my aliyot yesterday without a single mistake, and it felt really good.

I love the idea of starting over with a new year, a new chance to learn, to grow, to be better and do better. I have two friends going through divorces right now, and one thing I want to do is be a better friend to them, help them more, listen more. One of them is coming for dinner tonight with her kids and her new beau. I was so happy when she called to ask if she could bring him, and we're looking forward to meeting and welcoming him. I'm making lemon pepper chicken in the crock pot, green beans, carrots, matzah ball soup, apples and honey, and Osem honey cake for dessert. I've already determined how much I'm eating of what, and I've tracked it all already. I will even have time to get some exercise in today. DH is taking my car to get it washed, DS25 is sweeping and mopping the kitchen and bathrooms as we speak, DH will do the dusting and vacuuming, and I'm in charge of the kitchen and the table, except for the veggies, which DH will do.

DD28 (she had a birthday on Friday!) and her fiancee will be here for dinner too, as well as the other DS25 with his girlfriend. I'm looking forward to a wonderful evening. If I don't get back here today, I wish everyone a wonderful, sweet New Year of happiness, goodness and blessings!

[hollygail]

I'm still in sort of a funk because of my friend's death. I keep thinking I'm working on it, only to find myself sunk back into the same funk. I'm sure it will take however much time it needs to, and all that, and am particularly grateful that over the last several years I managed to delegate to other people almost every single task I used to be in charge of for High Holy Days services. Currently, my only responsibilities (for services) are to line up people to chant each and every aliyah (done a couple of months ago) and to be one of the two gabbaim during the Torah services. It's gotten to the point that I'm able to experience HHD services now. So because I don't have responsibilities, it's not an issue that I'm still in a funk. I'm so glad.

I'm planning to bring extra tissues with me to all the services, not only Yizkor.

[louise]

Holly I understand and yes, you will need time.

I'm hoping to get myself into a good place over the next few hours. I just spent a number of hours in the synagogue getting things ready for the HHD - most of it good but some of it annoyed me and I couldn't wait to finally be able to leave. Will have some tea and study my chanting and services I lead - that should turn me around. That and a nice shower, etc.
Shana Tova everyone. Won't be back for a couple of days.

[louise]

I'm happy to say it worked. First I spoke to a good friend and blew off some steam. Then I went to my special study corner in the living room (I think I got that from Angelika - if not she certainly reinforced it), sat in my rocker and practices all my prayers and readings. I feel good. I may have said in previous years that I get to do the 3rd aliyah on the second day when the angel calls to Avraham not to offer up his son - how could I not get high?!