Not Such a Bad Day After All
Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., CLC, SDS
I’m hungry.
I’m starving.
I’m craving.
I need my coffee.
I need -anything!!!
Familiar Yom Kippur thoughts?!
What about these thoughts:
I’m hungry for growth.
I’m starving for connection.
I’m craving fulfillment of my purpose.
Or as to —I need…. – what about, what does the other guy need?!
Are we all also going toward those thoughts as well???
What about these helpful perspectives?
Listen you’re dressed up in all white. Do you seriously want to have to worry about getting your outfit dirty? And now multiply that by the number of all your girls that are dressed in white. What a cleaning bill that could be!
Another thought – You’ve got a day off from cooking, serving and cleaning up. Do you really think you need another lunch to prepare? Especially coming between the Rosh Hashana holiday and the holiday that is a marathon meal for 8 days running!
Also -You’re kvetching about your weight, right?! Well -guess what-you can shukel away for like twenty-four hours straight. Think what calories that can burn!
The advantages of the right perspective can truly enhance your appreciation of the day.
You get to wear comfortable shoes to shul. And stay in them! You don’t need to hide around the corner and change into spikes.
You get to hang out all day with your family. No need for tracking them to figure out where they are.
You get a day off from your typical routine, be it work, schlepping, commuting or whatever the stresses are that your regular day brings up. Hallelujah to that!
Sure, there is the seriousness of the day. The worry that I’m being judged. Yet, don’t you often feel that way anyway-From friends, your boss, even people that don’t really know you well. At least here it’s by someone with your best interest at heart!
It’s also a day to revisit old ways and get to let them go. To just plan for the year ahead.
It’s a day to start afresh. A day granted for a new beginning. Your soul wiped clean! How good is that?! Not to be burdened with old mistakes.
All in all:
Your not eating is not to make you feel bad, it’s to make you feel angel like. And they just don’t need food!
Wearing white is to make you feel capable of being as pure as an angel. And to let you know today you can get there.
And the no leather shoe thing it’s to help you feel more connected to the earth. To remind you of your humble beginnings. When you feel that earth beneath your feet you are reminded of where you came from and where you are heading. So that you can make some wise decisions about what truly matters.
So now what do you say, as tough as it might seem on some levels, wouldn’t you say, maybe it’s not such a bad day.
In fact, maybe it’s even an awesome one!
Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relationship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com
