What Happens When We Fall

10 years ago, I was in Israel for my sister's wedding. While I was there, I spent two weeks at the Dead Sea for a skin condition I have.

Walking into the Dead Sea, I am waiting for the magic. Nothing happens. I just keep walking as if it's a regular beach. All of a sudden, I lose my balance and begin to fall. At that very moment the miracle strikes. G-d catches me and I float, not just float, but couldn’t sink if I tried. The miracles G-d put in nature are are the most mind blowing. Air, earth and water that cure people of so many ailments. I remember thinking at that time that if all I leave here with is this lesson it would be enough. We think we are in control, and the minute we realize that we are not, G-d catches us.

Many years pass, and every once in a while I remember how incredible it felt to be caught, then forget again. Until now.

A month ago, my best friend, my rock, my husband was diagnosed with ALS. The illusion of control was lost completely. Our silly dreams of how much fun we would have once the kids are older turned into ice cold fears.

My husband the singer, storyteller, jokester, and generally the more talkative of the two of us could not speak clearly anymore. Everything changed in an instant. Priorities took on a completely different flavor. Dreams needed to be turned into reality. All of the “if onlys” had to happen now. Now is all we know.

Just as our family lost our footing we were caught by hundreds of brothers and sisters, many of whom we have never met. The love that we have been showered with at this time can only be described as G-d catching us and cradling us through His thousands of representatives on His beautiful earth.

As difficult as this time in our lives is, that is nothing compared to how beautiful it is. The amount of joy, love, support, and unity we have been privileged to experience makes me think I understand why G-d created this world. What good He felt His creations can accomplish, and for what? We've never done anything that comes close to deserving this, yet here it is.

We have been blessed (understatement) to find out who catches us when we fall. In other words, we cannot fall, there is a beautiful net of love surrounding us.

I truly think no change is necessary. You are perfect! But if you must... Please do one extra kind deed daily in the merit of my husband. Thank you, you must be making G-d so proud.

Sacrifice

As a mother, and a civilized human being, there is a specific story in the Torah that I have always had difficulty with. G-d tells Abraham to take his son Isaac and bring him up as a sacrifice. We all know that at the last second, G-d tells Abraham to stop, for now Abraham has passed his final test from G-d, and instead a ram is sacrificed. We also know that Isaac was not a young child, he was 37 years old at that time, and quite capable of figuring out what was going on. He did not question his father, and he did not question 

G-d. He asked that his father tie him down so he would not struggle and make it harder. We also understand that G-d never intended Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, He was only testing him.

This morning, while driving my kids to school, I was listening to music from one of my favorite groups, 8^th Day. They sing a song about our father Abraham that really got me thinking.

We are the children of Abraham and Isaac, and because of this story we have survived 3000 years of wandering. Our ability to put our own logic and preconceived notions aside and do what G-d asks of us, is inherited from Abraham. Our ability to drive 200 miles a day to give our children a G-dly education, comes from Abraham. His actions in this story infused his children with this ability – forever! As long as it is required of us, we can do what it takes for our children.

From Isaac we have inherited the trait of self sacrifice. We have the ability to sacrifice our own comfort and desires and fears, for G-d. Many of us have obstacles getting in the way of our spirituality, our dreams, and many other successes. From Isaac we have inherited the strength to tie ourselves down, so we don't flinch. Get past ourselves, and do what needs to be done.

As a daughter of Abraham and Isaac, I have inherited the strength to do whatever it takes to hold my head up straight and walk the path G-d has lead me on. Had Abraham not been asked to sacrifice Isaac, these gifts would not be part of our inheritance. As G-d made Abraham the father of our nation, he gave our future nation the tools we would need to survive.

To all of my brothers and sisters out there, struggling along the way, do not flinch! Deep within your soul's DNA, you have all of the tools you need to walk straight and proud!

And YES, Abraham, we are the children you dreamed about!

Change#: No change is necessary. You already have it in you, just take a deep breath and recognize it.

Return Again

Water is freshest at its source.

Fruits and vegetables have the most nutrients freshly cut.

Grains loose their nourishment qualities as we strip them of their texture and color.

Animal products have the most value the less processed they are.

Society is relearning these fundamentals of health and nutrition. G-d made perfect food for us. The more we mess with it, the less perfect it becomes, and in turn, so does our health.

If this is true about food, certainly it is true about our laws of morality, judicial systems, and proper conduct within humanity.

Can a person be whole (holistic) without considering the source of these lessons? Where does the idea of fixing the world come from? Where do we learn about fixing ourselves?

What else does it say?

What is my role in this process?

Is there a source to go back to?

Well then, certainly I should study that. At least as much as my nutritional bibles.

Then my heart and soul and mind can be as healthy as my body.

That is wholesome.

Change #5: Find a friend, teacher, spouse, or website that knows a little more then you, and get together a couple times a month. Focus on the 5 Books of Moses. This is where the source is.

L’Chaim! To life!

Why This Blog?

Many years ago, in a small European village, lived an elderly Rabbi.

He said, 

“When I was in my twenties, I thought I could change the world.  When I was in my thirties, I thought I could change my country.  When I was in my forties, I though I could change my state.  When I was in my fifties, I thought I could change my city.  When I was in my sixties, I though I could change my community.  When I was in my seventies, I thought, well maybe at least I can change my family.  When I was in my eighties, I realized that the only one I can change is myself.

Had I realized that in my twenties, I would have changed the world.  

Hidden Talents

Do you share your talents with your family?

We all have things we love to do and we do them well, but do we share them with our loved ones?

Do we sing and dance together?

I’m sure we thought we would.

Do we paint pictures and tell stories?

Do we bake cupcakes and plant vegetables?

Do we write poetry and build furniture?

Does a yoga instructor teach her children yoga?

We all have parts to us that are special and unique.  Many of us love doing these few precious things that make us so happy.

But, do we keep them to ourselves?  Are we afraid that if we do them too often or with too many people they won’t be special? 

Now let’s think without fear.  Who better to share the best parts of ourselves then our loves ones.  They might not love it or be as good at it as you are, but you are opening their eyes and minds to your heart.  They can’t help but see the beauty in that.  They in turn, will learn how to share what’s in their hearts as well.

Change #4:  Have a talent show with your friends or family.  In a fun and safe setting, open up to those closest to you and show each other what you are made of. 

Now that will definitely make the world a more beautiful place.

Recalculating

I have learned a few valuable lessons from my GPS.

Recalculating, and the very unemotional voice telling you one simple directive at a time, have taught me quite a few lessons. 

Recalculating; Finding out that you are going the wrong direction, and calmly adjusting.  Or realizing the path has changed and calmly adjusting.

 Most of us make plans in our lives, and quite often life makes other plans.  It is not completely unnatural to have a hard time with this, yet we likely have the same reactions day after day, year after year.

When we realize that things have changed, how do we adjust?  Do we focus on the burden this has put on us?  Contemplate how unfair this all is?  It is acceptable for a toddler to have an absolute fit, not so much for a 30 something year old woman.  For those of us who tend to become unnerved….

…Enter lesson number two.  When you have been caught off guard, put one foot in front of the other and keep going.  Make a right turn in 2.6 miles, continue straight for the next 8 minutes. 

We can cry, get angry or simply freeze in fear, or we can just breathe and put one foot in front of the other and keep going until we have found our footing once again.

How we deal with the unexpected says a lot about us.  The more people we have in our lives, the more unexpected is in our lives too.

So we recalculate and find our new direction.

And here is a bonus lesson (also from the GPS). 

It only works if you have a destination.  Make your plans, enjoy the journey, and when things change, change with it.

Change #3:  On a daily or weekly basis, as the unexpected arises, breathe through it and recalculate.  If a new direction doesn't become clear, put one foot in front of the next until it does.  

New Beginnings

There is something about new beginnings that is very exciting.
They motivate us to try harder – do better – and have a better attitude.
At least in the beginning.

Can we convince ourselves every day that “Today is a new beginning”?
Will that get old quickly?
Does it matter?
Can every day, where we do the exact same thing, be different?
Do we hold off doing things until a new beginning?

My new diet starts next week.
For my New Years resolution I will do… But I’m waiting until New Years.
Next month I will get my finances in order.
Spring cleaning will have to wait until spring.
When the kids start school, I will take better care of myself.

What if today, as in right now, is next week, next month, New Years, and spring?

The worst thing that could happen is you’ve gotten something done. Wouldn't that feel awesome?

Change #2: Pick a day, any day, once a week or twice a month, and make that your New Years resolution day, and make your own new beginnings.