Shanah Tovah שנה טובה

There is something magical about the first few Shabbats in a new year. There can be newfound peace and hope and light. For me, these new Shabbats act as a new beginning. After celebration, reflection, and atonement, I feel as though a part of me has been shed from last year, leaving room for new experiences to set in. This does not happen on its own - it takes time and energy. To make room for new experiences (or experiencing things in new ways), I must shed or grow.

I must shed the experiences and emotions that don’t serve me.

These are the pieces of my life that I carry around and make me heavy and slow. I do this by accepting all that has happened to me, and showing up each and every day in the present. This takes the power of those experiences away: they cannot control today, even though they controlled yesterday.

I must grow by turning things over in my mind and seeing everything in a new way.

I do this by reading and listening to people who are different than myself. This way, I open my mind to others and the way their life is lived. I get to try on new traditions and views to see what works best for me. And I get to connect with people in a more authentic way by respecting them.

“I will never experience the same Shabbat twice.”

- Stephanie Aaronson