New Year, New Me?
One of the popular phrases tossed around for the new year. What does it imply? It implies that there is something wrong with you now, something that needs fixin’.
I’m here to tell you, “Ain’t nothin’ wrong with you now!”
October is What Makes Me – Me Month and it’s time to celebrate all of the things that make you uniquely you. Be GRATEFUL for your uniqueness. Click here to get October’s GRATITUDE calendar. Add your own twist to the GRATITUDE Action Steps.
That being said, this is also a time to release some of the things that have been burdening you.
September 29th (it changes every year) marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Our New Year is celebrated very differently than the way we bring in the New Year on December 31st. No wild parties with fancy clothes, dancing until the sun comes up, or drinking yourself into oblivion. We make resolutions so to speak but it’s different. Rosh Hashana, is a time of reflection and making amends.
I invite you to celebrate the Jewish New Year with me even if you are not Jewish.
It is said that on Rosh HaShana (rosh – head, hashana – (of) the year) G-d opens three books, The Book of Life, The Book of Death, and the Book of the “Undecided”.
From September 29, 2019 to October 9, 2019, the ten “Days of Awe”, Jewish people around the globe will wish each other a Happy New Year and say, “May you be inscribed in the Book of Life”.
This holiday is a time for us to go inward and reflect. It’s a time to ask yourself some difficult questions. Did I hurt anyone? Was I unkind? Did I cheat anyone out of something that was rightfully theirs? Did I do business fairly and justly? Ans most importantly – did I ask for forgiveness? It’s a time for teshuva – repentance. Teshuva literally means returning – returning to the path of righteousness.
So how does one change their fate and move their name from the third book to the Book of Life? By DOING teshuva – by returning to the path of righteousness.
How?
Ask for forgiveness – apologize (it must be genuine and heartfelt). It’s not enough to ask your higher power for forgiveness, you need to ask the person you transgressed upon.
This is uncomfortable. You not only have the opportunity; you also have the responsibility to make things right. You get to have difficult conversations with the people in your life.
And it’s not enough to just ask once.
Three times a charm. If the other person does not accept your apology for whatever reason, you need to ask again (at least three times). Maybe the first one wasn’t heartfelt enough and you were just going through the motions. When you do teshuva – you need to do the work and do whatever it takes to make your wrongs, right. The goal is to learn from your mistakes, whether done consciously or not, so you don’t do them again.
The truth is, doing teshuva may not be enough to salvage broken relationships. However, it’s the first step. By taking action, you are creating a Moment of GRATITUDE.
So, here’s where I ask you. If I have offended you, hurt you, or did something that upset you, please let me know so I can apologize and make amends.
In addition to doing teshuva, we also dip apples in honey symbolizing our desire for a sweet year. Try it. I promise you will love it.
Whether you celebrate Rosh Hashana, do teshuva, dip apples in honey, or not – I wish you a sweet year filled with love, joy, and an abundance of Moments of GRATITUDE.
As my people say, “L’shana Tova’- “To (a) Happy year”.
