Happy New Year!
Today is the Jewish New Year.
If you want to learn more about the Jewish New Year, click here.
On Rosh HaShana, it is a blessing to listen to the sound of the shofar (the ram's horn). In order to make the sound, the blower must first take a deep breath, reminding us of the importance of our breath and symbolizing that change begins with you.
There are several sequences of the shofar; they all begin and end with Tekiah.
- Tekiah - one long single blow
- Shevarim - three short blasts
- Truah - nine rapid blasts
- Tekiah Gedolah - one very long single blast.
Last night the Rabbi shared the significance of the sequence. We begin with one long single blow, reminding us that we came into this world whole and complete and the final Tekiah symbolizes that over the High Holy Days and the ten days in between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur we have an opportunity to start the new year with a clean slate if we do the work. Sandwiched between the Tekiah are Shevarim and Truah - short broken sounds like people moaning or wailing in desperation.
How do we become whole and complete each year?
- Go inward.
Look at where you were unkind, hurtful, or didn't do what you said you were going to do. Then make teshuva – ask for forgiveness. Figure out how you can right your wrongs and then do it. The final step, make a conscious effort to not do it again. - Practice GRATITUDE.
Unlike the sounds of Tekiah and Shevarim which symbolize our brokenness, the sweet bursts of gratitude show us that life is wonderous even in the middle of a breakdown. When you're in a state of gratitude you cannot be unkind, or hurtful; it's incongruous, just like you can't be hot and cold at the same time. By consciously looking for things to be grateful for, you are training your brain to find more of these moments.
Throughout the day, answer the following questions.
W - Who or what made a difference for me?
I - What did I do for myself or others?
N - Did I nourish my mind, body, or spirit?
S - What made me smile or laugh until my sides hurt? - Give back.
As stated in the beginning of this blog, the sound of the shofar begins with breath, something we have really learned the value of over the past year and a half. We all know someone that has been effected this year by the virus and/or a natural disaster. When you give back, you have an automatic GRATITUDE W.I.N.S.
If you take away anything from this read, I hope it's this... All change begins with YOU. You are more powerful than you realize.
