I am not a “religious” person in the traditional sense. More spiritual. My January 1st birthday aside, I tend to ignore a specific day to celebrate and focus on a period of time, usually tied to the change of season. That’s why I find the annual Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, inspiring whether you practice Judaism or not. The celebration which began at sundown last night marks a period of personal reflection: asking for forgiveness, showing gratitude, focusing on acts of kindness and thinking about how you want to live your life with more purpose.
Growing up I was told that at the start of Rosh Hashanah God took out a Big Book and wrote down the names of people who would die in the following year. He closed the book on Yom Kippur. Slam! It was important to be a good girl and ask for forgiveness. I was petrified my name would be on the list and tried to be good!
Photo credit: Bialasiewicz | Dreamstime.com
Over time I tended to write my own rules when it came to my spiritual beliefs. But maturity and mellowing out have a way of making you more reflective and respectful of traditions and the practices that people of any religion adhere to. Today, my New Year reflection still centers around my January 1 birthday, but each change of season gives me reason to re-calibrate. As the leaves change now during the start of this Autumnal New Year, I think again about turning over a new leaf.
We all have the opportunity to write our next chapter at any time of the year. It’s not about making big strides. It’s about taking simple steps. Try focusing on as little as six words for a start and then give each your best intention every day. Here are mine in no specific order: funny, compassionate, inspiring, romantic, adventurous, peaceful.
What are yours?
