We Jews are lucky to get a chance to start over every fall as the shofar sounds a wakeup call in each of our lives.
Here's my (sometimes) annual top 10 tips to a sweeter new year. Remember: these are just 10 suggestions, not 10 commandments!
1) Default to kindness.
One of my all-time favorite quotes is 'Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.' These days, with so much strife in the world, that's even more true. If you remember nothing else on this list, remember those words-penned by writer Ian Maclaren. Be kind to your teacher, your significant other, your neighbor, and your bus driver, too.
2) Show up for the Israeli people.
Don't forget about the hostages! There are still, at this writing, thought to be 20 hostages alive in Gaza--along with the bodies of 30 dead, still needing a proper burial. If you have Israeli friends or family, call them, text them, tell them you care. Engage with your elected officials. Buy Israeli products. Arm yourself with facts, not fiction about the relentless war between Israel and Hamas. For more ways to help, check out JUF's community toolkit
here
.
3) Invite someone new to your holiday table.
Even before COVID, we've been experiencing a public health crisis of loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in this country. Lucky for us, the Jewish people place a high value on community and connection points. Hosting friends for Shabbat dinner, break-the-fast, or in your
sukkah
? Consider inviting one or two new guests that you don't know well. Whether or not they have another place to go, they'll feel super welcomed, and doing the mitzvah of welcoming guests is bound to make you feel good, too.
4) C'mon, get happy!
But is it OK to feel happy when there's so much suffering in the world? Yes! In fact, positive psychologists assert that happier people are more likely to pay attention to the challenges of the world, and actually do something about them- like volunteering their time, donating their money, and lending a hand to those in need.
5) Be present.
We're surrounded by so much noise in our own daily lives, both in real time and screen time. Take a little time each day to look up from your phones and to feel your feet on the ground, and to be totally in the moment.
6) Chill…a little.
I'm a work in progress on this one. Your friend is 10 minutes late for your coffee date. The forecast calls for storms on your wedding day. Your daughter spilled chocolate milk-everywhere. Try to put things in perspective, and chill about the things that don't matter.
7) Say 'sorry' and let it go.
The High Holidays may be the time to try the high road. Before we embark on the new year, apologize to those you may have wronged this past year, but also forgive someone for wronging you. You'll feel lighter when you do.
8) Make Shabbat special.
Whether you keep Shabbat or not, it's a nice time to be in the present with a good meal, good people--and a good nap.
9) Give thanks.
Take a moment every single day, not just on Thanksgiving, to appreciate how lucky you are to be alive--that you have food in your belly, a warm bed to sleep in, and loved ones who surround you.
10) Be you.
Who you are and what you have to say matters. In one of our family's favorite children's books,
Hooray for You!
, Marianne Richmond writes this message for children, but I think it applies to all of us: "On the day you were born, the world grew by one, a life with big purpose and much to be done. Look in the mirror, love who you see."
Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and sweet new year!
