Rosh Hashanah Year 5781

Did you know today is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah is followed by ten days of contemplation before we fast on Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—asking forgiveness for our sins. In these times of chaos, I think the Jewish community has demonstrated resilience because we lived through upheaval and survived and we will all do this again, post-COVID. The message of this holiday is one of persistence in the face of adversity.

Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, and Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl once said, "When we are no longer able to change a situation... we are challenged to change ourselves." 

Frankl wrote about his experiences in the Holocaust (Man's Search for Meaning) and if people can find hope after that experience then we can all find hope in today's time of the pandemic, social injustice, and political upheaval.

Rosh Hashanah, to me, was always a time to gather with family around the table of a special meal. I no longer attend formal services but feel this holiday is a time for reflection. Unfortunately, we won't be together because it's unsafe for my 80-year-old health compromised parents.  

What does bring me some joy is that for the past ten years I have participated in "Do you10Q?". You don't have to be Jewish to participate, and for me, it's what this time of year is about, a time to be reflective of the previous year and think about the coming year. The exercise includes a list of the same questions each year.  I answer each question and put it into the "vault" till this time the following year. The questions range from challenges I've faced, things I've accomplished, goals for the new year, and a fun one—make a prediction. You can keep your answers private or share with the community. I love looking back at my former self and seeing where I was in my thinking and feeling. Especially this year, it will be interesting.

If you were to reflect on your life, your work, where are you now? Where would you like to be? And what steps will you take to get there? 

Make a plan and do it!