It's been a stressful week but it ended really nicely, I got to reconnect with my roommate and relax tonight. I know we both really need this. Plus, our Van Gogh puzzle is coming along really nicely!
- Pray for Someone Else Today: I realize now that I'm very perceptive about how other people think or feel and it's really helped me be successful in praying for the benefit of other people. I've successfully incorporated this into most of my nightly prayers in the last week and I look forward to continuing this.
- Raising Your Child to Be a Mensch: N/A
- The Questions All Parents Should Ask Themselves: N/A
- "Just as Theft of Money Is Theft, So Is Theft of Time": N/A
- What It Means to Sanctify God's Name: (see the next bullet point)
- The Special Obligation of Religions Jews to Sanctify God's Name: I was talking to my rebbetzin today who is in kiruv on our campus. She dresses modestly as a religiously observant female Jew would. She covers her hair with a scarf and always wears long skirts and sleeves. She was saying that she tries to avoid jaywalking because she is so visible as a Jew and dressing as a Jew is a big responsibility. She said the same about wearing a Star of David around my neck which I did today in honor of Yom HaShoah. I agree wholeheartedly.
Day 106: When Is the Best Time to Repent?
According to the sages? The day before you die. How do we know when we will die? We don't, so we must begin to repent every day.
Rabbi Telushkin suggested reviewing our day to see how we can improve: what did we do that was annoying or wrong? What did we do that was honest or kind? So now I get to be vulnerable and walk through my day and think about what I've done (the negative things are in red, the positive things are in green):
- got distracted in class
- realized the hard way that I didn't practice my presentation enough
- took a lunch break and some time for me
- didn't do any homework (but don't freak out, I have nothing due tomorrow)
- reconnected with my roommate
- didn't really socialize with others on my floor
- helped my rebbetzin prepare for Shabbas and discussed private stuff with her
- tried my best to observe Yom HaShoah and connect with my memories of last year's trip
I'd like to be able to say that I won't do those things in red again but they are human nature and that is going to take a while to correct. I can definitely say that I can easily correct my not practicing enough and my not socializing, but I think in my defense it's also important to realize that sometimes "me" time is also important. Oh well, this has been a helpful reflecting tool. Maybe you want to try too?
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