Catching Up is Hard to Do

Day 229: "Seek Peace and Pursue It"

The definition of peace changes in a moment from a calmness one feels internally to a state of affairs between two feuding nations. In the case of this quote from Psalms, we learn that we must seek peace where we are and pursue it in other places (Vayikra Rabbah).

In this case, peace means reconciliation. We are supposed to make up or reconcile with friends, family, or others we've had fights with. In terms of pursuing it elsewhere, we are encouraged to help others bury the hatchet as well.

Day 230: On Loving Yourself

I assume we're all familiar with [what I consider] the Golden Rule: "love your neighbor as yourself." We've been taught that that means we should treat others the way we would want to be treated, however, if you look closer, this verse implies something else too. "Love your neighbor as yourself" you are commanded also to love yourself.

This doesn't mean you should feel high and mighty as you walk along your way. What this actually means is that you should give yourself the respect you deserve. If you have self-respect, you have the capacity to know and to love others. People who don't love themselves are more likely to be violent towards their children or others with better self-images.