Day 8 - #mywaytohealthylife

Day 8 - In this weekly journal, I want to track my progress as well as keep a record of some very good lessons I learned this week.  Here we go...

• I can do this.
• Focus on my mind first.  That's where I make the right decisions.  Reminds me of the old saying, "The fish stinks from the head." (one of my favorites and applicable in so many situations.)
• Do things that are good for the heart.  
• Meditation - brings the heart rate down and allows my mind to clear.
• Celebrate joyful moments.  Every moment.  Every one.
• Play cards
• Cook
• Hang out with people who make you smile.
• Count small successes
• Learn from the missteps
• Keep going
• Keep track and stick to routine

I'm taking a deep breath and taking my next step forward.  

Day 1 - #mywaytohealthylife

Today is day 1 of my own personal health challenge.  It took me a while to get here and of course, I'm mad that I'm starting over again.  I'm also relieved that I'm here again.  There is some freedom in getting back to a healthy routine, a regiment that gives me direction and goals.  I like structure and I enjoy cooking, meditation, and living positively.

Why today?  Probably because I want to, need to and am tired of not feeling as good as I used to.

How will I do this?  I'm going to write a lot.  Track my food, my exercise and start writing here again to share my progress.  So many of my friends inspire me by their healthy choices and I want to include all great ideas.

How do I define success?  I'm sure everyone has great answer for this - reach my goal weight, lose inches, wear a smaller size and those will define part of my success.  In addition, I want finally integrate my mind, body and soul so that I don't have to start this over again and again.  I will only know that success years from now and that is something I'm ready to start right now.  Working to achieve that balance of family, health, friendship, community and career will be my success.

What are my rules?  This is the easy part.

1. Stay focused
2. Make good decisions
3. Meditate
4. Be kind to myself

So here we go...

Walking on Gravel - Finding the Concrete in People

I can give you a list of things that make me unsteady right now and I would imagine that many people have similar lists.  A couple of weeks ago, in #MeditationPlus, our discussion brought the following image to my mind: I was walking on gravel, recognizing the fact that I had been looking for the street to be solid concrete.  I wasn't afraid, I had a feeling of being settled and accepted the new state of what was beneath my feet.

During shaky times in my life, I look for solid ground.  Or I should say, I used to look for solid ground, a handrail to hold, and a friend to lean on.  Walking in the world doesn't always feel safe, solid, sturdy, or secure.  The past few weeks have been busy, crazy, intense with some personal changes.  Transition doesn't have to be hard, it just isn't every easy.  Adjustment to new things often brings loss of something else.

I don't have to search for solid ground anymore, safety comes in the comfort of others and in the comforting of others.  Connecting to another is what gives me that solid feeling I want.  Recently, I chaired the JCPSC Honors Gala - an evening of celebration for our Jewish Communal Professionals. Standing among my peers, I felt like a superhero - stronger with my team, all diverse with unique talents and all running our own universe.  But on this night, we are together, inspiring each other and seeing our past, present and opportunities for the future.

Today, I'm not focusing on my lists of things that make me shaky and unsteady, today, I gather strength from my family, my colleagues and my peers in the field.  Thank you to the JCPSC for allowing me to create something special for the community.

#HappyThanksgiving #lovemyjob #walkingongravel

A Life Still Doing - #valuesinaction

So much to do!  This is a phrase that sits sometime comfortably or uncomfortably in my heart and mind.  Elul and the Jewish holidays have allowed me to reflect and look ahead.  With my #valuesinaction mindset, I've thought about my #5777goals:

• Say yes when I can
• Say no when it is best 
• Stay hungry for learning
• Explore Los Angeles through visiting dog parks around the city
• Host meals in my home
• Enjoy my backyard
• Continue to #lovemyjob and raise a lot of money
• Choose gratitude and happiness as a state of mind
• Embrace hardship when faced with it and look for help to walk through it.
• Look ahead 5 years, 10 years and create a personal and family plan.  Where do I/we want to be and how do I/we get there.

Welcome 5777!  I'm ready.

Showing Up Changes Perspective - #valuesinaction

I wanted to sleep in.  I could have slept in.  But yesterday was Shabbat and Meditation Plus began at 9:15am.  I wanted to stay home, stay in my pajamas and the world outside.  It was an intense week, all the normal anxieties of adulthood felt exponentially heightened.  Each smile felt forced, each joyful moment (there were some) felt brief.

So, when I could have stayed home, when I wanted to stay home - I didn't.  I got up, got dressed and made my ritual Shabbat morning walk to shul.  I still felt off, still felt like the walk was longer than other days.  But I continued, put one foot in front of the other and kept going.  I looked up at the sky, concentrated on breathing and tried to find some enjoyment in the beautiful day.  Though clear outside, I, myself, felt cloudy.

I finally arrived and with each heavy step, climbed the stairs without the usually skip in my step.  "Just get there," I said to myself.  I reached the top of the stairs and took a deep breath, "I made it," I thought to myself.  To find some instant comfort, I sat in one of my favorite seats.  I had moved it a few weeks before for a change of perspective, but like a security blanket, the moment I sat in my favorite seat, I relaxed a little more.

And then we began.  Rabbi Ruth Sohn's voice guided us first and then after our silent meditation, I felt elevated, refueled, relaxed, and calm.  I shared with the group that during the meditation, I had an image of walking through mud, dragging myself to get to where I was going, and that the meditation had helped remove me from the mud.  As the meditation progressed, my imagery included stepping out of the mud and standing unburdened.  All it took was for me to show up.  Even though I wanted to sleep in and stay home.  I made the right decision.

Show up! I took that action a few more times which lead to great conversations, reconnecting with friends and a new perspective for the holiday of Sukkot.  These past 48 hours have been transformative.  As the holiday teaches us that life is fragile, temporary, open and what matters most are your family, friends, your community, and the values that allow you to stay close, reach out to others, share food, friendship and love.

Chag Sameach

Finding Values in Your Younger Self - #ValuesInAction

This Yom Kippur, I am looking at our past to hear the voices which help guide me today and tomorrow.  While cleaning up and preparing for our Break the Fast, I found this tribute to Rabbi Jacob Pressman that my husband Perry wrote in 1975.  It was a Birthday Gala and Perry was 13, a seventh grader.  He remembers reading it in front of everyone at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.  Losing Rabbi Pressman this year was a tremendous loss for the community.  Reading Perry's words reminds me of Rabbi Pressman's extraordinary leadership and the impact that he had on so many.  Attached is the original. Seeing the words in Perry's younger handwriting only emphasizes his respect for Rabbi Pressman and that he kept it all these years speaks to Perry's own values of remembering those who made an impact on him.  #ValuesInAction.  I'm proud to read these words today and proud to know that man who wrote those words so many years ago.

For your enjoyment and some reminiscing, Perry gave me permission to post his tribute to Rabbi Pressman.

October 21, 1975

I think of Rabbi Pressman
When I think of all great men
He is very understanding
and wouldn't commit a sin

He always helps at Herzl
He helps us with our homework
And he tries his best to Lxxxx down
When Lxxxx goes berserk.

He is a very good leader
And know how to judge what's right
One thing Rabbi an certainly do
is give an excellent sermon on Friday night.

Rabbi Pressman, I know you pretty well
And I've got one more thing to say
From all of us to all of you,
Happy Birthday

Truth in Kindness #valuesinaction

One of the most important values in my life is truth.  As long as I can remember, I always knew that it was important for me to tell the truth.  When I was young, it was because I knew that my mother would be furious if I lied. But as I quickly learned, I didn't always tell the truth as young girl or a young woman.

When I was older, I learned the difference between secrecy and privacy.  In my solid adult friendships, I share with those I trust and only share what I want with those who don't need to know my life's story.  And further, I sometimes find myself in my circle friends or my meditation group or with complete strangers and I hear my voice sharing something deeply personal because either I need to share it or I believe that someone else needs to hear it.

Speak truth with kindness - it is how we learn to trust each other and deepen our personal relationships.  Today, someone told me the truth.  It can be scary because it means that someone was thinking about me and found the strength to call me.  I know these difficult conversations take time and courage which I truly appreciate.

It wasn't easy to hear.  But today was the day and I needed to hear it.  Today is today.  Someone showed me kindness in truth and truth in kindness.  I'm not walking away.  I'm embracing, I'm in solution and I'll deal with it.

And tomorrow is another day.  #valutesinaction