This year I had a serious case of Passover Blues, and then found the inspiration to bounce back. The process reminded me of an important "life lesson"!
After leading several classes about the "energy of freedom" before the recent holiday of Passover, I was fired up for a transformative Seder, and a holiday that would allow me to truly tap into that freedom energy thing. I had a laundry list of bad habits that I was hoping to break, and looking forward to personal redemption from the bondage of the Yetzer Horah (negative inclinations).
By the time the eighth day rolled along, all that I felt that I had gained were calories from overeating all of that delicious food (yes, way too much matzah with kosher for Passover mayonnaise). By the end of the holiday, I felt really down in the L column.
Then my teenage son shared with me something that my rabbi, Rabbi Hirschfeld, mentioned in his end-of-the-holiday speech. (I was too busy wallowing in self-pity to attend!) He reminded his audience that every mitzvah performed, every bit of matzah, every meal enjoyed and prayer uttered in honor of the holiday, makes an impact on our spiritual growth. However, he cautioned, it's important to take a small and practical post-Passover resolution into our lives in order to concretize some of that spiritual energy. He suggested reciting the Shema, which mentions the Exodus from Egypt at the end, with greater kavannah (intensity).
I needed that reminder. Overnight, instant changes are not healthy ones. Don't expect to become great overnight.
The bottom line is, I've reduced my caffeine intake and nail biting, but not eliminated either habit entirely. I've re-invigorated some of my New Year's (Rosh Hashanah) resolutions which have been lying way too more dormant than I would have liked. I still have a ways to go, but feel some satisfaction in the knowledge that it's not "all or nothing" in the journey of life. Slow and steady wins the race.
