Cool Down I can´t tell you how many women describe to me similar feelings after the holidays are over. There’s so much work and preparation a climax and then….what is it? A let-down? “That was it? It’s over? Am I changed? Did I really grow? Achieve anything spiritual?”
For some there’s sadness. Others, an overwhelming sensation of, “So much work now to get everyone back on track!” Or maybe you’re feeling relief? “Finally, routine again.” For the overwhelmed mother, “Everyone is out of the house! I have some space, some quiet, some time to myself.” For the single woman, “At last I don’t have to worry about where I am going for which meal. All that no-work, no-schedule, unstructured time. I can’t deal with it.”
So we have our warm-up: Elul; our work-out: Tishrei; and now…the cool down?
Yes, the cool down. You need some cool-down. Whether it’s to acknowledge sadness, feel relief, tackle being overwhelmed…don’t just jump into the next activity of life.
Take a minute, just one or two, close your eyes and gain awareness of what you are feeling. Take a moment, just one or two, and write down a goal that you can work this month of Mar Cheshvon. A month of transition and a month which contains more opportunity for change and growth than we realize.
For some there’s sadness. Others, an overwhelming sensation of, “So much work now to get everyone back on track!” Or maybe you’re feeling relief? “Finally, routine again.” For the overwhelmed mother, “Everyone is out of the house! I have some space, some quiet, some time to myself.” For the single woman, “At last I don’t have to worry about where I am going for which meal. All that no-work, no-schedule, unstructured time. I can’t deal with it.”
So we have our warm-up: Elul; our work-out: Tishrei; and now…the cool down?
Yes, the cool down. You need some cool-down. Whether it’s to acknowledge sadness, feel relief, tackle being overwhelmed…don’t just jump into the next activity of life.
Take a minute, just one or two, close your eyes and gain awareness of what you are feeling. Take a moment, just one or two, and write down a goal that you can work this month of Mar Cheshvon. A month of transition and a month which contains more opportunity for change and growth than we realize.
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