I hate the word resolution. Resolutions, by their nature, involve us in remediating a personal shortcoming. When we inevitably break those promises to ourselves, it is very difficult to go back. It is why so many resolutions are broken by the second week of January. We tend to see resolutions as a straight line. I resolve to lose 20 pounds this year. When we inevitably fail, we have to start at the beginning.
Judaism teaches us about teshuvah. Teshuvah means to return. We are invited into the process of redressing a deficiency. We reflect, we learn, we desire change, and we do the work necessary to hit the mark. If we miss it the first time, we can circle back and find it again.
With that in mind, here are some very Jewish things I'd like to do better for the secular New Year. Some are silly, and some are less so.
1. Return to a synagogue in person. Three years is a long time to be withdrawn from a Kehillah Kedosha with only a virtual presence. It's time.
2. Eat some latkes when it isn't Chanukah. Fried foods and carbs be damned.
3. Make more challah.
4. Host a Shabbat dinner for friends.
5. Care more about the trees. (The 800 or so that Premier DoFo wants to remove at Ontario Place for a ridiculous spa is a good start.)
6. Be more consciously aware of my neighbours and neighbourhood.
7. Participate in small acts of Tikkun Olam, the restoration of the world, either with my presence or my donations.
8. Be kinder. Kindness costs nothing and means everything.
9. Bubby the hell out of my granddaughters.
10. Find and enable my patience gene.
11. Attend the GUCI camp reunion in August. Camp friends are forever friends.
Happy 2023. Find your joy and make it work for you.
Very good advice
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