I had a discussion recently with a friend about consumerism in the frum community. We both see how it’s ballooned in recent years and it leaves us feeling empty and uncomfortable. One of the things I’ve tried to do a lot on this blog is shine a light on the endless delights and pleasures of an ordinary life. The …
Last week my 10-years-younger-than-me cousin got married and I did not attend. The truth is that I didn’t even consider going — I knew it was just not what I needed. A few years ago I would have suffered through the same but somehow with thirty came the freedom to stop caring about what other people think (everyone is too …
Before Succos I started listening to Chanukah music, and Chanukah seemed so far off! Yet here we are. I made a short list of things I want to do on Chanukah (mostly food-related, lol):
Hey, all. I have been super busy with schoolwork as the semester winds down. Gah! Can’t believe it’s almost the end, though. Then I am off for a few weeks, which sounds amazing. I have been keeping a running list for forever of topics to write about and there really is no end (b”H) – the world and life …
A friend recently sent me an article about “glimmers” which are the opposite of “triggers.” Triggers activate our fight/flight/freeze responses, but glimmers activate our sense of safety and connection. This is a concept from Deb Dana, LCSW, who is an expert in polyvagal theory, an approach to understanding and healing trauma. Glimmers are found in small moments and reminders of …
I read a beautiful idea in Mary Pipher’s book Women Rowing North. When you are struggling with sadness or loneliness or hopelessness about the future, look around you for evidence of love in the world. I find amazing evidence of love all that time through my job. I work with people dealing with serious illness, and I hear stories about “ordinary” …
Nostalgia mode still going strong, maybe it’s the time of year. Below is another list of things that used to absolutely delight me as a child (and here is a list of ordinary things that still do). More pressing, though — what’s on yours?
I have a file that I add to anytime I come across an interesting article, website, person, etc that relates to one of the topics I may write about. Of course I have many references to shidduchim/singlehood. Recently I came across an amazing study which was also written about in this op-ed:
Recently I finished another course in my therapeutic writing training, and I found the exercises to be particularly deep and moving. For one of the exercises we had to make a list of intersections in our lives, moments when we chose to go in one direction and not another. Then we explored one of those intersections more in depth and …
A couple weeks ago someone sent me a resume (and picture) and asked what I thought of the idea for me. It always makes me feel a little bad and sad to say no (but I do it). I looked at the picture and I thought how painful it is that innocent people need to be judged all the time …
