Yom Kippur, You're Over. New Year, You're On.

As Yom Kippur concludes, a fresh start and a new year, 5769, commence. Hallelujah! If you know anything about Jewish high holy days you know they start with a party and continues with... well... the cops knocking at your door to break up the party... and the after party clean up... and then you get on with your life all the wiser, not arrested and not too hung over to take on the new year, we hope.

I like new beginnings. These beginnings symbolize a chance to celebrate accomplishments, vow more and make time for those you didn't get to, as a slightly older, and more experienced less/more idealistic, less/more practical individual... whatever you're seeking to be.

During each year I consider 3 new beginnings - the New Year's day on January 1st, the Jewish New Year, which depends on the lunar calendar, but occurs in the fall, and a 3rd new beginning falls on my birthday. If it's a new day, make the most of all the days of the year. Technically, a new year in your life occurs on the day you were born. Fun-wise, a new year occurs when everyone around you is celebrating with champagne. Religiously, the new year occurs for the purpose of celebrating the past year's good fortune and to pray for similar/better fortune in the coming year. You spend 10 days, which begin at night, lamenting, begging for forgiveness, thinking about the past year and praying for the coming year to bring happiness and health and for G-d to inscribe you in the book of life. The Torah says, on Rosh Hashana is written and on Yom Kippur is it sealed. You fate, that is.

Isn't that terrifying? One begs to G-d to inscribe him/her in the Book of Life and not Death for the next year. It takes a huge emotional toll, to say the least. One questions whether he or she has been a good person or at least, good enough. Can you be better? Shouldn't you? What are you waiting for? It's like going to confessional with your whole congregation, though you don't have to admit anything out loud. As a result, Yom Kippur comes and goes, one must fast at sunset the day before through sunset the next day and pray all day long and reflect and then decide - "yes! I'm a good person and good things should and will come my way and I'm going to do my part to ensure that. It's my job. Happiness and good fortune is my choice. See, that's the trick. It's you're choice. I hate to do this, but when Charlotte was deciding to quit her job at the gallery to become a Domestic Engineer and help others, she sought Miranda's support and approval. When she didn't get it as she expected, Charlotte said, "I chose my choice." That stuck with me. Out of context, you choose your choice. You know what's best for you to reach potential and get from Point A to whatever destination you want. Here's a little bit of perspective from a popular poem.

Whether or not you're Jewish, it helps to take a day for insight for introspection and to look back on the year a bit. Whether or not you're religious, you may look to this poem for a bit of guidance. More or less, it's a secular take on how to get through the most imperfect of times.

"Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul."

Invictus by William Ernest Henley










I think we're all pretty familiar with the quote in bold.
In closing, I just want to say:
Choose your choice.
This year.
This fall.
This month.
This day.
This second.
Steer your fate.


(The first image is of the candles we light before the sun sets Yom Kippur. Jews also light candles for Rosh Hashana and to celebrate every holiday and every Sabbath and in memory of the deceased. We love candles.

The second photo was taken on a rooftop terrace of my friend, Kendall's apt in Chicago. Just a little image to lighten the mood and remind us of other ways to celebrate new beginnings other than to starve ourselves and atone.

The final image is a piece of religious art my parents bought a couple weekends ago. Let me update on the meaning later. This post is already heavily loaded down.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus