Where is My Heart?

SHana Tova

This time of year is always a time of reflection for me. Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur. The Days of Awe. I find myself asking: Where is my heart? How is my heart? What have I learned over the past year? What are my intentions?

As I sat in the synagogue wrapped in the beautiful sounds of the holidays I felt wrapped in warmth. My heart was being held gently. As I mused about the coming year, the word that came to me was kindness.
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May the world be more kind.
May I always be kind.
​May those I know and love be kind.

I have recently been yelled at twice by strangers. On a quiet Sunday morning on campus I was running in the bike lane. A middle aged man riding the opposite direction chose to tell me loudly and clearly that the lane was not for runners.  He was right. His way of telling me was not.

While driving a couple days later another middle aged man yelled out his open window quite vehemently at me. My driving was not dangerous. Perhaps I disturbed him by intently reading his license plate (Juggler) - perhaps a little bit too closely.  But my mind starts doing somersaults with creativity when I see words that intrigue me. 

I interpret both of these experiences as symptoms of something very odd going on. We are living in times when it is OK to not be kind. I will not accept it. I do believe it is hard to be human. I don't believe it is hard to be kind.

So where is my heart as I go into this new year? What are my intentions? 

• Be Kind
• Listen Carefully
• Be Courageous
• Feel The Love Surrounding Us All
• Grow
• Find Joy

AND always keep my running shoes laced tightly.  That's so I keep standing and moving forward.

May your new year be filled with kindness, joy, and love. 

Shana Tova,

​Jessica

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