Image by 愚木混株 Cdd20 from Pixabay I very nearly titled this piece “Do You Feel Invisible?”, because so many of us tiptoe through life feeling that way - as though we are a ghost or an observer in our own lives. We seem a little surprised when anyone notices that we are there. We are … Continue reading Do You Feel Seen?

Image credit: Pixabay This week was Victoria Day here in Canada. While the first long weekend of summer has become the day’s primary reason for celebration for most people, it’s a good opportunity for me to reflect on the concept of royalty, and queens in particular. Postmodern spirituality can be a struggle between our desire … Continue reading No More Queens?

Image by Laura Otýpková from Pixabay If you have followed me for any length of time, you know that I love to listen to audiobooks while running, and then sharing some of what I’ve learned with you. I’m currently listening to a book by Brené Brown, called Braving the Wilderness. It’s from 2019, and it … Continue reading Talking About Belonging

Image credit: Pixabay This past Sunday was Mother’s Day in North America, and it is a particularly fraught one this year, given the struggle for reproductive rights going on in our neighbour to the south. It really made me think about what it means to be a person with a uterus, a person who potentially … Continue reading Talking About Motherhood

Schlisl challah Last week was the first Shabbat after Passover, and my child and I tried our hand at a custom we had never observed before - baking schlisl challah, or key challah. I think we didn’t do too badly for a first try.  Growing up in Israel, I had never heard of this Ashkenazic … Continue reading No More Manna

Image credit: Pixabay The mind is a slippery thing - any time we get complacent and think we’ve got a good handle on our behaviour and our character, it will find some way to puncture our balloon. This happened to me the other day, and I’d like to share it with you, in the hope … Continue reading About Pride

Image credit: Pixabay Happy Wednesday! I usually write this newsletter on Sunday, but this special Passover edition is being written on Thursday, in the midst of our preparations for the traditional celebration. This year Passover starts on Friday night, so I will be offline Saturday (as always) and also Sunday (because we celebrate double holidays … Continue reading Celebrating Freedom Amidst Constraints

Image credit: Pixabay I heard a great tip from one of my coaches the other day, and I wanted to pass it on to you. It seems really silly, but it works surprisingly well. Here’s the deal. We often fall into a habit of complaining about people and things, and we don’t even hear ourselves … Continue reading How to Stop Complaining

Image credit: Pixabay I heard a recent video from Ray Higdon, in which he mentioned the importance of edifying and giving credit to those who have taught us things or given us ideas. I imagine that Ray doesn’t know that he has support in this from the Talmud, no less: Thus you have learned: everyone … Continue reading Do You Give Credit?

Image credit: Pixabay Last Friday morning, the springlike temperatures we have been enjoying plummeted back to about -12C, and a nasty wind sprang up. I looked out of my kitchen window at the swaying trees, listened to the howl, and debated whether to run outside or go run on my basement treadmill, as I had … Continue reading Just Because It’s Scary …