Another year has gone by

I am finally sitting in front of my blog again. Busy weeks passed yet this last one is no exception.

This is the time when between dreams, illusions, deceptions and reality we say goodbye to the finishing year and await the brand new one.
While looking back at the experiences we had, the things that helped us become a different human being, the people we loved, the ones we helped, some others we hurt; we also remember the people who left us , others who were sick and recovered, the ones who we decided not to be around anymore, the newborns and the ones we reconnected with; we can see our year has been loaded with emotions and opportunities.
For some of us it may have been a sad and dark year;  for others one full of light and happiness.

Even when we know we are not responsible for everything happening to us, we all have the option and opportunity to make a new start and do the best with what comes to us.
It is important to have a list of resolutions (even if it is only in your head, which means you have a much better memory than mine :). Having a tangible list makes the accomplishments more exciting.

There are some important points to bear in mind in order to start a good year :)

• Having clear goals
• Being realistic
• Creating an action plan
• Discipline
• Commitment
• Willpower  

All of the above needs to be mixed in with patience, flexibility and perseverance. Also major: things lived in the past can be useful to make positive changes.
It is of great significance staying in reality as well as setting goals that are compatible with our way of living.We need to cherish what we have so we can incorporate, learn, get better and continue growing year after year.
When we have a clear goal and visualize it, we have to focus then imagine the benefits of succeeding to bring our goals much closer. Having a plan helps us stick to our destination and even surpass difficulties that may come our way.

Living involves growing, renewing and reinventing ourselves continuously. Resolutions give human beings an opportunity to look into their aspirations, needs and attainments.
Resolutions are inspiring as long as we make them true.
Love and empathy are big in my everyday life and I hope it is somewhere in yours as well.
Wishing all a healthy, filled with accomplishments 2011.

Let's continue, our life is in front of us
it's not late because tomorrow is a new day
the dream will perish if we lose the hope
so reach out to love 

                                                 (From the song "Tikvah"-Hope)

Unity

The yoga class that I take weekly with my toddler had a "family day" due to the end of the year.
This is a program where moms and crawlers/walkers interact during one hour. The adults follow the lead of a wonderful, experienced teacher while we sing kids songs. The babies just follow what we do by copying and/or playing with lots of sized and shaped balls laid down on the floor in advance.

My daughter loves this class since day one; this is why I was very excited to bring "aba" ("dad" in Hebrew - the way she calls him ) to this event.
Luckily there were other dads who joined the afternoon which made it more fun.
The class was so well put together that it was just amazing to see how the little ones interacted, followed, laughed as well as coming to us for hugs and smiles. My daughter's excitement made her run across the room for the first ten minutes :)

The program made me realize how important it is to do things as a family. I mean besides going out on trips, running errands, going to the park..Watching our kid looking at us doing yoga, singing and moving together , having both of us connecting in a different way with her made my day. Children learn from what they experience over what we can say to them. Showing them that we care about our bodies, that we enjoy movement; dancing with them, singing together are all ways to pass health on.

Doing things as a unity gives us a sense of belonging. It conveys responsibility and support in this complex world. Positive actions lead to positive feelings; when acting with thankfulness and enjoyment we transfer those emotions to the ones around. Showing we can learn, make mistakes, fall and stand up again we are preparing our loved ones to walk life better prepared.

In Israeli Folk Dancing I see how sometimes families bring their children along and with time, patience and some luck kids take on the challenge and get into it. It is so nice to see them sharing the passion. Same in many classes at the gym where I see moms and teens sweating yet smiling at each other.
Remember: Being a role model has more value than what words can say. You can't teach something you don't do or believe in your heart. What creates a vivid impression in a child stays in him forever.
Enjoy the holidays among your loved ones!

You are in my heart,
you are the flower that smiles in my soul,
in my soul.
You flow in my blood and in every breath
And for me you will be a little one even when you grow up..

(From Ata Belibi- You are in my heart) 

One day it will happen

I am inspired by some quotes lately..I love that they convey great thoughts to help us reflect.
Today I found the following:

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

Maya Angelou

In the spirit of starting anew I believe this is a very helpful statement. I am often caught up in complaints. I tend to worry a little more than what's needed, and with worry comes stress. Sometimes complaining about something trivial helps even start some conversation, doesn't it?
The truth is that matters to complain about are endless. Who doesn't have reasons to be upset about things that happen at work, among family members, friends, in the streets, to name a few?

The key is to "change the attitude". This sounds great on paper although being able to do it means breaking our old structures. Like I was saying in my last blog, it is about approaching things from a different point of view.
Life can be lived as a long, tedious path or in a positive, creative way. It only depends on us.
If we are accepting, thankful and confident; if we take initiative and are determined to find a purpose in life we will realize how precious and exciting our roads can be.
Yet all of the above makes sense  when our heart is involved. Love is the main ingredient to surpass any challenge.

Wouldn't it be great to start the new year after making a pact with ourselves? From now on I am going to count how many times I complain in a day. After one day, every time I am about to kvetch about a fact I will try to do something about it instead ( or change my attitude towards it if there's nothing else to be done ). Great things come from a bunch of small ones, don't they? :-) Maybe by accomplishing one task a day we find ourselves in a much better place in the short run.

This is it. Another wish for the new and better year to come. It's on my to do list :)

One day it will happen
Without us feeling it, something will change
Something in us will calm down,
will touch us
And there will be nothing to be scared off

( From "Mechakeh"- Waiting )

A change in perspective

T'is  the season to look forward to the things we want to accomplish yet reviewing the ones we did.
My head was moving back and forth between them this morning when I read this quote from Baltasar Gracián y Morales:

"Attempt easy tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy; in the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed."


I got caught by it since I am the type who generally approaches hard tasks with a big amount of concern. If you can picture a serious look, frowning eyebrows and focused mind..that's me!

Have you ever felt at times like you are seeing things more complicated than they really are?  Our minds tend to wrap themselves into suppositions we make from simple situations. "What if this specific thing really means this other one?" "How is it possible to make things simple when everything is so challenging?"
We tend to forget that we need to accept the fact that often things don't have deep explanations.
There are things we just need to take the way they are, the more I look for a deeper meaning, the further away I move from understanding it.

Life is complicated per definition. It would be of great help if we can manage situations and feelings with a "hands on" look: This is what's going on, I need to do "x" to change it. If only it was easy enough!
But remember..not everything that happens to us is personal. There are moments when "it's life". We are not responsible for everything going on around us.
When we take things personally over and over again, it makes us suffer more and find more obstacles to achieve happiness.

So I am thinking that one of my goals for the upcoming year is to "attempt difficult tasks as if they were easy"; or at least easier than what they look. Maybe my 2011 will be happier after all :-) Hope yours is as well!

Let us live this day from the start
give (it) to us beginning to the end
and then you will see how I walk
the straight road and I keep on walking
and walking, and walking.

(From "Hayom Hayom"-Today)

You will never leave me

This is the season when we tend to reflect about our lives..yet sometimes it takes us a lot of time and insight to understand what a mother means for us.

I am extremely blessed to have my mom in my life; even though she is geographically far we are close as we can be. Technology acts as the miracle which keeps as connected everyday although we are both old timers and love to send each other things through snail mail every once in a while :-)

I could state that my mom is a regular one; but in my world she is far from that.
She did some studies; she left things behind to take care of her kids; she took the time to teach me what I believe is a conspicuous amount of who I am; even so she instructed me by being herself. And she keeps herself very busy these days :)
My mother made and keeps making lots of mistakes..then I am a novice at being a mommy myself so I understand now how difficult it is not to make any!

What I cherish the most is the fact that she supports me in every way. When I do right, when I do wrong, when I am not sure which road to take, when in pain so as in laughter, when feeling lonely as well as when I have the happiest news to share. She is always there for me.
As I said, I am blessed and lucky.

I have friends who lost their moms; others who have them very far from their hearts. Some of them can't share any feelings since their moms won't listen and there are the ones whose moms are sick and can't take care of themselves.
I believe in one way or another we all have a mother in our hearts and souls. It can be a chosen one; someone who plays that role when in lack of the one related by blood.

My mother gives me unconditional love and this is what gives me strength, confidence and makes me feel heard when in need. She will also disagree when she wants to show me I am wrong.
I learned that each sibling in a family has a "different" mom even when it is the same. Then I guess we are different kids and that may be the reason why we "live" different relationships each one of us. Still, this is the mom we have and we love her in our own particular ways.

Many times we wish our moms could change and be someone we want her to be. Now..remember when they say "you can't change anybody but yourself"? Oh well..this is I believe one of our biggest challenges in life: to accept, conciliate with this person who does the best she can, the best way she knows.
Come to think that mothers have the most difficult task in the world; we graduate to motherhood the same day a child is born...and we didn't go to school for it! Parents learn while walking the road and nowadays there is more information which is of great help compared to the past.

Someone taught me that people who leave a mark in your life are always inside of you. Even when they are not around you can travel to your heart and think of how that person would have answered to your questions as well as give you warmth. My mother is definitely one of those.
Thank you mom for being who you are. Becoming a mother myself contributed in understanding all the sacrifices someone does in the name of true love. Yet it is the best feeling one could ask for.
Thank you. I love you.

Who walks by my side
for the length of the journey
with each dream, each look,
Mother.

Who wraps all of me,
in a never ending warmth
in love, in worry,
Mother.

Just embrace me
and see who's dearest to me of all
don't change for me
don't leave me ever, ever.
You know the way,
to the heart that has no secret
your hand touches my soul
and covers everything.

Who gives all of herself
without a shadow of regret
in her soul close to me
dear Mother.
You were never broken
you never err
you wipe away my tear,
Mother.

Like a sun you shine

and evil turns to good
come Mother, take the fear
and hug me close.

( From the dance "Ima"- Mother )

Dancing the year away

We are very close to the end of the year and I see many folk dance celebrations coming up around the country.
I am having my last 2010 Dance Party this coming Saturday as well so I feel the excitement around the corner.

Most of us dance leaders feel the need to rejoice with our extended families by showing our love in motion. The main attire being the dance shoes, we gather not only to share snacks but mostly our love for the choreographies that captured our hearts and make us sing along while moving in circles.

I was reading about the origins of dance in the world and it is interesting to point out that dance has been certainly an important part of ceremony, rituals, celebrations and entertainment since before the birth of the earliest human civilizations.
It was used in a structured way to tell myths and show feelings even before language existed.
Even though there is a countless amount of styles, they all have something in common: Dance is used as a form of expression, social interaction and involves a spiritual connection.

Dance is generally compared to life; learning to flow effortlessly through it is a stimulating task yet more fun when shared with others.
Even when not being part of a dance community it is refreshing to play some music and just move to the rhythm. Don't forget it is healthy for the body and soul as well :-)

To me, dancing makes me feel in the moment. I am present, alive and every minute counts.
In this crazy world; we forget to live in the moment at times..we save for the future, we take our time to ask for forgiveness, we are afraid to show our feelings, we make plans long in advance dismissing our everyday treasure: life. It is all about the little moments that we add up.
I am wishing you feel the spirit of peace and love that dance gives me. Embrace it and share it these holidays. When in need of a smile, remember to dance!

This is the time to wake up
to a nicer world
to touch with a great love in our hearts
this is the time to come close,
there is no more fear of pain 

Together we are one, ooh...
hope rises in our hearts, hey...
I know that we, we can make it if we try
look into your soul,
listen to your heart
I will love you forever 

( From the song "Ze Hazman"-It's the time )

The end is where we start from

I read the following quote from T.S. Elliot today :
"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from."

As we are approaching the end of the year I felt this statement could be a good starting point to think about our actions, accomplishments, emotions as well as how we see ourselves looking back.

It also made me reflect on the difficulty it poses to close a cycle at times. We are afraid of what's going to come; taking a step to the unknown feels like falling into an abyss. What if I am alone? What if I loose what I had? What if I don't feel comfortable in my new skin? How am I going to be seen by my peers? Are they going to think less of me if I make this change?

Sometimes faith can be a great ingredient to use when a new beginning comes. It is something we have inside which can teach and help us become stronger throughout our lives. 
Staying positive yet being calm when capable will help appreciate everything coming our way.
Accepting that we can succeed at our new endeavours is at times more difficult than making peace with things we are afraid to let go.

This is just the beginning of the end of the year. A signal to kickoff the tornado of thoughts before we encounter the new commencement, or the end.

It's the time,it's the day, it's the moment

The freedom is calling me from all the roads

It's the time, it's the day, it's the moment

The freedom is calling me to take the exit to new lives.

(From Hatchala Chadasha- New Beginning )