I am in the business of life and living, my Yoga and Pilates classes are preventive maintenance for a lifetime of health. I am a witness of the miracle of life with my Doula Clients, also encouraging mom to stay healthy during her pregnancy with Prenatal Yoga, Walking, Good Nutrition, Sleep, and Happiness.
Unfortunately our world is full of the other side, death, it comes in all forms. Recently a member of our Jewish community passed away too young, then we have the cycle of life, and although sad, we also stay strong remembering our loved ones and celebrating their life. Then this morning while driving my kids to school I was listening to National Public Radio and I heard a horrible story about Sweden, where I heard something scary and it really made me think of where I am from, and where I am now. It said, "The people attacking Jews are Muslim immigrants," you can listen to it below.
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.htmlaction=1&t=1&islist=false&id=384223030&m=384223031.
My parents left the Soviet Union because there was blatant discrimination against Jewish people, they knew who was Jewish by the Passport that everyone had to show, under nationality it said Jewish. People were refused jobs, good schools, and other services because they were Jewish. In America we are white, so we blended in, and learned about African-American history, and even now people are experiencing racism and hatred just because of the color of their skin. The story above talks about immigration, and how some people assimilate and some want to keep their ways, while others want to impose their way onto their new home. Although America is not perfect, I feel grateful that at least we are having conversations, and my son proudly wears his keepa every day to school.
I will leave you with this, when somebody turns something sad into something good, it keeps on inspiring others.
Caroline's Cart
A shopping cart at the grocery store this week reminded me an important lesson just when I needed it most.
We had gone to buy a Kosher birthday cake for my son who turns five tomorrow. The store didn’t have what we needed so we left without a purchase but on the way out we acquired a lesson to keep for life.
At the entrance of the store I noticed a unique looking shopping cart that I had never seen before. It was called ‘Caroline’s Cart’ and was a shopping cart created especially for children with special needs.
Without even knowing the story, I knew the story. I figured it must have been a family that had given birth to a special needs child and decided that one of the ways they would embrace their challenge would be to use it in some way to help others going through a similar situation, so they launched a campaign to install such carts at grocery stores everywhere. A quick check with my friend Mr. Google confirmed my thoughts.
After spending almost a year now sharing with you my own journey of grief, inspiration and belief, it has become clear as day to me that using your own personal challenges and struggles as a vehicle to help others is by far the biggest help you can give yourself.
But it can become overwhelming at times, especially when a milestone such as a Yahrtzeit is about to be reached. The human self would rather focus inward and not on saving others.
And then I noticed ‘Caroline’s Cart’.
I sat in my car and tried to imagine Caroline's parents at their home, getting so much joy and meaning out of reading thank you notes from grateful parents across the country enjoying time with their special needs child while shopping for groceries.
What they don’t know about are the thousands of others that don’t write. Even people without a special needs child that are inspired by their project.
What they don’t know is that their invention even inspired a grieving Rabbi to continue sharing his story in the hopes of inspiring others while strengthening himself.
As the Kotzker Rebbe once said: When it is gets cold outside one has two options, put on a coat or build a fire. Put on a coat and you will be warm, build a fire and you will warm many others along with you.
Lets keep talking,
Let's Accept and Respect Ourselves,
Let's Accept and Respect Others,
Shabbat Shalom,
Coach Yulia
No comments:
Post a Comment