My birthday is in the early summer. When I was in preschool, which operated on a Labor Day to Memorial Day schedule, they celebrated my half birthday, since school wouldn’t be in session and we wouldn’t be together to celebrate my full birthday.
That evening, I went home with lots of expectations, anticipating the full birthday treatment. When dinner ended and no one had mentioned my half-birthday, I burst into tears. My mom, bless her dear heart, jumped up and found a stale half of a donut that she placed in front of me, proclaiming, “Happy half-birthday!”
With this in my history, it might not surprise you that I naturally enjoy celebrating small things, or adding an element of celebration to what are typically mundane or normal occurrences. Yesterday, I had a package delivered with three pounds of rainbow sprinkles. We now have copious sprinkles on hand for cookies, cupcakes, and the occasional breakfast-for-dinner waffle. Friday mornings are for chocolate chip pancakes at breakfast. Friday night we have challah and a special shabbat meal. Monday is ice cream day.
Now that I’ve written that out, it sort of sounds like I’m always feeding myself and my children treats.
But we also celebrate the end of the first week of school with a movie night, get excited to build forts on rainy days, and have random dance parties early in the morning before everyone goes to school and work. You might be surprised at how energizing “Whoomp! (There It Is)” can be at 6:21 in the morning on a Wednesday!
Lately, the world has felt even more heavy than usual. Unfortunately, I feel like “lately” has lasted for nearly two years. It seems like October 7 was a tipping point for me into a world with new or possibly freshly exposed threats, danger, and vulnerability. And yet, I’m not willing to make my life, my joy, my Judaism, smaller or more convenient for other people.
I am looking for more opportunities to add rainbow sprinkles to life, proverbially and literally. I want to acknowledge the resilience that the Jewish people have, and that we can hold two emotions at the same time. We can acknowledge that really hard, awful things are happening in the world, and we can celebrate the world’s birthday with Rosh Hashanah and be thankful for the gifts we have today.
In the Mishneh Torah, Rambam said, “After the deeds, the heart follows.” Human characteristics can be developed over time, for better or for worse, by the actions we take. I know that often, I might not feel like doing what I know is right or good for me. And yet, when I take the right action, I feel better. My feelings follow my actions. I can act my way into new ways of feeling, and while I must feel my feelings, I can’t feel my way into new ways of acting.
As the High Holy Days approach and I consider the past year retrospectively, I am offered opportunities to consider where I might have done things differently or better. This year, I am considering the times when I had opportunities for joy that I did not take. I hope to look for them and take them in the new year.
Shana tova u’metukah (a good and sweet new year), with lots of rainbow sprinkles!
Beautiful message!