It’s been almost three months since I last posted anything here.  Oh, Thank you, I’ve missed you too (insert smiley face).

I’m finally breaking my silence, because this poem below is so touching and powerful that I would be remiss in not sharing it.

Chanie Gorkin, a sixteen year old girl, who follows in the tradition of Chabad Chassidism, was given a homework assignment to write a poem.  The subject was “The Worst Day Ever”.

She decided to infuse hers with some Chassidic philosophy.  One part is the idea of “Head over Heart”, meaning that one has the power of their intellect to govern their emotions.  The other part is the concept of finding some good in everything.

This speaks to the power of attitude.  How you see and respond to everything that comes your way can either keep you climbing your mountain or keep you stuck.  Your attitude is like your personal light switch.  You can either turn the light on, or leave it dark.  Your attitude…..Your choice..

 “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstances, to choose one’s own way”. – Dr. Viktor Frankl from “Man’s Search for Meaning”

Here is what she wrote.  There is a surprise twist

Worst Day Ever

By Chanie Gorkin

Today was the absolute worst day ever
And don’t try to convince me that
There’s something good in every day
Because, when you take a closer look,
This world is a pretty evil place.
Even if
Some goodness does shine through once in a while
Satisfaction and happiness don’t last.
And it’s not true that
It’s all in the mind and heart
Because
True happiness can be attained
Only if one’s surroundings are good
It’s not true that good exists
I’m sure you can agree that
The reality
Creates
My attitude
It’s all beyond my control
And you’ll never in a million years hear me say
Today was a very good day

Now read it from bottom to top, the other way,
And see what I really feel about my day.

The full story can be read by clicking here 

Heart and Soul