Beauty Tips For the New Year
It is said that inner beauty radiates outward.
All of us are beautiful human beings. Whether we are beautiful people, for all to see and feel (now or yet) depends on how transcendent we allow our inner-self or souls to be. Deep down we all possess those qualities that makes us beautiful human beings and potentially beautiful people. For some it is hidden deeper and for some it is closer to the surface. The way to bring it to the surface starts with the attitude and the desire to dig.
Knowing that the inner-self is the pure and giving one, we can reach it quicker by acting as though we are already there.
“Sometimes a woman is happy because she is pretty; sometimes she is pretty because she is happy.” – Rabbi Abraham Twersky
Beauty Tips
“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge you’ll never walk alone.”
– Sam Levenson
when thinking of only physical beauty don’t forget
“Beauty wanes, but a reputation endures”. – Jewish Saying
Updated from the original post of 1/3/2012
Don’t Wish For a Happy New Year
We all say “Happy New Year” and we mean it. For this New Year, let’s do more than wish. Let’s make this the year where our deeds make our wishes reality. A year where we tap into “all of our possibilities” and potential to be the human we are destined and created to be. Once we do that we can make it a truly Happy New Year. The more we do that, the closer and closer we get to the world we all desire for all. It is sometimes difficult to recognize that the world is on a non-linear/linear path of improving. It is up to each of us to keep us on this path.
If we look around us and don’t see the world we desire for all of us, a world that is broken, then we must remind ourselves that we have the power to repair it. We can’t abdicate our responsibility to others. We mustn’t use our free will to give up that freedom. When we do that we all lose. The world then remains broken and each of us misses out on the joy that comes from doing and serving. We each have our piece of the world to repair. If we merely accept the world as it is, then it will remain so. If we have the faith and belief that it can be better, then it will be when we each do our part.
Let’s prepare for 2013 by practicing doing good in what’s left of 2012
Let’s Make 2013 a Happy Year!!
What Do You Think About?
If it’s true that
“You become what you think, even if you don’t think so.” – Dr. Morris Mandel
and it is. Then think about what you think about. For example:
1. Are your thoughts more about what you don’t have, or what you do have?
“It is vital that people “count their blessings”: to appreciate what they possess without having to undergo its actual loss.” — Abraham Maslow
2. Are your thoughts more about where you have been, or where you are and want/need to go?
“Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” – Emma Phillips
3. Are your thoughts more about who might have hurt you, or who loves you?
“He who angers you conquers you.” – Elizabeth Kenny
4.Are your thoughts more about how you have been hurt, or how you can help someone else heal?
“How can you expect a man who’s warm to understand one who’s cold?” – Alexander Solzhenitsyn
5. Are your thoughts more about what you are getting, or what you can be giving?
“We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
6. Are your thoughts more about errors/failures you have made, or what you learned from them and how to put that into action?
“Experience is the best teacher, and the worst experiences teach the best lessons.”—Unknown
After you finish thinking about what you think about, think about what you mostly talk about.
What we think or talk about is where our focus is and it’s energy takes us. It sets the direction of where you are going, or not going at all. Are you going in the direction you want to? Are you “climbing your mountain?” Something to think about!
Homework Assignment
Think about what other thoughts belong on this list and may be holding you back
Olive Oil and Your Essence
Chanukah, the miracle of light, celebrates the olive oil burning for eight days bringing light to the darkness. Of all the special qualities of a pretty and delicious olive, its essence is found in its oil when lit and its light is revealed. In order to release its essence, the olive must first be crushed. So too in our lives, we sometimes feel crushed – by pain and suffering, loss, struggle and disappointment – and just like the olive, it is then that our essence can be revealed. It is in those moments that you may find your essence and with it bring your light to the world.
Adapted from a teaching of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, The Rebbe
Happy Chanukah
and to all a good light
You Don’t Have To Be Jewish To Eat Latkes
Chanukah begins Saturday night 12/8. It is a celebration of many miracles. From the victory of a small band of men fighting for their religious freedom against a very large and well equipped army to one days worth of olive oil used to light the Menorah lasting for eight days. The miracle of the oil represents the victory of light over darkness. At nighttime, Jews place their lit Menorahs in doorways or windows to bring light to the dark street and to all who see it. On the Menorah is a head candle called the Shamash which is used to light all the other candles. A candle lights other candles without losing any of its own light. Each of us can be like the Shamash and bring light to all whose lives we come into contact with. When we are like the Shamash, not only do we keep our light, we actually shine brighter. We all have that power through acts of goodness, kindness, and charity.
“Light vanquishes the darkness.” – Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, The Rebbe
“From one burning candle many candles are lit, yet its own light is not diminished.” – Numbers 11:17
Happy Chanukah
and to all a good light
People Pleasing?
Are your actions, which include spoken words aimed at being liked? Is being liked the primary goal? Are you willing consciously or not, to compromise yourself to be liked? If that’s the case, then no one ever gets to know the real you and we all lose. Worse, is that you don’t get to know the real you from which your true joy emanates.
If your actions are moral, ethical, and compassionate, then do what you do in a way that pleases you. Do what you like and hope that others like it and don’t do what others like and hope you like it.
“It is better to be hated for who you are, than to be loved for someone you are not.” – Andre Gide
“I don’t want to be interesting. I want to be good.” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
The Spinning Rabbi - Heart & Soul 