Your Face

The Three Weeks are here again. We are fasting, once more, still in this galus...still waiting for the beis hamikdosh to be rebuilt.

As we know, the purpose of a fast day is to bring us to do teshuva. When we refrain from eating, hopefully, our brains are less distracted by the foods we would be eating and we can focus on things that are important-the changes we would like to make, that we save for some other day...and we can actually use this day to accomplish something good, to become a better person in a small way.

Bein adam lachaveiro-these are three little words that include so much.

Throughout the day, we interact with many different people-on the phone, in person and even in writing-text, chat, email, and perhaps some old fashioned pen to paper letter writing.

There are things we can do to improve and to enhance our interactions with those we come in contact with.

I want to focus on one area-an area that may be easy for some people and more of a challenge for others.

I recently told someone about the concept of "your face is public property" and she found that thought so profound. She never heard it expressed that way and she loved it.

Let's face it. Some days are just plain hard. We're not in the mood of smiling. We don't want to "fake it til we make it". 

But...did Hashem create us with a mirror in front of our face so we can see ourselves all day? 

Who sees us when we go outside? 

Should we be walking around with a sour expression on our faces when there's a world out there with people looking at us? 

If you had a garden in front of your house, how would you want it to look? Would you like a nice, manicured front lawn with beautiful flowers for everyone to look at and enjoy (if they weren't so busy with their cell phones texting and browsing all day lol)? Or would you want a garden with overgrown leaves and weeds and some poison ivy just to top it off? :)

What kind of message do you want to give over to people who see you?

When you get dressed in the morning, don't you check to make sure your shirt is not stained, you look neat and put together and that there's no chas v'shalom...gasp...run in your tights? :-)

So...ask yourself each morning...before you leave your house...how well dressed is my face? And I'm not talking about makeup-although that does help sometimes. The expression on your face is just as important...if not more so.

Remember...your face is public property. 

Keep it beautiful...keep it happy...and let that positivity spread to others.

May Hashem give you many reasons to keep that smile pasted on your face...every single day!

Modeh Ani

The sun slowly lights up the black sky
Beautiful colors of red, orange and yellow
Mixed with shades of pink and purple too
Slowly, she yawns, stretches, rubs her eyes
Opening them slowly

Modeh Ani
She whispers
Thank you, Hashem
For giving me
Another chance
Another day
Another beginning

Yesterday...is over
To learn from mistakes

Tomorrow...is uncertain
Full of questions and worries

But today...today is here
To try again
To work hard
To live

Modeh Ani
She says
Thank you, Hashem
For giving me
Another day
Another breath
Of life
Of the greatest gift

Thank you, Hashem
For believing in me
Once more
For waking me up
Once more
And for...
Another day
Another chance
To begin again
Or continue where I left off
With new energy
With new perspective

Thank you, Hashem
For allowing me
To try again
To try to change
To try to work
To try to smile

Thank you, Hashem
For waking me up
Again

Thank you, Hashem
For the life you've given me

It may be tough
Some days
It may be rough
Other days
It may be hard
Sometimes
But...you believe in me
And so...you breathe into me
The greatest gift
The gift of life

Modeh Ani
She sings
Thank you, Hashem
For another morning
Another day
Another chance
To try
And...to live

Change

Change...is a scary word
Change...makes you feel absurd
Change...when you just don't know
Change...you don't want to go

But change...it has to happen soon
Because with change...you can reach the moon
If you don't change...you'll stay right where you are
Without change...you can't get too far

Yes change...it's a terrifying thing
But with change...inner happiness you'll bring
For with change...comes so much more
When you change...you open a new door

So...what are you waiting for?

Change.

It is so frightening
Feels like lightening
Amidst thunder
Crash
Boom
There's a little light
In middle of that night
Not sure where to go
Next
But you have to go
Move
Forward

Emotions...come with change

You're scared
You're not prepared
Don't know what will be
Is this for eternity?
Wish you could have a peek
Into a year, a month, even a week
But no
You must
Just
Go
Move
Foreword
Forge ahead
Instead
Of looking back
Even if it seems black
Soon
The room
Will be light
So bright
No more fright
You'll feel might-y
You did it
You took the plunge
Made that first move
Whether or not
You got
Approve-al
You changed
It's arranged
You're a new
You

Change...it's such a terrifying thing
Change...it's the only way to bring
Anything...new
Toward you
Inside you
Around you

Change...you can do it now
Change...even if you don't know how
Change...start with teeny steps
Change...take a deeeep breath

You can do it.
Go ahead...try it.

Change.

Change
Happens
And
New
Girl
Emerges

How's that for change?
It might feel strange...
At first
Don't burst
Let it happen
Make it happen

Change...it's for your good
Change...means doing what you should
Yes with change...new worlds open for you
After some change...you'll see how much you grew

So
Go
Ahead
Take
That 
First
Step
Make
That
Change.

Yes...it's scary
You...feel weary
But you...can do it
And you should...try.
To change.