[September 24th, 2015]
Exciting things first: YES! Our "Empty Loft Party" is this Saturday September 26th—and it's also my beautiful sister's 24th birthday (hey Lou hey!!)! We thought we would bring everyone together to celebrate these two very happy things. :) Invites to come, and so looking forward to posting some pictures next week!
In other news, another Yom Kippur has come and gone...
Yesterday, we actually left the house around 11am and wandered towards the water. The realtor let us know that people were coming to see the loft, and we took the hint: we should be out of there for at least an hour.
It was a different type of Yom Kippur then and there, wandering in and out of other people's routine walks on their way to work or elsewhere. We were completely out of our own routine paths — and the world really did feel a bit different; as if we were witnessing something miraculous, or life outside of "the norm". It was this sort of -- "Who knew this is what downtown feels like at 11am on a Wednesday!?" -- type of feeling.
We wandered down to Hudson River Park and stood on a large patch of grass overlooking the water. As I was about to sit, I looked down and saw something shiny within the green. Peeking closer, it was a slimy snail wandering in and out of the blades (thankfully, I looked before I sat!). He didn't have a shell on his back—just him and his long body trailing behind him, with a little string of slime in his wake; a slime that attached itself from blade to blade, marking his path. He was a cute one: with little antler-feelers on his head, just as we imagine all snails to have. He seemed happy and free as he moved in and out of the green, and I had a little thought for a moment that hopefully, this is going to be us someday soon (minus the antler-feelers)—just moving along wherever our hearts desire, without much to hold us back.
We didn't take a photo of the snail yesterday, but this is an Israeli friend we took a photo of a few months back. :)
I was reminded again yesterday as we walked towards the water, that so often we are searching for things to do and distract us. Yesterday we didn't have many options—no food or drink; I chose to leave technology behind; no exchange of money for services (had a brief moment where I wanted to get a pedicure...I won't lie), etc. And there weren't many options but to sit and think, read, write, or sleep. For me, in denying myself of the various pleasures we experience every day, I realize their varying importances to the body and the soul. Each year, I begin to appreciate them in a new way afterwards, and it helps to "reset" and ensure I'm living with mindfulness.
I have grown to love Yom Kippur for this very clear separation between what I realize my body requires and what my soul requires. With the first hunger or thirst pain, the mind starts searching for something "normal" to do -- like eat something, or text someone, or go somewhere etc. Every year, Yom Kippur (for me) is a day to reset. To regain the appreciation for the simple things, and to be mindful of them and the growth I hope to achieve in the year to come.
Who knows where we'll be come our next Yom Kippur? I guess we'll have to keep writing...and you will have to keep reading to find out. ;)
Wishing everyone a very happy Thursday, full of mindfulness and appreciation for the little things!
-P