Today is the last day of the month of Elul. (Many Jewish months have two days to celebrate the advent of the new moon- this is one such month.) That means that some 30 days of our self-assessment and personal improvement program has elapsed. The goal has been to determine how we can make our lives- and the lives of others- better. (You can also search for Elul in the index to the left and see more of my thoughts on this “resolution-making” period.)
I have been examining how I can improve over the past few weeks. I hope you all have been doing so, too. Not because you are Jewish- or not- but because we need to evaluate where we all routinely- and plan how to become better still.
Tonight starts the holiday of Rosh Hashana- the New Year. The end of Elul- leaving me- and you- only 10 days left to complete our self-assessments, determining what changes we should effect, how we can help others, and ensure we leave this world just a little better off because we walked upon it’s surface.
These are the questions we must answer…
What do we really want to see happen for us next year? Not just one thing- but two, three, or four. (No, winning the lottery doesn’t count as a valid choice!) And, that means we need to list two or three small steps we will make- NOW, not tomorrow- to make it possible for these three or four things not to be a dream, but a reality before the next Elul rolls around.
What are we really afraid may occur for us in the next year? I’m guessing you- like me- can think of a whole bunch of them. But limit this assessment to two or three, because we want to devote our time to their preclusion.
A big task always happens by making the little steps. And, that’s what this exercise is for- to find those little steps to insure we make progress.
My list includes financial changes, helping my smaller clients become the bigger ventures of which they dream, and to finish writing my book on leadership of small-to-mid business ventures. And, ensuring that my (now 11 month long) illness reaches a successful conclusion- restoring my ability to walk, swim, ride a bike, and drive a car. Without sacrificing the time I devote to my family and friends.
And, it would be really useful to put your list to paper (or perhaps to computer as I do) now? That way we can review often during the coming months.
The good news is that I have some of my family here to share this celebration. Because my family is fully inoculated. (I even received the booster shot.)
May you be inscribed in the book of life. And, have a glass of wine on me. (If you are wary- examine the alcohol study results I presented.)
Oh, I forgot to mention- because of the holiday, posting won’t really resume until Thursday- when the holiday is over.
No, I didn’t forget today is also Labor Day. Here are a few Labor Day facts.
First Labor Day Parade– Broadway and Union Square, Manhattan (NYC) on 5 September 1882. 10000 workers marched as the Central Labor Union of New York had hoped.
Was it Matthew or Peter? The names of Matthew Maguire (Central Labor Union of New York) or Peter J. McGuire (American Federation of Labor) tussle to be named the Father of Labor Day.
Representative Amos Cummings (also a member of the Typographical Union) introduced the bill to name the First Monday in September to be Labor Day (1884).
President Grover Cleveland signs the law adopted by Congress on 28 June 1894 to make Labor Day an official holiday.
