Coming Out of the Woods

Friday, September 1st | 16 Elul 5783

Shabbat Shalom, Friends!

Anyone go out in nature lately? If yes - did you slow down enough to really soak up everything it has to offer? Everything it has to share with you and the rest of the world? If no - maybe find a way to get outside during this long weekend and soak up nature before the colder months come your way!!! (if you don’t live in California where September is still very much summer).

I’m just finishing up an 8 day trip with my mom and sister, and we traveled all the way up to Maine - a new state for most of us - and we were just in awe of the beauty that exists up there! Three days in Acadia National Park surrounded by the rolling hills and of course, lots and lots of water. Nature has a way of slowing me down, reminding me to be still, and be grateful that my body experiences nature with an adventurous attitude to it. Bonus points for getting to experience the beauty of Maine with two of my favorite people.

As I transition out of the woods, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by what comes next. To not have nature reminding me to stay slow, to stop and admire, and to enjoy the breeze when it hits. Transitioning out of the woods, out of vacation mode, also means that “normal” is coming back soon too. Whatever the heck normal is? There was a supermoon this week, hopefully you saw it! The full moon happens halfway through every lunar month, this month being Elul, an entire month to prepare for the act of t'shuvah - returning to oneself. This Shabbat, I’m thinking about what t'shuvah means to me this High Holiday season. To discover what a day in the life of Emily looks like when there are no grad school classes to attend, no papers to write, and a new-ish job to continue to understand and discover. To reconnect with living in LA, and the incredible people that come with it.

This Shabbat, I invite you to think about what your version of t'shuvah might look like or feel like to you as we prepare for the High Holiday season. Maybe you have time to get out into nature and meditate on that question for a bit. I think I will…

Wishing you the sweetest Shabbat Shalom this week.

Ethically,

Emily