A Passover Message from Meliss Jakubovic

**Revisiting What Has Passed Us Over: A Passover Reflection
Passover is a time to reflect, renew, and reconnect. For many of us, it’s a chance to think about the themes of liberation, but also about what we’ve allowed to pass us by in our own lives. Whether it’s personal growth, relationships, or dreams we’ve set aside, this holiday presents an opportunity to revisit those things with fresh eyes and renewed purpose.

**Reconnecting with Our Personal Growth
In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to let our own growth fall by the wayside. We focus on our work, our obligations, and our to-do lists, while the quieter, more introspective goals get left behind. We may have set personal goals at the start of the year, only to see them fade as life’s challenges take precedence.
This Passover, I encourage you to think about the things you’ve let pass you over in the pursuit of progress. Maybe you’ve wanted to read more, focus on your health, or build new skills, but life simply got in the way. Growth doesn’t always happen in grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s the small, steady actions we take each day that lead to the most lasting change.
Revisit those goals, not with the pressure to achieve everything at once, but with a gentle reminder that growth is a journey. You have the ability to start again, no matter how many times you’ve let something slip.

**Rebuilding Relationships and Connections
Another area many of us let “pass over” in our lives is our relationships. With the pace of life speeding up every day, it’s easy to let friendships or family connections fade. We tell ourselves we’ll reach out soon, but sometimes “soon” becomes “never,” and those important connections are left in the background.
Passover provides an opportunity to reflect on the relationships that matter most. This is a time to reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with, to forgive old wounds, or to deepen the bonds that sustain you. Sometimes, the simple act of picking up the phone, sending a text, or inviting someone for coffee can reignite a bond that had quietly passed over in the busyness of life.
By investing in the people who matter most, we create a web of support and understanding that can carry us through difficult times. Let this Passover be a reminder to lean in, to reconnect, and to build community not just in times of celebration, but in the quiet, everyday moments as well.

**Rediscovering Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful practices that we often let slip away. We become so accustomed to the comforts we have that we sometimes forget to appreciate them. The simple things such as our health, the love of family, and the beauty of everyday moments often go unnoticed.
This Passover, I invite you to revisit gratitude. Take a moment to reflect on all that you have and all that you often overlook. The act of revisiting gratitude has the power to shift our perspective, helping us see the abundance that surrounds us. Gratitude isn’t just about acknowledging what we have; it’s about recognizing how deeply connected we are to the world around us, even in the most ordinary moments.

**Small Acts of Kindness: Reigniting the Power of Connection
In a world that sometimes feels divided, kindness is more important than ever. With so many challenges and so much uncertainty, it can be tempting to pull away, to retreat into our own lives and ignore the struggles of others. But small acts of kindness can make a profound difference.

Think about the moments when someone’s kindness touched you deeply, perhaps when you least expected it. These small acts of kindness are the threads that weave us together, even in times of difficulty.
Let’s not let kindness pass us over. Whether it’s a gesture toward a friend or a stranger, kindness creates ripples that spread far beyond our immediate circle. Passover reminds us that we are all connected, and that by showing compassion and love, we contribute to the healing and growth of our communities.

**The Power of Small Steps: A Call to Revisit
As we gather for this Passover, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve let pass us over. Whatever it may be, we have the power to revisit these aspects of our lives with a fresh perspective.
Don’t wait for the “perfect moment” or for things to be easier. Take one small step today to reignite what you’ve let fall to the wayside. Each small action is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to revisit what matters most.
This Passover, let us not only reflect on our past but also commit to revisiting the things that matter most. Together, we can build a brighter future, one small step at a time.

Meliss Jakubovic is an online marketing strategist and Atlanta’s Israeli folk dance instructor.