Fran Putney’s 2021 Rosh Hashanah Message
Read community insights, perspectives and opportunities seen as we enter into the 5782/ 2021 New Year.
Time. The minutes, hours and days of our lives. It’s the one commodity we all possess, but none of us knows how much sand our own hourglass holds.
Every waking morning invites its own set of decisions and opportunities, but the Jewish High Holy Days allow us, indeed direct us, to pause and take stock of how we are spending our days. What choices are we making? What meaning are we finding? This is the beauty and wisdom of our tradition.
At this time of year, I am reminded that it’s never too early or late in life to make adjustments — to seek out the most gratifying pursuits, nurture the most rewarding relationships, and inasmuch as possible, not allow unrecoverable time and energy to be spent on the regrettable.
Take time to explore, find those things and people that make your heart sing, and set boundaries for the intrusions. I offer no prescription or agenda for anyone. Meaning is different for everyone. As a friend and I like to say to each other: “You do you.”
At the same time, just as we make careful plans and goals, we’ve surely all learned that developing a tolerance for flexibility and an ability to pivot is critical. Sometimes we are presented with unexpected opportunities, and sometimes we must cope with unexpected curveballs or hardships. Stuff happens. These things, too, are part of a full and well-lived life.
As we come to a new Jewish year, I wish for my own family and community the blessing of good health, the satisfaction of rich relationships and a sense of purpose to guide your given days and years.
L’shanah tova!
Fran Putney is a journalist and writer. She is the communications manager for the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust and the proofreader for the AJT.
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