Monday, September 19, 2016

#BlogElul: Awaken

Lately I’ve been burning the candle at both ends. Between work (all High Holidays all the time), freelance projects, and volunteer commitments, as well as trying to find time for friends, #BlogElul, and some much-needed downtime, I’m perpetually exhausted.

The feeling reminds me of high school, when I’d study as far into the night as I could before asking my dad to wake me early. With my mind and body refreshed, it always was easier to finish an assignment, review notes for a quiz, or read a chapter and be ready to discuss it in class than it would have been the night before.

These days, though, no matter how much sleep I get, morning never finds me fully refreshed, energized, motivated, or enthused. I sometimes long for those seemingly simpler times – and wonder what it would take to once again awaken excited about the day ahead.

Inspired by Ima on (and off) the Bima, this #BlogElul post is one in a series marking the days of the Hebrew month of Elul, which precedes the Jewish High Holidays and traditionally serves as a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for the new year.