Shalom Dear Brothers,

As Elul is just days away, we are supposed to have an extra emphasis on introspection, reflection, and hopefully insight.

While of course we must daven that Hashem please help us in overcoming our struggles and growing in our lives, we must also do our part. It's time to put in the work and show Hashem that we are sincere about wanting to change. That doesn't mean that we make big, unrealistic promises that we can't keep. We don't impress Hashem with showy and overinflated resolutions. He knows who we are, He knows where we're at, He knows our true motivations, and most importantly, He knows our inner efforts. 

Hashem, I want to do be better. I know that I can do be better. I Believe that I can do be better. I will do be better.

What I do makes a difference. Who I am is the difference.

Whether in inyanei kedusha or any area of life, we can express our yearning and desire to improve by making a small though significantly meaningful commitment that conveys the essential message, to Hashem and to ourselves - I care and I'm trying.


Please take time to contemplate something that you want to employ and why. Consider sharing it with our fellow Jews here, that we might all gain strength from supporting each other.


B'ezras Hashem, I will try to reach out to a chaver prior to any time that I anticipate or find myself in a particularly challenging makom sakana. Past experience is teaching me the invaluable power of not trying to battle alone. 
I also want to have more concentration when saying brachos on food. Somewhat cliche, but I know I need more awareness of Hashem and the abundant good in my life - particularly with regard to things that I am prone to take for granted.

Wishing everyone an Elul in which they both recognize and feel the good in themselves.

BenHashemBH wrote on 01 Sep 2024 15:20:

Maybe you could be mekabel to be a mentor/partner on Gye. That would be a big zchus 

hopefulswan89 wrote on 01 Sep 2024 15:31:

Shalom Brother,

I understand your wanting to weigh in with a helpful suggestion. In this case, I honestly didn't appreciate that someone I've never spoken to is dismissing the things I stated wanting to work on and chiming in with their own suggestion. 

It would be a big zechus. It is also a tremendous responsibility. It's aso not, for me, something that I feel I need to work on with a specific commitment. 

I'd love to get to know you better and hear more about you. Let's save the personally tailored advice for after that. 

Thank you and kol tov.

BenHashemBH wrote on 01 Sep 2024 16:44:

Ouch! Perfect example of no good deed goes unpunished! 

hopefulswan89 wrote on 01 Sep 2024 17:47:

Huh?

hopefulswan89 wrote on 01 Sep 2024 17:47:

All that BenHashemBH is saying is that your advice isn't right for him. He doesn't feel that it is the right thing for him to be doing now to be a mentor or partner. He wasn't saying anything personal against you.

Well, last night and today I'm in a unique personal matziv and had my first opportunity and BH fulfilled my kabolo to reach out to a fellow Yid.
Still in the situation and the chizuk and accountability helps me a lot.
The power of connection is really something else!
Kol Tov my Brothers

Alright, I haven't been to a wedding in quite some time, but I have one to go to this evening. Despite not wanting to pretend to be all high and holy, I think I'll bring a pocket mishnayos to hide my face (eyes) in as needed (I don't currently learn mishnah yomi, but no one else knows that , maybe I'm really far behind). My wife isn't going, so there isn't a single woman there that I should be looking at. Hopefully I'll find a friend, or if I'm lucky maybe even a Rav, and I can try to spend my time and focus in their direction. That might not be available, so I need to mentally prepare to forage ahead as the dynamic duo - it's You and me G-d. 

Game face on, let's go, and BezH I'll have good news to share with my Brothers tonight/tomorrow morning.

Kol tov

I'd rate the shemiras einayim 8.5/10
For the chuppah everyone stays still, but the movement during dancing made it harder.
Shmoozed with a few new friends AND found a Rabbi to talk to BH.
All in all, a beautiful simcha. 
Thank you and good night.

BenHashemBH wrote on 27 Sep 2024 03:53:

8.5 is dynamite. I often wondered why it is acceptable to have the wedding gowns fitted leaving nothing to the imagination.