To my dear friends and brothers,
Unfortunately, I will not be able to accompany you across the finish line, as I just fell off the truck. I had one really big fall. A few hours of whatever shmutz would make it past my filters, and a MSZL. I can't believe it, I'm so ashamed. I was really really looking forward to crossing the finish line with you guys, and I never even saw the post about Steve, OL and me all having a Lchaim as we proudly carry the banner of "Omaid binisayon."
But now, all I will be able to do is cheer you guys on from the sidelines, imagining how great it could have felt.
Here is what caused it: Sometimes when I work I listen to non-Jewish music (I know, that is just one more hypocrisy in my life, I prepare Torah classes while listening to non-Jewish music, welcome to my private little island of hypocrisy...) Chazal were so right about Kol Isha... sometimes when a song by a lady would pop up on my online streaming music station, I would google her to check out what she looked like, and from there... I fell like a stone.
Chazal are so right. They mamesh understood us. YES, Kol b'isha is an erva (especially when backed up by racy photos you can easily google).
I'm so disappointed in myself. Things were going so well, my marriage was going awesome, I was sooo appreciative of my wife, and things were sailing smoothly, but I done done it agin. I done messed up royally.
OK, enough.
I will add another layer of protection with Covenant eyes which will have someone monitoring what I look at.
I will try to get back up as soon as possible. Maybe if I start a new 90 day chart right away, without taking a couple aveira days in between, it will show how sincere I am about wanting to beat this....
You guys helped me get farther than I've ever gotten in a good five years, and I'm sure you will help me rise up again...
I can't thank you enough,
and most of all, I can't thank Ha-shem enough. If He has given me such a nisayon in this area, he must really believe I have kochos to overcome them and become a gadol in this area....