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Rosally Saltsman is a freelance writer living in Israel. She is the author of Finding the Right Words and Parenting by the Book, both published by Targum.
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By Rosally Saltsman
February 1, 2007
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Man, the Midrash tells us, was only meant to live one day. He had one mitzvah to keep, not to eat from the tree of knowledge and he would merit the World to Come if he was able to keep it. He was not. The whole episode of the sin and banishment from the Garden of Eden took place on day six of creation.
Because of his sin, man had to live and work in the world and rectify himself. And we, the rest of us, have been following in his footsteps trying to rectify all our progenitors' previous transgressions until we get it right.
In 1993, a movie called Groundhog Day depicted a man reliving the same day over and over and over again. He can't get out of the vicious cycle until he becomes a better person and lives the day to its full potential for good. The director of the movie commented that although only 34 days are shown, it's estimated that he relived the same day over for several years.
If you think about it, that's basically what we do as well. We wake up every morning interact with most of the same people: family, friends, neighbors, co-workers; do many of the same things: work, errands, study, maintenance and every day try to be a little better, a little more successful, a little more accomplished, a little nicer. And like the protagonist in the movie, who not coincidentally has the same name as the groundhog, we take notes about what we learn about the people and happenings in our environment to use the next time around. We learn how to communicate better with our bosses and spouses, how to do our jobs more efficiently, how to respond more positively to others and how not to make the same mistake twice. And each time we do something with a little more enthusiasm, a bit more sincerity, a tad more conscientiousness, we come that much closer to Heaven.
Life can seem like a repetitious grind. Often it does seem like each mundane day is like another. Well, that's not an illusion. Even the most exciting life is prone to be redundant. One day follows the next with little difference. But we can inject new life into our days by striving to make each one unique, to tap the promise inherent in each one and most of all within ourselves. If we pray with fervor, hug our children with affection, work with passion, smile at our friends with zest and imbue every interaction with interest, we will in fact have attained what Adam was striving for in the first place, true knowledge of how to live life right, the first time. If we look at each day as an opportunity to get it right this time and the people around us as helping towards this lofty goal. If we see each challenge as being put there solely for the purpose of our overcoming it and becoming a more refined human being in the process then we'll be achieving our divine mission. And everyone around us will be happier for it.
If Phil the groundhog does see his shadow this year that means there are six weeks left of winter. But they needn't be a winter of discontent. Every day has the seed that can blossom forth into a garden of paradise of if we just nurture it properly by bonding with God, nature, our experiences and with each other as day by day we become the best we can be.
Have a perfect Day!
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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