Sacrificing Shame

This shu-shine is dedicated to my stunning wife, Yael.  The most awesome friend I ever dreamed of running through the fields of life with.

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Why is it so hard to let go of our mistakes?  There are so many beautiful people out there, who have locked the front door of their own hearts and souls, giving up on their own ability to grow and improve and reach higher heights.

And then there are those people who have simply resigned.  "I am what I am.  And that's all I'll ever be."  The fight became to hard for these people, the defeats one too many.  So they convince themselves that they are happy to stop reaching higher.  But deep inside, their hearts are breaking.

We have to break through these boundaries!!  We have to wake ourselves up, and gently wake up those around us.  Because it is OK TO FAIL.  In fact, failure has always been part of the plan; part of the story; an integral part of the song of life.

We are not 'wrong' in any way when we fail.  We are only wrong when we don't forgive ourselves, and allow ourselves (and others) to be human.

It is taught that God created repentance before He even created the world.  Because the world was created as a place where Souls go to grow.  And inherent to growth is making mistakes and trying again.  It is the very essence of repentance – the concept of being able to make mistakes, learn from them, and try again – for which the world was created.

Life is not about getting things perfect.  Life is about growing and discovering.  Life is not about arriving.  It is about the journey.

We need to open up our hearts —open them all the way all the way all the way up —and stop being afraid to grow.  And stop being so hard on ourselves or stopping to believe in ourselves just because we didn't get it right the first time and the fiftieth time.

Dare to shine and run after HaShem and dreams and your own heart.  Find the courage to apologize to those you felt you wronged and thought you didn't deserve forgiveness from, and to forgive those who stepped (or even stomped) on your toes.

Because the doorway to everything you are is the doorway of forgiveness.  And forgiveness is the key to any lasting relationship — with others, with HaShem, and even with ourselves.

Attached please find a Shu-Shine for the Torah portion of 'Vayikra': "Sacrificing Shame".

May we all be blessed to let go of the mistakes of yesterday and to open the door to the infinite possibility of right now.  Right now.

With Love and a Smile,

~Shu