The Best Day in the World

Recently I had a brief conversation with a life and business coach as a preparatory call before launching into a coaching relationship. She basically wanted to know, logically, what it was that I wanted to be coached on and why.

I launched into my typical description of my life which, if you’ve read some of my articles here on Breslev, you know what I’m talking about. In a nutshell – I keep a very active lifestyle. Oh not in the “make sure I get my exercise in daily and play some sports or go hiking regularly” type of active – which, note to self, I really should add to my routine. I mean active in the “too many balls in the air busy” kind of way. But I like it that way.

I appreciated her follow up question to my list of current projects, activities, and responsibilities.

“Why do you do that?”

Boom! That’s what I needed from a coach. A “let’s get to the heart of this matter, understand it and work with it” kind of attitude. An opportunity for me to remember my why.

Today my why is all about living with purpose and making the most of the time Hashem has blessed me with. But let me tell you, even though I’ve always been a “busy” kind of person, my why was not always about living with purpose.

My life, up until recently, had been like a river – hard hitting, full of rapids and white water, twisting and turning, carving a path through this world.  My “why” was to accomplish, to succeed. It seemed as though I was fulfilled. I thought I was fulfilled. I lived as though I was fulfilled.

Then Hashem brought me Rabbi Brody and through him, Rabbi Arush and Rebbe Nachman. And then, emuna and the realization that I had not been fulfilled at all.

Ah, that peaceful place of emuna where you realize and internalize that everything is from Hashem, everything is for the good, and everything has a purpose.

Cue the soft music, the birds chirping, and my river calming into a soothing flow suitable for kicking back and floating along. I quit projects that held no meaning, I journaled, I read and studied and contemplated my life. Emotions were processed, connections made, and personal spiritual growth and connection with Hashem that I had blocked with my prior rapid lifestyle finally had room and time to develop.

I’ve stayed in this calm place in the river of my life for about eight years. But lately, I’ve noticed a change in the waters and I didn’t know what it meant. Like a river emptying out into an ocean – things were speeding up. New responsibilities started knocking. I became afraid that, even with all the study and growth and prayer of the last 8 years, perhaps I was slipping back into the rapids of life.

And then, as it seems Hashem often does, He sent a message by way of my son.

You see, my son is five and lives a pretty typical rural American lifestyle of a five year old. But, (one of the many lessons for me) he lives each day striving for purpose more than I see in many adults – including myself. He thrives on helping people and specifically helping people achieve things.

One day, when we had many projects to accomplish and they happened to be suitable for his assistance, he looked up at me part way through the day and said “Mama, this is the best day ever!” We weren’t playing. We weren’t goofing off. We hadn’t done anything or gone anywhere special. We had simply worked hard all day completing one task after another.

It was his “best day ever”, because he had helped and accomplished – because his day had been lived with purpose and meaning.

And that comment opened a door of understanding to me. It’s time to consciously start living with purpose. It’s time to consciously start making the most of the time Hashem has given me. And it is okay that life is getting busier again because this time, the activity is with purpose.

My river finally opened up to the ocean – a whole new world of potential and opportunities for connection with Hashem, for growing and reaching out to others and for making a difference in this world.

And do you want to know the secret? The Ocean was always there and available – I’m the one that had to change my vision of the world and my belief that I was in a rapid, white water river all on my own. 

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Jennifer invites you to participate in a regularly held Noahide on-line study group that reviews the garden series books of Rabbi Arush. You can contact her at jenniferjwoodward@gmail.com to be added to the weekly newsletter for dates and times. Visit the blog at noahidenews.blogspot.com.