I can’t remember so many things:
- when I last saw my sister-in-law JoAnn, who lives in Israel
- what I had for dinner two nights ago
- what my husband and I did to break the fast last Yom Kippur
- where I put the Yahrzeit candles
I can’t remember:
- what I read about CBD and gummies to help the elderly cope with aging’s ills (yikes — I am elderly too — I need to pay more attention!!!!)
- what AARP said in its monthly magazine about how to be “a super-ager.” It was something about connectedness and engagement with others.
And I only vaguely remember the article I read about “less is more” when putting pen to paper — but the impact of that particular article lingers in the blurry recesses of my memory. And it guides me as I process just exactly what and how I choose to write.
There is nothing more riveting than a well-placed Yiddish word — no other language could top the following jewels: - yenta
- schmatta
- kvetch
- chutzpah
They just sound like what they mean and mean just how they sound. A pleasure to utter and a pleasure to hear.
Using one adjective to describe something is more powerful than a string of them preceding the noun and super easy in Yiddish.
And the same goes for gift giving. Since Chanukah is just winding down, did you notice the more gifts kids get, the less they mean? My son and his wife, who have three kids six and under, came up with a different approach to Chanukah. Instead of a gift every night, they set up a series of experiences for their children. The first one was a trip back to DUMBO in Brooklyn, an overnight stay in a hotel and visiting the sites they visited regularly before moving to Connecticut. It was a roaring success.
Now let’s examine the power of one word — one of my all-time favorites — the word BLOOM.
I collect quotes centering around the word “bloom.” I have many.
My favorite is: Bloom where you are planted.
My newest is: Whoever doesn’t laugh doesn’t bloom.
If I continued to list every Bloom quote I have ever collected, you’d probably become incredibly bleary-eyed and rapidly desensitized to the power of the word Bloom itself.
But — if I only list a few — you may be so motivated to jot them down, marvel at their punchiness and utilize the gems in your next conversation — if you can remember them, of course.
With brevity and its effect on emphasis in mind, I’m presenting one quote and one quote only to tidily finish up this year of horrendous events and mind-startling behaviors. Hold this simple quote close as we approach a new and hopefully better year.
It was sent to me from Dena. She and I are machatunim, sharing three grandchildren. She recently became a widow after many years of marriage. This is her message:
“Some days are difficult, but I think about all I’ve had — and still have — and I smile.”
Thanks, Dena. Simple, but powerful.
Keep Smiling, Happy New Year and Keep Preserving Your Bloom,
Iris Ruth Pastor