All posts by ytnomad

One of Those Days

Today is one of those days.

It goes without saying that the lockdown has impacted many of us in more ways than we thought imagineable.

Some of us had to leave our apartments, our cities, our relationships, and everything that was a part of our normal, while others remained confined alone with nowhere to go and no one to turn to.

These changes and transitions are enough to weigh anyone down as the world resets and evolves to a new reality.

It has forced us to look inward, analyze our relationships, and come to terms with the things we simply cannot change in others, but can only do to better ourselves.

For the first time in a long time, I woke up with a newfound energy and motivation.

I started my morning with a slice of french toast my younger sister made, a cup of tea, and a sense of gratitude and appreciation.

I took a moment to stop and breathe, and to say thank you for all the blessings.

It is in this moment that I realized we are only human. That some days are going to be easier than others. That we are all in this together.

Today is just one of those days 🌞☕

How has your experience been? Share your quarantine moments and speculations in the comments below ⬇️

Let’s all be human together 🙏

#newreality #thoughts #quarantine

Why Passover is a Time for Introspection and Self Development

The Exodus from Egypt occurs in every human being, in every era, in every year, and in every day.” — Reb Nachman of Breslov

Every year, it is customary in Jewish tradition for families to come together in commemoration of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery and their exodus from ancient Egypt. Over the course of eight days, Jews commemorate the emancipation from slavery by retelling the exodus story during Passover (pesach in Hebrew).

This reliving of history is done in a Seder meal consisting of different customsthe main ones being avoiding leaven, eating matzah, reciting the ten plagues, and drinking four glasses of wine to commemorate redemption and liberation.

So, what makes Passover 2020 the ideal time for introspection?

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Seeds of Love in the New Year: 2017, Here’s to You…

“Every human mind is fertile, but only for those kinds of seeds it is prepared for. What is important is to see which kind of seeds our mind is fertile for, and to prepare it to receive the seeds of love.” – Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements

As this day winds down to the sound of rain hitting the windowsill, I can’t help but reflect on everything that has happened this past 2016. At exactly this time last year, I was on my way to a New Years Eve wedding after work, in Tel Aviv, Israel, and it was also raining just as intensely.

Thoughts of the unknown started seeping through me on the drive to the venue, and I recall thinking, “2016, please be nice to me” – with the hope that the year would present itself with a bit of stability and just a dab of reassurance.

Persevere in the Name of Perseverance

Speculations

There’s an old Hebrew saying that says “Teshaneh Makom, Teshaneh Mazal,” or in other words, “Change Your Place, Change Your Luck.” In the context of this phrase, luck may refer to destiny — or a series of events and experiences that lead you to where you’re supposed to be at this present moment in time.

The people you meet, and the complete solitude you experience on this journey, are all outcomes of decisions you made or circumstances that were dawned on you. As a globetrotter, sometimes it becomes a challenge to start over and succumb to the outcomes of those exact decisions.

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Rosh Hashanah Reflections

“As long as the candle is still burning, it is still possible to accomplish and to mend.” – Rabbi Yisrael Salanter

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Jewish new year (5777) and a time for solitude and self reflection. After a two month hiatus from writing and nourishing the soul  what better time than now to reflect on the year that passed and look towards the year to come? So here, my friends, I share my thoughts with you in a complete state of solitude and reservation. 

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A French Moroccan and an Israeli American Go on a Date

Alright, folks, let me tell you a thing or two about this thing called dating. It’s rough. It’s fun. But most of all— it’s all sorts of frustrating. Yeah, being a single woman in 2016 isn’t as enjoyable as devouring a piece of chocolate soufflé cake with whipped cream on top (yum) — it’s more like a dating roulette game that’ll keep you guessing and pulling your arm hairs out.

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The Life of a Nomad and a Concept Called Home

Reflections

They say that home is where the heart is, but where exactly is home? A place that’s deeply ingrained in the depths of our being, yet so distant to most. Or maybe it’s just that moment in time where life and circumstances become intertwined with our souls — and time stops — and a feeling of pure bliss seeps through every vein of our existence. (Yeah, that’s got to be it)

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