It’s a mitzvah, this month! Yes! To be happy!
mishenichnas Adar marbim b’simcha, when the Jewish month of Adar enters happiness increases. While it’s not one of the 613 mitzvot directly, nonetheless, we pray in the Siddur (prayer book) ivdoo et HaShem b’simcha, serve God with happiness.
Can we be happy? Can you? Especially when we are faced with negative news?
This week I received sad news. My uncle passed away after being in a comma for 14 months. Can the family be happy?
When I got the phone call about my uncle I made a shiva call. I called my aunt and also talked to my first cousins. My aunt cried. She has been crying a lot… my cousin, on the other hand, was relieved. Relieved that his dad is not suffering anymore. I shared with my aunt my thoughts about my uncle’s neshama, soul, that now is free! It’s no longer connected to a body that is not functioning. I told her that now his neshsma can visit her. It made me happy to share with her something that can comfort her.
Being happy can be felt when you comfort others. When you feel that others benefit from your presence, your words, your wisdom.
And sometimes, you simply feel happiness when you are happy with what you do. When you feel you are on a path that you meant to be on.
I often tell my family (usually in the morning before they leave the house, “ did I tell you I love my life?:)” When my alignment is clear, when I am engaging in a work that I find meaningful to me, I feel happy. Happiness is not about what we have. It’s about what we do. And it’s about what we do with what we have. It’s not external, it’s internal. Happiness, in its truest essence is not dependent on others, but it originates with you. With your soul. Happiness is not about being easy. More often happiness is not necessarily easy. Life is not always easy. In one of the speeches I have delivered I say that life is the sum of all the oyes and joys. It’s the sum of all the experiences we have.
In pirkei svot it is said “Who is rich? The one who is happy with his lot.”
Interestingly, it does not say the one who had an easy life, right?
Happiness is internal. No one can truly make you happy person. It’s a decision each of us has to make.
You would all agree with me that Israelis don’t have the easiest of time. They live in a land with constant fear of war and attacks. However, I must admit that Israelis know how to find joy and happiness. They will party, no matter what!! Why? Because it beats the alternative! It’s taking life as it comes, realizing that we may never know it all or have it all together and figured out. And the realization and the acknowledgment that that will have to suffice.
Can you embrace happiness not knowing the future? Knowing that some things may not work the way you planned…from where I sit as I look out of the window I think, — what’s the alternative??
Yours truly,
Dorice