Live In
Abundance

Y OUtt Vo ic e

A

s another new year beck-
ons, we Jews approach
with cautious optimism,
wishing that it be good and sweet.
We greet one another with these
exact words. In fact, we try to merit
a good and sweet year by helping
make it so for others.
Regardless
of our cir-
cumstances,
choosing to
see the world
through the
lens of abun-
dance, rather
than scarcity,
can make
all of the
difference.
Abundance
conscious-
ness allows us to feel sated even in lean
times. Scarcity consciousness makes us
feel deprived even when we have more
than enough.
None of us knows what tomorrow
will bring, Most of what comes to us
over the course of a year is not in our
control, but what often can be in our
control is our attitude.
I catch myself regularly in scarcity
consciousness. When I feel ignored,
unnoticed, unappreciated, when I
wonder if I have enough resources
for my old age, when the days get
shorter and the nights colder, when
a blemish blocks my view of beauty,
I live in scarcity consciousness.
When I live in optimism, when I
choose to feel rich, when I choose to
feel loved, honored, respected, I live
with abundance.
The list of tragedies, concerns,
conflicts and atrocities is long
indeed. These do require our vigilant
attention, but not our obsession. The
list of kindnesses, of acts of caring,
of compassion, of love, generosity
and empathy is even longer. Living
in abundance, we can invest most of
our thoughts on these, participate in
them, acknowledge them, offer grati-
tude for them, multiply them.
The challenges are great; the
opportunities even greater.
May we go from strength to
strength in the new year with the
awareness of our abundant blessings.
L'shanah tovah u'metukah — to a
good and sweet year. I

Arnie Sleutelberg is a rabbi at

Congregation Shir Tikvah in Troy.

Ig h

t Ett aell

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f

Yo he

September 18 • 2014

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