Queens Jewish Link
Connecting the Queens Jewish Community Do you understand how you feel and behave most often? What are some of your best or worst traits?...
Doing good deeds and giving charity have a central place in our ethical belief system. Do you offer others what they may need if they simply cannot get it for themselves? If so, how? You may think that means money or something material. Sure, you spare that dollar or write that check to your favorite institution before the holidays.
Did you notice that when a crisis hits and your mood drops, you may, for the first time, question what your purpose in life truly is? Until such a time, you may have taken quite a bit for granted. Perhaps you looked forward to things despite struggling with the minor inconveniences of daily life.
In a world full of cruelty and inhumanity, it is noble to strive to be a nice person. You may aspire to be gentle and empathetic to others. Do you go to great lengths to spare others pain? Eventually, however, you may be called upon to make decisions that will offend and be an affront to some.
Wanting to please people sounds kind of nice, doesn’t it? However, if you are someone who feels you have to mold yourself to the expectations of everyone around you, you may need to rethink. You could very well be harboring resentment and, eventually, bitterness.
Do you understand how you feel and behave most often? What are some of your best or worst traits? Are you able to stay calm during stressful moments? Do you sometimes feel like you’re actually not “normal”? Perhaps you feel too deeply or have trouble trusting anyone at all.
This past Sunday, when I rode my bike, I was reminded that New York City may be the most bike-friendly big city in the country and possibly in the world. I rode from Kew Gardens Hills to Fort Lee, NJ, which included crossing both the Queensboro Bridge and the George Washington Bridge. Except for a few blocks in Forest Hills, the remainder of the trip had a separate bike lane — some adjacent to vehicle lanes without barriers, others protected by barriers, and some entirely separate, such as on the two bridges and the bike path surrounding much of Manhattan.
