The new fad these days is the ‘Fidget Spinner.’ It is supposed to reduce ‘stress.’ I was interested in getting one for myself as a tool for relaxation purposes. I did some research and found out how this fad got started.
The inventor of this ubiquitous stress-reducing toy says she came up with the idea during a trip to Israel in the 1980s, during the First Intifada, as a way to distract the “young boys throwing rocks at police officers.”
Catherine Hettinger told CNN last week that she first brainstormed the gadget while visiting her sister in the Jewish State and hearing about the clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli security.
She first considered designing a “soft rock that kids could throw,” according to CNN.
“It started as a way of promoting peace,” Hettinger said. Soon after, upon returning home to Orlando, Florida, Hettinger put together the first fidget spinner — a propeller-like toy that spins around a center bearing.
Why this topic for my blog? At first I wasn’t quite sure. Then I realized that this ‘Fidget Spinner’ is an excellent tool for everyone, no matter what age. It is a means to calm our nerves and to bring relaxation to our minds during the laborious days activity in a world filled with stress.
Sounds like a good idea! However, the question I pose, “Would there be some spiritual benefit to this spinner in life?”
If we are really interested in some reducing factor to lower our stress level, then it is necessary for us to find the means to do so within our religious life. To begin with, we need to identify concrete ways that we can improve our outlook on life in a positive and comforting way with deep introspection, identifying our true potential and the nature of the unique task for which G-D brought us into this world. This is only the beginning, but it’s a start.
If we can respond, in a positive way, to the question which Hashem posed to Adam, “Ayecha? Where are you in life?” Then we are on the road to a stress reducing experience in life. To know ones’ self, is to know where we belong and, more so, to know how we fit into our world, rather than always comparing ourselves to others.
Catherine Hettinger told CNN last week that she first brainstormed the gadget while visiting her sister in the Jewish State and hearing about the clashes between Palestinian youth and Israeli security.
She first considered designing a “soft rock that kids could throw,” according to CNN.
“It started as a way of promoting peace,” Hettinger said. Soon after, upon returning home to Orlando, Florida, Hettinger put together the first fidget spinner — a propeller-like toy that spins around a center bearing.
Why this topic for my blog? At first I wasn’t quite sure. Then I realized that this ‘Fidget Spinner’ is an excellent tool for everyone, no matter what age. It is a means to calm our nerves and to bring relaxation to our minds during the laborious days activity in a world filled with stress.
Sounds like a good idea! However, the question I pose, “Would there be some spiritual benefit to this spinner in life?”
If we are really interested in some reducing factor to lower our stress level, then it is necessary for us to find the means to do so within our religious life. To begin with, we need to identify concrete ways that we can improve our outlook on life in a positive and comforting way with deep introspection, identifying our true potential and the nature of the unique task for which G-D brought us into this world. This is only the beginning, but it’s a start.
If we can respond, in a positive way, to the question which Hashem posed to Adam, “Ayecha? Where are you in life?” Then we are on the road to a stress reducing experience in life. To know ones’ self, is to know where we belong and, more so, to know how we fit into our world, rather than always comparing ourselves to others.
How often have we said to our children, “Be yourself, be who you are and do not look to others for comparison.” As adults we need to hear this selfsame message, “You are who you are and make the most and the best of it.”
Chazal teaches, “Before we are created, G-D has a clear image of who we can be and what our mission in life is. Our task is to seek out that image by the way we live. In doing so, in a positive way, we will achieve the Image that Hashem originally had for us and this accomplishment can, successfully, reduce our life’s tension, and thereby become our ‘true spinner’.
For many years I was a School Psychologist. As time progressed, I began to realize more and more that parents and teachers are Mashpi’im. They are the ones that influence our children.
Chazal teaches, “Before we are created, G-D has a clear image of who we can be and what our mission in life is. Our task is to seek out that image by the way we live. In doing so, in a positive way, we will achieve the Image that Hashem originally had for us and this accomplishment can, successfully, reduce our life’s tension, and thereby become our ‘true spinner’.
For many years I was a School Psychologist. As time progressed, I began to realize more and more that parents and teachers are Mashpi’im. They are the ones that influence our children.
To, truly, be an influential force is to recognize that whatever we do, whatever we say, flows down from us to our children and leaves a great ‘Roshem’, influence, in their lives. Hopefully, with a thought out process, that influence will be a positive one, resulting in a greater sense of self-esteem, removing the many stresses that overpower so many of us.
This weeks’ Sedrah, Emor concludes with an enigmatic narrative. The Torah relates of a young man from a mixed marriage who becomes a blasphemer, cursing the name of G-D in public. Many inquired what caused this young man to act in such an abhorrent fashion. Considering the theme of my blog, may I suggest that he was influenced by his own action described by the words ויצא, “He went out.”
Chazal ask, “מהיכן יצא from where did he leave?” One of the answers given, “יצא מעולמו, he left his world.” He left his environment. He refused to stay or accept the world to which he was born. He left his family circle. Too often we see many of our youth running away from their family environment, in search of their true self image. Unfortunately, many end up with a distorted self image, in places where they do not belong and suffer alienation from the true image that Hashem proposed for them to follow in life’s destiny.
The dire crisis that we are experiencing today is that so many are on the run, looking for fulfillment, looking for recognition, looking for acceptance, but, sorrowfully, looking for it where it really doesn't count and where we are unlikely to be accepted.
We think if we break away from our real environment, a world which we think is confining, and a world away from our family, we will finally find our true selves. How quickly we realize how wrong we are. Those greener pastures that we thought we see, are really weeds that are strangling our very essence and our true self image and causing even more stress in our lives.
Too often we are running helter skelter, to and fro, with no direction. As a result, many find life is not the primrose path and not the road to fulfillment and not one that is less stressful.
Spinners are a quick fix. Family and Judaism are more of a permanent solution to achieve a true non stressful life.
The Rav, in an overview of life said, “Our Torah is a Derech Hashem, a Derech Hachayim, and a majestic style of living. The Torah way of life is a wide and well paved road lined with signs, arrows, and other symbols, pointing out each turn, curve and twist. Whoever wants to pay attention and travel straight to his destination will find a way. If one is capable of watching those signs and symbols, he will not get lost.”
A Torah oriented journey can lead to a stress and liberating way of life.
This weeks’ Sedrah, Emor concludes with an enigmatic narrative. The Torah relates of a young man from a mixed marriage who becomes a blasphemer, cursing the name of G-D in public. Many inquired what caused this young man to act in such an abhorrent fashion. Considering the theme of my blog, may I suggest that he was influenced by his own action described by the words ויצא, “He went out.”
Chazal ask, “מהיכן יצא from where did he leave?” One of the answers given, “יצא מעולמו, he left his world.” He left his environment. He refused to stay or accept the world to which he was born. He left his family circle. Too often we see many of our youth running away from their family environment, in search of their true self image. Unfortunately, many end up with a distorted self image, in places where they do not belong and suffer alienation from the true image that Hashem proposed for them to follow in life’s destiny.
The dire crisis that we are experiencing today is that so many are on the run, looking for fulfillment, looking for recognition, looking for acceptance, but, sorrowfully, looking for it where it really doesn't count and where we are unlikely to be accepted.
We think if we break away from our real environment, a world which we think is confining, and a world away from our family, we will finally find our true selves. How quickly we realize how wrong we are. Those greener pastures that we thought we see, are really weeds that are strangling our very essence and our true self image and causing even more stress in our lives.
Too often we are running helter skelter, to and fro, with no direction. As a result, many find life is not the primrose path and not the road to fulfillment and not one that is less stressful.
Spinners are a quick fix. Family and Judaism are more of a permanent solution to achieve a true non stressful life.
The Rav, in an overview of life said, “Our Torah is a Derech Hashem, a Derech Hachayim, and a majestic style of living. The Torah way of life is a wide and well paved road lined with signs, arrows, and other symbols, pointing out each turn, curve and twist. Whoever wants to pay attention and travel straight to his destination will find a way. If one is capable of watching those signs and symbols, he will not get lost.”
A Torah oriented journey can lead to a stress and liberating way of life.
These are times that we are to infuse our lives with the Spinners of Spirituality, elevating our souls to new heights, owning our own destiny.
שבת שלום ומבורך
שבת שלום ומבורך
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