Ears of the Heart

I recently did a writing course where the teacher began each session with this question by Bill Plotkin, Do you love yourself enough to listen with the ears of your heart to the other voices of yourself speaking?

What a beautiful invitation. That, I think speaks to this very big week—Jewish New Year, the Anniversary of 9/11, and less significant, but still observed in the US—Labor Day.

Whenever we have these big time markers—birthdays, new years and anniversaries, we often reflect on what we want to continue and what we want to change. And then we fill notebooks with long to do lists.

But this year, I am taking a different approach. I am not advocating complete apathy or anarchy, but there is definitely a case to be made for stillness, silence, space. To wonder. To questions. To listen to wind in the trees. To get bored.

This labor day I celebrated un-labor day. I rested, spent time with my mother, connected with my husband and children, wrote some friends. Took a walk and let nature inspire. And this new year I am not making huge promises to myself. Except, as above so below, that I may love others and myself, that I may care for the world and myself, that I may forgive others and myself. And for 9/11, I am praying for an end to evil, and sending love especially to my New York friends who were there and felt and still feel the horror of that day.

So back to the Plotkin quote. And listening with the ears of the heart. Maybe we find time and space and stillness for reflection, kindness and love.