This Hebrew month of Elul is the “get ready” month before the High Holidays commence, this year on the evening of September 23. It can be a period of corrective generally and specifically in these challenging times. The more we do in advance of the holidays, the more we can benefit during that most intensive period of introspection that the upcoming “Days of Awe” offer us.

A number of years ago, ala David Letterman, I offered to my congregation 10 suggestions in descending order (but not necessarily in importance) to help us in our Elul process of teshuvah (loosely translated “repentance”) leading up to the High Holydays. I reread them this week, and thought to offer them again, with adjustments.

#10 – Break your daily routine in some small way. Identify one bad habit you want to break in this next year (don’t try and do more than one because habits are hard to break, and if we’re successful in doing one, we will feel satisfied and a true sense of agency). If you find yourself, for example, being critical of everyone around you, stop yourself, at least some of the time and think of their good qualities. If you are holding onto anger, resentment, and hurt because of something someone did to you once upon a time, work hard to just let it go. If your words are overly coarse and you find yourself too often resorting to explosions of expletives, language you would never say in front of a child or your mother, strive to stop using it.

#9 – Take your shoes off the first chance you get and at every opportunity. Remember what God told Moses? “Remove your sandals from your feet for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” (Exodus 3:5) A study reported years ago in USA Today revealed that those who habitually kick off their shoes under the dining-room table, desk or pew tend to live three years longer than the average American. Think of the feet as a metaphor for the soul. Feet bound for too long begin to stink. Cloistered souls not allowed the light of consciousness pick up spiritual sludge and keep the divine light from shining.

#8 – Meditate – According to the American Institute on Stress, 75-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints. Meditation is nothing more than a means to become more aware and conscious of ourselves and our environment. A meditative state can be achieved at any time during the day, when listening to or making music, looking at or creating fine art, reading or writing a book or poetry, exercising, taking a walk, or sitting still. Meditation trains us in how to listen better to what is happening within and around us, how to be present and less distracted with our loved ones, to identify our deeper truths and thereby be more honest, straightforward and, hopefully, more kind.

#7 – Exercise each day – Impose upon yourself the discipline to walk, swim, ride a bicycle, do a workout, Tai-chi, Yoga, or Pilates, and keep your body toned. Whenever possible, don’t take elevators or escalators. Walk the stairs. When looking for a place to park, don’t take the closest space to your destination. Park at the far end of a parking lot and force yourself to walk the extra distance. The number of calories we burn in these simple acts will result in the loss of pounds over the course of a year (assuming you eat less too). It will also lower your heart rate, reduce your blood pressure, create a healthier physique, and enable us to feel a greater sense of well-being.

#6 – Do one “wild” thing each day, such as: 

• Eat ice cream instead of frozen yogurt. 
• Don’t hesitate to eat chocolate anything.
• Leave your checking account un-reconciled – but after a couple of weeks, reconcile it or you’ll get into trouble.
• Buy a loved one a gift for no good reason at unexpected times.
• Laugh more.
• Stretch every morning, at your desk and everywhere in the middle of the day.
• Sing in the shower.
• Scream in your car.
• Talk to yourself in public and don’t worry that someone may tag you as deranged.
• Say hello and smile at a stranger.
• Be kind for no reason. 
• Let the guy cut in front of you in traffic, and if you are walking and a driver let’s you pass in front of their car, wave a thank you as you pass by.
• Pet a dog (or cat) and look into its eyes – it is as sweet a sight as you are ever likely to see.
• Ride a horse.
• Play golf, tennis anything!
• Take a wave or walk into a beautiful natural setting.

#5 – Learn to say “No” more often, especially when you are feeling overtaxed and exhausted. As Thoreau said – “Simplify, simplify, simplify” your life and spend more time doing the things that feed your soul, give you spiritual strength and help you feel closer to the people you love. Read great literature. Find the great teachers who open the soul and heart. Do more mitzvot that require pure motives and accentuate kindness, and do not do anything thinking that you will benefit by something in return. Do it lishma – for its own sake.

#4 – Give tzedakah and do acts of gemilut chassadim (Loving Kindness) to every beggar on the street or at freeway off-ramps and don’t question their motives or worthiness. Visit or call someone who is ill or alone. Physically touch and hug an elderly person who might not have been touched in a very long while. Be kind and generous at all times.

#3 – Strengthen a friendship with someone you’ve been meaning to get to know better – don’t stop yourself from expressing your gratitude to the people you care about – say it to them out loud and often whenever you feel so moved.

#2 – Make a commitment to challenge your mind, especially if you are older – learn a language, do puzzles, fill out cross-word puzzles, learn to play a musical instrument, read about something you have wanted to learn and understand but never had the time before.

#1 – Read great Jewish literature and deepen your understanding of at least one great Jewish book, writer or scholar, such as: The Hebrew Bible; Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel; Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. While you are at it, avoid social media as much as is reasonable.

I wish you well in fulfilling one or more of the above. May it be time well spent as together we enter the New Year with the goal of bringing greater kindness and wholeness (Heb: shleimut) into the world. 

L’shanah tovah to you all!