Community Magazine September 2019

ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS D oes it seem likewe are always sayingHelloGoodbye? The end of the summer always reminds me of a song title called Hello, Goodbye. It’s a fitting segue for talking about our move from season to season. On September 21 st , we will say Hello to fall and Goodbye to the summer. As a life coach, I believe that change is a good thing, and transitioning from one season to another can be both positive and uplifting. As Jews, the transition from summer to fall is especially meaningful. Depending on when Rosh Hashanah falls in the Jewish calendar, we may be celebrating Rosh Hashanah in the summer or the fall. This year, Rosh Hashanah of 5780 will begin in the evening of September 29 th , clearly in the fall. Coupled with Rosh Hashanah, our children go from vacation mode to school mode, coinciding with the change in season from summer to fall. Rosh Hashanah and fall bring exciting new beginnings for all! It’s a time for meeting new teachers and making new friends, a time to launch a fresh start academically, spiritually, and socially, and to repair any ruptures in our relationships. We buy warmer clothes for the new season and enjoy watching the leaves change colors and fall to the ground. Transition and transformation are natural processes that we go through every season. Life is all about change. If we were to stay the same, we would never grow. Imagine how boring life would be if things were static. Yes, changes and challenges can be frightening, but they are vital to our development, and shape us as individuals. Let’s consider some ideas to facilitate and embrace the coming season and to help us to enjoy its transformative features. Think About Your Summer – What was special about it? What did you particularly like? Did you make any positive changes during the summer? Did the summer transform you in any way? Are there any life lessons you can take away and use in the future? Create a Keepsake of Your Favorite Summer Memories – How about creating a physical keepsake of fun times? Would you enjoy having a photo album or scrapbook of your treasured summer activities or trips? It could sit on your bedroom desk or on the coffee table in the family room. You could pull the album out and cherish your precious moments of the summer or show it to friends and guests. Or you could create a collage of summer photos and hang it in the living room. We have grown so accustomed to viewing pictures on our smart phones that we may forget to print photos that remind us of noteworthy occasions. Take the Time to Ponder What Fall Means to You and Your Family – Are there scents that you enjoy? The air is crisp and the falling leaves actually exhale all kinds of pleasant gases. Do you enjoy taking a walk in the morning brisk air? Fall is that in-between season where you don’t need to bundle up, but a sweater or windbreaker may feel just right. Fall can bring family trips to pick apples or to drive upstate to see the stunning orange, red, and yellow foliage. The holidays also afford lots of opportunities for family bonding such as meals in the sukkah and hol hamoed visits and outings. And what about the joy of wearing your favorite fall colors? Who doesn’t enjoy seeing small children jump into a cascade of vibrant leaves? “Make New Friends but Keep the Old, One Is Silver and the Other Is Gold” – Schoolchildren get to see their friends from prior years and make new friends, too! Ditto for the parents. Some of my closest friends are moms who I met through my children’s classmates or from when I served as a class mother. Our daughters and sons get the chance to be infused with new knowledge, learn new skills, sports, or crafts. For some, fall brings more independence. Will your child be walking to the bus stop instead of being picked up by carpool? Staying Positive and Balanced Hashem empowers us with the ability to renew our spirit and spark with the new year, but it does come with stress and challenges. There are lots of balls to juggle and keep in the air, such as work, domestic, and family responsibilities. Take time to plan for the holidays and enlist all family members who are old enough to pitch in. Be mindful of your financial limitations and how you can celebrate the beauty of the holidays and stay within your budget. Wishing you all a Shana Tova! Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen works part-time as an entitlement specialist at Ohel Children’s Home and Family Services. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com) . Hello Fall, Goodbye Summer 74 Community Magazine