WONDROUS THING: Cut the umbilical cord (the one attached to you and your mobile phone)

Finland has a sport dedicated specifically to that feeling – the Mobile Phone Throwing World Championship! (Last year, the winning throw was about the length of a football field.)  

Of course, most of us would never dream about actually flinging our smartphone across a field. On the contrary, we love our phones! We take them everywhere: we walk around the house with them in our hands; we take them to the movies; to the theater; to the dinner table. We even take them to bed. (One study showed that 90% of people ages 18-29 go to sleep at night with their smartphones!)
 
So I ask you, when do you “unplug”? 

• Can you go on vacation and not check your email? 
• Are you able to drive without calling or texting somebody? • When was the last time you went a full day without even looking at your smartphone?
 
I would like you to try the following experiment: 

Go to dinner with friends this week and put all of your cell phones in a pile in the middle of the table. Stay “unplugged” the entire meal. I dare you. (Make the person who cheats and looks at their phone pay the tab!) 

Too easy? Here's a bigger challenge: Try not using your cell phone for an entire day (Saturday might be a good day. Just saying... :-) 


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WONDROUS THING: Just say "no" now and then (because "no's" are "yes's" to other things)

What do you do when you read advice that goes against the teachings of Judaism?

I recently came across an article in Time Magazine where it states that the world’s oldest woman begins her day with... oy vey... bacon! Four strips, every morning, along with eggs and potato grits. What’s more, she swears by her diet, and even has a sign in her kitchen that reads, “Bacon makes everything better.” 

Who's going to argue with her? She's 116 years old and still going strong. Susannah Mushatt Jones also credits her longevity to getting 10 hours of sleep at night and a diligent daytime nap schedule.

All this got me thinking about how we balance our values with our desires; Jewish Law and tradition with the customs and norms of the secular society in which we live. 

Do we eat bacon, or not? 
Do we try to observe Shabbat, 
or do we treat it just like any other day? 

Which set of values do we follow?
What are your thoughts? 

How do you balance your principles with your wants, and which seems to dominate the other?
 
Food for thought.

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WONDROUS THING: Make plans and choose well (since you don't have time for everything)

The New Year is upon us and it’s time to start thinking of our resolutions (if you haven’t already).

According to Business Insider, for many successful entrepreneurs, businesspeople and celebrities, in 2016, less is going to be more. (Click here to see the New Year’s resolutions of 31 successful people.)

Most of the people on this list are resolving to work less so they can do more in other areas of their lives, such as giving to others, spending time with family, learning a new skill, or perhaps just spending more quality time with themselves.

Hey, if they can manage it, so can we!

Of course, the Talmud in Chagigah 17a has always know this. It states “Tafasta meruba lo tafasta - If you seek to grab too much, you will not grab anything at all."


Now that's a resolution we should all aspire to: "This year, I'm going to choose well how I spend my time so I can do more of what is really important to me."

So, what’s your top New Year’s Resolution for 2016?

Wishing us all a New Year filled with good health, with peace and with purpose.

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