Style & Living

Mindfulness seems to have become a buzzword these days, although myths abound about its definition, its benefits, its relevance to a Torah life, and what is and is not mindfulness. Mindfulness can be described as nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. Sounds simple enough, no? It is about acknowledging the idea that we can choose what we attend to or what we give our awareness to. Mindfulness is about falling awake as opposed to falling asleep, falling into a natural state of wakefulness and presence and openness with every moment. The choice to fall awake opens up what is within your b’chirah. When living life asleep, on autopilot, perhaps missing out on life, we are unable to fully choose. “V’halachta Bi’Drachav” (“Walk in His ways”); if Hashem does not will us into existence at every moment, we would cease to exist. Hashem stays mindful every moment, and we can aspire to emulate that presence of mind in all that we do, that intentionality in our actions.

 Dear Diet Diary,

 I am so thankful that I finally found a plan that is balanced, easy to stick to, takes into account my lifestyle, and is even fun. I am also finding that I can use my weigh-ins as an opportunity to pick my nutrition counselor’s brain, and ask her all my pressing dieting questions. Here are a couple of the questions I asked in session this week, along with the answers Alice gave.

Tamar to tell her personal story of rescue at a series of events across New York

“He said to me, ‘The day you leave me is the day you will die.’”

Recap: Bayla realizes that she has to go to Paris because it’s the right thing to do, even though she doesn’t want to go.

Jerusalem, December 1980. A young American tourist wearing jeans and a backpack descends the steps to the Kotelplaza. Gazing at the Wall for the first time, she knows she’s supposed to be moved. But she’s too annoyed—even angry—about the partition separating men and women. Why are women shunted off to the side?she fumes. She makes a decision. These religious people can segregate themselves if they like, but I’m standing whereverIwant. And she marches right into the men’s section.

“You shall not commit a perversion of justice; you shall not favor the poor and you shall not honor the great; with righteousness shall you judge your fellow.”

Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:15.