Happily Ever After: February 2006

Fish in the sea
A teacher of mine once sat me down and showed me a picture of a bunch of fish.
She asked me to look at the picture and chose which fish is most like me. Of course I looked at her strangely and replied that I am not a fish nor do I intend on becoming one and therefore I can not choose one.
Calmly she said that I should imagine that I was a fish- which one would be me?
Again I answered that I can not relate to myself as a fish and it’s quite difficult to see myself as one.
She stayed calm for a while trying to get me to chose a fish from the paper that reminded me most of myself. Eventually she gave up and said, “I see we’re not getting anywhere, I guess you are not a fish after all.”
Now, years later I think back to sitting in that small office with my teacher, in front of a picture of a bunch of fish.
Let me describe the picture.
There were fish swimming together in schools, there were fish swimming alone. There were animated looking fish with smiles on their faces, and there were fish with thorns on their backs. There were big fish and small fish, there were fish swimming against the tide and others were swimming with the flow of the water.
Though all the fish were different- they all had something in common- they were all swimming in the big blue ocean. No matter what the fish looked like and what the fish was doing, they all need water in order to keep them going. If a shark or a bigger fish would come, there is no fish that would say “I give up, I’m gonna leave the water now.” You just have to keep on going.
We live in a big bad world with a lot of pain and suffering and there are lots of things that will frighten us. Never jump out of the water.
If you don’t keep on moving forward the waves are bound to pull you back!
Fight the tide and swim strong.

Please check this out

http://tzivoshashem.org/cth/ArticleFiles/Chidon%20GIRLS%205766.pdf

Home Sweet Home

Taken by Rochel D.

THIS POST IS DEDICATED DIRECTLY TO CHUM BUM. SAFE TRIP TO E/O ELSE WHO IS FLYING OR DRIVING OR TAKING A BOAT OR TRAIN OR WTVR. OTHER FORM OF TRANSPORTATION.

Chum please travel safetly and make sure to take all your appropriate gear to make this trip an extremely safe and succesful one. Don't come to the airport too early- sometimes there are scary looking people in the airport and you may be afraid to fly.

Make sure to bring a chitas, tzedaka, pushkah, siddur, chumash, machzor, daf yomi, hayom yom, kitzur shulchan aruch, tanya, siddur, Navi, Yirmiyahu, yishayahu, baba basra, advil, tylonol, asprin, motrin, sleeping pills, dramamine, tylonol pm, a water bottle, flat coke (for stomach sickness), your favorite teddy bear, a blanket, pillow, change of clothes, crackers and rice cakes- nothing gooey or a/t that'll hurt your little tummy, flash light (incase the plane is too dark), barf bag, extra bag to put your barf bag in after you use it, extra bag to put the extra bag from the barf bag in- I think after that you'll be prety good to go.

And if anything happens just make sure you put on your oxygen mask before you put one on your teddy bear! And that button at the side of your seat is not to recline your seat- DON'T FORGET!- be really cautious when moving your hand next to that- if you press it your seat will fall out of the bottom of the plane. Don't talk to strangers. If anyone starts talking to you, immedietly press the button with the little lady on it that is ontop of your head and she'll come help you. Listen to the flight attendant, don't press the button too many times b/c she may get upset, and you don't wanna know what happens when you annoy a flight attendant.... If you are scared to fly in the dark it is ok for you to leave your light on.

Make sure to keep your seatbelt securely fastened until the captain turns off the seatbelt sign. Even when the sign is off you should still stay seated- it minimizes the chance of turbulance.

There is absolutely no smoking in the lavortory- don't be scared to flush the toilet, yes, it makes a loud noise! Just hold your ears and say a little prayer. It's not worth having an accident over- and if you know ahead of time that you will be afraid to flush just bring a change of clothing. Or just don't drink a lot of water- you can drink your coke instead.
Do not make too much noise- there may be passengers on your flight who are on a connecting international flight.
Make sure to read the safety manual from the pocket infront of you so you know how to use the exit slide incase you land in the water. The seat can be used as a flotation devise- don't worry.
Most importantly use caution when opening overhead compartments- items may have shifted during the flight.

You have nothing to worry about- it's all going to be good!

Oh, one last thing- sometimes people hijack planes- but don't worry it's kinda rare.
Safe trip!

PRICELESS

Some people understand life better,
At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back......every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story... Why? Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
The minute you help someone else win- you become a winner!
"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle"
We have all lived long enough to know and understand that each person has their own and different needs.
Look back to the times that you were there to help a friend. Realize how your one little action can make such a different to someone elses moment, day, and life. Be there to bend down and lift someone up when you see they need it most.... and a real friend will be there for you when you need to be lifted too.