I have a confession to make: I am a “cardaholic.” Some people eat when they get stressed. Others shop. Me? I head straight to the card aisle at Walgreens or CVS and wander for hours, searching for the perfect card for my girlfriend’s deceased pet or my daughter’s half-birthday. I buy cards and stash them in secret places – behind the bills, in my nightstand under the list of movies I intend to rent, next to my computer in a file marked “Dates to Remember.” The problem is I often forget where I put “that special card for my brother” until about 2 weeks after his birthday, so that it ends up with the word “belated” scratched into the greeting.
It should come as no surprise then that I got the inspiration for writing this piece while card-surfing at Trader Joes. On the front of one was a picture of the horizon, and off in the distance was a man sailing into the sunset. But it was these words that grabbed me as I checked out my order: “When was the last time you did something for the very first time?”
Wow. What a great question. When was the last time I did something for the very first time? I couldn’t remember, although I did make a new sweet potato recipe for Thanksgiving, which
I remember clearly because I had to go to the store three times for ingredients I had forgotten.
I can think of no better time to ask that question than right now as we enter the new year. So I have decided to create my own challenge by making 2014 a year of “firsts.” I’m not thinking about outrageous “firsts” that would make my family call 911, like bungee jumping or skydiving. Nor am I referring to things that cost a fortune or would require me to update my passport. What I’m talking about is taking time each month to try something I’ve never tried before. Something as simple as eating a new food, wearing a new color or style or reading a book I wouldn’t normally choose to read. Not only is this an exciting way to embrace the new year, it affords a very significant Jewish opportunity as well – that of being grateful for the blessing of having new things in our life.
The Jewish tradition has a wonderful way of honoring firsts with a blessing called the Shehechiyanu, which means “who has kept us in life” in Hebrew. The Shehechiyanu gives thanks to God “Who has kept us alive, preserved us and brought us to this special time.” On its face, it gives us a way to thank God for new and unusual experiences – such as watching a baby take her first steps, beginning a new job, moving into a new house or tasting the first vegetables from a garden. On a deeper level, it directs our attention and awareness to our surroundings, so that we develop an ability to “see” and “feel” the spiritual significance of events in our life.
The Shehechiyanu is also recited at the start of Jewish holidays, like the first night of Hanukkah and Passover, and to celebrate any long-awaited special occasion, such as the birth of a child or the retirement from a career. Making 2014 a year of firsts is a win-win deal. It gives us a chance to grow and learn by expanding our horizons, while encouraging us to be grateful for having lived to reach this moment. The Shehechiyanu is the Jewish way of acknowledging how blessed we are to be alive and witness the wonderful new things that come into our lives.
Amy Hirshberg Lederman (amyhirshberglederman.com) is an award-winning author and syndicated columnist, international speaker, Jewish educator and attorney. Her stories appear in the Chicken Soup series and her book One God, Many Paths: Finding Meaning and Inspiration in Jewish Teachings won the 2009 Best Book Award from the Arizona Book Publishing Association.
