Health & Heels - Winter 2021-2022

More documents

Recommendations

Info

healthy soul SOUL FOOD <strong>Winter</strong> Issue This should probably be a Pesach article, but since it has been on my mind a lot lately, I guess now is the right time. You see, I think I’m a Candy Crush addict. My daughter once told me that I shouldn’t be making the brachah “sheloh asani aved,” which blesses Hashem for not making me a slave. I thought it was very funny at the time but it recently had me thinking. The High Price of Candy By Amy Lefcoe I mainly use Candy Crush as a reward. I’ll usually sit down at the kitchen table for 20 minutes to play, after I’ve cooked, served, and cleaned up dinner. Or I could sit for 20 minutes before I go to bed after a long day of accomplishing. My best games are Motzaei Shabbos because that combines all my reward criteria. Sometimes I use it to make myself feel better, and finally I might play just for something to do (like when I’m on an airplane). Wow! As I’m writing this I’m noticing the similarity in my relationship between Candy Crush and real candy. I’ve started saying more Tehillim these days for obvious reasons. The day-to-day madness in the world and the challenges each one of us experiences daily require additional artillery. I commented in the last issue about how much I love that I can effect change in Heaven. So Tehillim is another opportunity to tip those Heavenly scales on the side of good. A nagging voice has started showing up during my game playing. It’s the same theme over and over. “Do you know how many chapters of Tehillim you could’ve said in the last 20 minutes?” 32
ohealthy soul Of course my yetzer hara has all the answers. “You can say some Tehillim after you’re done playing” or “You’re way too tired to say Tehillim now. Say it in the morning when you are fresh.” Sometimes we negotiate: Win a level, say a perek. That one I at least consider a success. In any case, you get the picture. I used to look at the level that I was on and multiply by 10 minutes (I don’t even know it that’s an accurate average) and then think of all the things I could’ve done with that time. I literally don’t have the nerve to do that anymore. How many things are we doing on a daily basis that we don’t even realize are taking us away from our avodas Hashem? This is not about to turn into an anti-smartphone or the evils of the internet article. (There are already many that have been written and are certainly filled with wisdom). My focus here is on everything else. For me it’s Candy Crush and for you it might be Instagram. For someone else it could be television, whether it’s happening on an actual TV or on a laptop. Sometimes, oddly enough, it can be our avodas Hashem itself. If we’re overly occupied with doing chesed or listening to shiurim, this can take us away from the things that should come first. And among the things that should come first (children, husband, tefillah, self-examination with the goal of growth) is where true G-d connection is found. Ultimately, we are missing precious opportunities in what a relationship with G-d offers and what the Ramchal tells us in Derech Hashem Chapter 2: “The purpose of all that was created was therefore to bring into existence a creature who could derive pleasure from G-d’s own good, in a way that would be possible for it.” Well, that puts a new perspective on my Candy Crush game. I’m not saying we should give up things that help us relax and recharge. We are human beings and there is a place for downtime and giving our brains a break. What I’m suggesting particularly to myself is that maybe it’s time to reconsider how I’m doing that and for how long. What’s your candy and how much is it costing you? 33 healthandheelsmagazine.com Amy Lefcoe is a Jewish educator and loves sharing her passion for Torah and Jewish outlook. She is a teacher at BINA Girls High School in Norfolk, VA, and speaks for women’s groups locally and in Israel. Amy is a graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology and has pursued Jewish studies over the past three decades. She is a certified emunah and marriage coach through Machon HaAdam HaShalem and remains an active participant in the organization’s personal growth and G-d-centered chaburas. In addition, she is a graduate of the revolutionary Shiras Sarah Teachers Training Fellowship. Amy spends her time with her husband Kevin, children, family and dear friends. She can be reached at alefcoe626@gmail.com.
Page 2 and 3: The credit card processing company
Page 4 and 5: STAFF Tanya Rosen Editor In Chief B
Page 6 and 7: Meet the Writers Karen Behfar Malky
Page 8 and 9: letter from the editor Basya Kovacs
Page 10 and 11: The Inside Scoop How I Met Tanya BA
Page 12 and 13: healthy bodies TIPS FOR V Workouts
Page 14 and 15: healthy bodies Getting Back On Trac
Page 16 and 17: healthy bodies Super Bowl Tips The
Page 18 and 19: healthy bodies Let’s Get Cooking!
Page 20 and 21: healthy bodies CUCUMBER MINT MOJITO
Page 22 and 23: healthy bodies TWO NUTRITIONISTS
Page 24 and 25: healthy bodies A NARROW PATH My Wei
Page 26: is ticked off I feel a sense of acc
Page 29 and 30: Dear Basya, I was wondering why you
Page 31: healthy bodies Weight Loss News You
Page 35 and 36: all. And instead of the expected sm
Page 37 and 38: healthy soul and clarify what was j
Page 39 and 40: wellness & beauty Dressing head to
Page 41 and 42: Jen Sharbani Dear Miri, There are s
Page 43 and 44: wellness & beauty 02 03 I have, ka
Page 45 and 46: 45 healthandheelsmagazine.com
Page 47 and 48: 47 Good News Is… According to the
Page 49 and 50: a worker in your own business, you
Page 51 and 52: 51 healthandheelsmagazine.com Yael
Page 53 and 54: healthy finances Coffee A Candid Ch
Page 55 and 56: healthy finances We will get you ho
Page 57 and 58: RELATIONSHIP COACH SARA FREED Build
Page 59 and 60: The message was clear. It was someh
Page 62 and 63: healthy families The Dating Coach W
Page 64 and 65: healthy families Winter Issue Elana
Page 66 and 67: healthy families Cultivating a Trus
Page 68 and 69: healthy families Winter Issue ruchn
Page 70 and 71: healthy humor Horizontally Challeng
Page 72: Winter Issue 72

Health & Heels - Winter 2021-2022

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?