Thank you for choosing to join me and artist Jacqueline Nicholls on this 40 day journey into a new year. I hope these reflections on the ripples of our being inspire private introspection and public conversation. Here’s today’s post:

Prepent Day 15

Family dynamics can be the most meaningful and also the most disappointing and damaging.

I’m 48 years old and am the youngest of my siblings and most of my cousins, but sometimes when I speak with some of them it feels like they still see my as the little bratty kid they first knew me as and discount my opinion. Or is it just in my head? How do I meet my family at the age I am now? How do I accept and embrace each of them as they are now and without clinging to all the many memories, some shameful, of how we’ve each evolved over the years and continue evolving? I choose one relative to reach out today eye to eye, adult to adult, and a sincere wish for a good year ahead. Let’s not wait for family occasions to forgive or to catch up.

– Rabbi Amichai

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