#145 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Thursday September 16)
Good morning!
Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement for the Jewish people.
It is said that G-d grants forgiveness for sins committed against him/her. But we need to seek directly forgiveness from those whom we have offended during the year. So, I am taking this moment to ask that you forgive me for any words, opinions, or anything else that may have caused you offense, in these Musings or in real life, over the past year. I promise I’ll try to be more positive, respectful and appropriate in the year to come. But I suspect I’ll slip from time to time (hence the need for atonement each year!).
Whether you are Jewish or not, here’s to a great new year to each of you! I, for one, try to recognize every new year I can, including Chinese, Persian, Jewish, Muslim and secular new years. And why not? Each offers the opportunity to “reboot” and commit to being better and adopting new resolutions for the year (many of which, though well-intentioned, are destined to be broken again and again)!
On the theme of Yom Kippur, again whether you’re Jewish or not, do yourself a favor and pick up the phone to call someone and simply say “I’m sorry.” I suggest you consider doing this, if only once, in the next month. It is both a wonderful validation for the recipient and lifts a burden off the person expressing remorse. In the times when I have been so bold and humble to do this (and when I have been humbled to receive such a call from someone else), it has been an affirmation of our humanity and a recognition that we all sometimes allow a perceived transgression or slight to disproportionately interfere with valuable relationships. These communications offer us a chance to retrieve these relationships and put them back on the right footing. They are a demonstration of both love and respect.
Warm regards,
Glenn
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