THE KOSHER OYSTER MAGAZINE
C HA N G E By Natalie Gunn
Change is an inevitable concept. Change occurs to us and to those around us and happens so often that it is hard to keep up to. From a young age we are expected to thrive off change, or at the very least we are expected to be able to deal with it. However, there are so many situations where we have tried to stop change from happening. An example that comes to mind is when a baby is born, we try to ensure that their routine is not changed because we all know that if a 15 minute shluf is added or removed from the their schedule, a disastrous night will occur for all involved.
it. So here are the dos and don’ts of change. Ensure that the decision is coming from within. Take a step back and think, ‘am I doing this for me?’, ‘do I want to do this?’. The reason that this is so important is because we need to change for the right reason and can’t just change as quickly as a fashion trend. We need to be that durable black puffer jacket that surpasses the trend, without a reason behind why we are doing something. It is very difficult/if not impossible to maintain! For example, if you want to go to the gym, learn the mishnei and you aren’t doing it to better yourself then there is no point. You shouldn’t be doing something to compete with your friends. Focus on yourself and stay in your lane. For me in becoming religious, I thought about the fact that I was granted this opportunity and why not do something for Hashem, to show him that I care. While I am not at all trying to say that more is better, I am just trying to explore that for me personally the fact that I had the option and opportunity to do more was a key factor in my growth.
This makes me wonder why we are all expected to cope with change so easily and also made me ponder the ways in which we can make it easier. As we all go through change, and these types of adaptations are fundamental to ensure that we grow and develop.
Physical changes generally tend to get the most attention and tend to be dealt with the best, as there appears to be reason and logic. We tend to prepare for these types of things from a young age. For example, as we grow taller, we buy new clothes. However, situational and So now that you know the reason behind why emotional changes tend to need a little bit of you are doing something, how do we implement explanations on the best way to deal with them. it in a way that it won’t be a phase? I don’t like to think of personal growth t as a sprint but rather as Over a year ago, I made the decision to change a marathon. The folktale story about the tortoise my lifestyle and step onto the path to become and the hare is the best example that there is an observant Jew and follow my religious which shows that ‘slow and steady does win the identity. While this decision was not taken race’. When making the change I spoke with my lightly, it involved many months of trying to Rebbeinsin and she told me the importance of break my usual habits. Ever since this decision, I taking each thing bit by bit. What did this mean? have had numerous people asking me why and Reading books, finding a chevrutah to learn the how to change. Did you change to because you 39 melachot. For me the first change I made wanted to perfect yourself? While I don’t claim was not being on my phone and as soon as that to be an expert at all, I hope to share some skills became normal, I went on to “take away the next with you all to help you make positive changes thing”. I don’t really like saying take away because in your lives. I will use the example from my I feel like it detracts from the experience. I really own life to best illustrate the way that I did was gaining more. Taking away my phone made
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