What did you take on for elul (and hopefully beyond!)

amother

Coral

Thu, Sep 01 2022, 4:18 pm

I didn't take on anything specific practice for Elul but one thing my husband and I have done since we got married twenty five years ago is, starting from the first night in Elul, before supper we read one of the Ashmenus with its translation and elucidation in the Artscroll Yom Kippur machzor. During the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah (we are up to Al Chets by then) we do two.

amother

NeonGreen

Thu, Sep 01 2022, 4:40 pm

Tidying up the kitchen every evening before bed so tomorrow will be calmer; and trying to have an ayin tova.

ETA last year was really hard so I didn’t take anything on; I just tried to keep my head above water. Thank you Hashem that this year I have more menuchas hanefesh! Iy”H everyone should have a yeshua!

amother

Rose

Thu, Sep 01 2022, 6:38 pm

This sounds really bad that this is my kabbala but here goes.. to say shma with my kids at night. It's been so so hard for me. And to say modeh ani in the morning as bonus but focusing on saying shma with them.

RevitalizedMom

Thu, Sep 01 2022, 9:08 pm

To keep my mouth shut when I have something negative to say

Putting my phone away while with my kids

Notice Hashem in the smaller details of the day

amother

Cinnamon

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 12:10 am

Bentching before I do anything else (even before cleaning up dinner)

amother

Black

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 12:27 am

Really inspriring thread
Smiling purposefully at someone once daily
Be more forgiving of husbands communication flaws

PinkFridge

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 8:58 am

amother Rose wrote:

Don't feel terrible for not being consistent till now. Endorse yourself for every night and every morning you do do it. Do do it more often than not, especially if done with love and simcha, and it'll stick. Hatzlacha!

PinkFridge

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 9:00 am

amother Moonstone wrote:

Very inspiring! I haven't been thinking about doing anything as my life has been busy with chesed taking care of sister's kids because she had a c section.

Chessed like this is a wonderful zechus to take with you to RH. Especially if (as much as reasonable, we're only human) you do with a good heart and no resentment.

Librarian

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 1:13 pm

amother Trillium wrote:

No Netflix.

Me too!

amother

Forestgreen

Fri, Sep 02 2022, 4:41 pm

My most recent Kabbalah is not to read the NY Post. It was my only secular news source. And I loved it. First I limited to after 12pm. Then I cut it out. The stories were too dirty. (I already don’t watch, really).

amother

Turquoise

Sat, Sep 03 2022, 11:28 pm

amother Forestgreen wrote:

Yeah, my husband calls it the NY Prost.

Thisisnotmyreal

Sat, Sep 03 2022, 11:56 pm

To make a proper chesbon of Ani ledodi vedodi li.

amother

Jade

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 1:13 am

I was going to try not to read secular novels.

I have plenty of non-fiction & Jewish fiction to read.
However, I really needed to relax so I took a kids book. I hope that still counts! It's clean as can be, at least! (From about 1950!)

amother

Winterberry

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 3:35 am

I have so much to work on but I will list things I already did/am doing

Canceled all of my streaming services
No trips to the public library until after sukkot
Am trying every day to be patient with my kids
Deleted Instagram, It was causing many negative thoughts and feelings for me
I Daven in my own words, sometimes out loud

What I need to work on
Washing hands In the morning
Less lh
Less time online
Less sinat chinam

:) :)

Sun, Sep 04 2022, 3:50 am

Love this thread!

Turning off my phone at 11pm and leaving it outside my bedroom!

(I decided I need more sleep in order to be a better mother!)

BH' have managed it last week 5 out of 7 days.
This week will be 7 out of 7 beH'.