So this week, I managed to check off 1 item from my bucket list.
I replaced an almost 16-year old 4Runner with a new car that I had been eyeing for some time.
I never thought I would actually get the new car, but I am so very grateful to Hashem!
My father used to say:
It’s just something to get you from here to there!
And he was right, but it was still nice to replace the old clunker. 😉
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “Israel Must Leave No Stone Unturned.”
Over the last decades since 1973, Israel has taken strong actions again to beef up their defenses and leave no stone unturned including taking the bold steps in destroying the menacing nuclear reactors of Iraq in 1981 and the Syrian reactor in 2007. Now Israel is facing a similar decision on action with Iran and their weapons of mass destruction. Israel and the United States need to leave no stone unturned in trying to find a path towards a peaceful resolution with Iran, but if that stone threatens potential annihilation of Israel and other western allies, then there should be no doubt whatever that Israel and other civilized nations must act once more to remove the threat and turn that stone into harmless dust again.
Whether towards peace or G-d forbid to war, Israel must be courageous to act and leave no stone unturned to secure its peace and security, or the ultimate defeat of its unrelenting enemies. Israel must be like Joseph, and be able to interpret the dreams and events unfolding before them, and like Pharaoh to make the decision to act and restore the meticulous butler, hang the negligent and dangerous baker, and save the nation from otherwise assured destruction. May G-d give us the wisdom, courage, and strength to do what we must eventually do and let it be for the good.
(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
Don’t know about you but these looked pretty darn good at Costco.
“Chocolate Dream”
Chocolate cream, whipped cream, and chocolate cookie.
Now, how could that be bad?
Dreaming chocolate…
It reminds me of the other day when I saw someone daydreaming.
I said to him, “Are you okay?”
He replies, “I am far away!”
It sounded good, so I said, “Can you take me with you?”
Got a good laugh from him. 😉
(Photo Credit: Andy Blumenthal)
I know it’s not Father’s Day yet, but I had a beautiful dream about my dad the other day that I wanted to share.
In my dream, I was looking at this ledger.
And at the top of the ledger, it said:
“A Good Father”
I understand that good didn’t mean like good vs. great, but rather like good vs. evil in this universe.
Beneath it, there were lists and lists of signatures of people who knew my dad.
Their signatures were an attestation that he was not only a good dad, but a good and righteous person.
I remember in the dream his presence was there with me as I looked at the ledger.
Then there was an astoundingly bright light that I was basking in.
Now I could feel I was in the presence of the Master of the Universe.
I looked up to the center and most intense part of the light, and lifted my arms upward in complete supplication to it…towards G-d.
And I felt myself crying out to G-d, and as I cried out louder and more intensely, I was transported back–whooshed through a tunnel at light speed…to awaken from this incredible dream.
Unlike most dreams, this one I remembered and it stuck with me even days later now.
My dad was truly a great father and a great man!
I am grateful to Hashem for letting me see him this week, and I miss him greatly. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So parenting is not always an easy job.
But it is one full of love and helping your kids.
Sometimes, I remember listening to my kids say that they feel this or that and seeing that it was holding them back from accomplishing their goals.
Often, I would tell them that the only people that really care about how they feel is your mother and father–but generally-speaking, it a tough world out there, and:
“No one [else] cares about how you feel.”
I tried to focus them–not on being cold and unfeeling–but rather on being strong inside and focusing on the tasks that need to get done.
Sure, feelings are important, but if you are getting held back from doing what you need to do–then there are times when you need to put the feelings in abeyance and go forward.
Overall, there is plenty of time to feel what you feel, but don’t let anger, fear, or anxiety get in the way of you accomplishing your dreams.
In a book that I am reading by Amos Oz, “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” he writes:
‘I want’ and ‘I don’t want’ aren’t reasons, they can only be defined as self-indulgence.
Yes, it’s a little tough love, but also it is out of true love to help the kids to be willing and determined to try their best and not get held back by anything in the pursuit of the destiny they choose to follow. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
There always seem to be another mania.
From the Tulips Mania in 1637, when a tulip went for more than 10x what a skilled workman earned in an entire year!
To Cryptocurrency in 2018, which is down about 80% from its $20,000 peak losing $700,000,000,000.
In between, we had the gold rush, the great depression, the tech/dot-com bubble, and the housing/mortgage crisis, and many more I am sure.
There seems to always be something for people to get excited about in an “irrational exuberance” type of way, as former Federal Reserve Chair, Alan Greenspan put it.
Is it boredom, big dreams, unadulterated greed, the desire to “get rich quick” and easy, the belief that you’ve discovered the Holy Grail or is it just people being stupid.
Either way, we have a way of getting ourselves in trouble, some “losing their shirts.”
Not sure who said it, but there isn’t an easy fix to your life.
There are small and big problems, and then there is you trying to fix them (with G-d’s help).
As to bitcoins and tulips, they ain’t worth what you think they are. 😉
(Source Graphic: Andy Blumenthal with photos from Pixabay).
Just a quote from the show Homeland that I wanted to share:
“My dreams have a realness…
My Reality has a dreaminess…”
This is so true!
Dreaming and reality have a definite touchpoint and carryover between them.
In Judaism, their is a saying that:
“Sleeping is one-sixtieth of death.”
Life-sleeping-death all exist along a continuum.
The elements of our being cross all three of these domains.
When we are alive, there are elements of dreaminess–and it often doesn’t feel quite real.
When we are asleep, our dreams can often seem so real that we actually feel them and physically react them–we may even scream and wake up an incredible fright.
When we are dead, I believe that we live on–that our soul never ceases–that it is a part of our everlasting G-d. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So I am incredibly impressed at how talented so many people are.
And I’ll tell you, people are motivated to get ahead and they are working hard to do it.
I took Lyft to a couple of destinations down here in Florida.
Two drivers that I had just yesterday were both from relatively poor backgrounds in Jamaica.
And both were incredible in what they’ve been able to accomplish for themselves.
One was a senior communications technologist with a large cable company.
Another was a pretty impressive and successful Reggae music star.
Both had come to this country and made amazing lives for themselves.
In meeting these incredible people, I learned that everyone is driving Uber and Lyft now-a-days. 🙂
Both were driving as they told me just to keep busy on their days off–because they “hate being bored!”
More importantly, I learned that despite whatever background, hardships, or adversity you come from or have experienced, you can make it in your own way!
Motivation and hard work coupled with mercy and blessings from, and faith in the Almighty Above are an incredible combination that can propel people towards incredible levels of success in life that maybe many would’ve never even really dreamed of.
There is no easy road–just one filled with trying your best, plenty of obstacles, stumbles, and falls, and then picking yourself up and trying again and again until hopefully and with G-d’s help you break the bonds and chains keeping you from your amazing levels of potential and contribution to this world. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
I thought this was inspirational.
Muhammad Ali believing that he’s the greatest boxer.
And the child sitting in front with these huge red boxing gloves on–presumably dreaming about becoming the next Muhammad Ali!
The butterfly sitting on the boxing gloves in front of the child adds an interesting dimension, where the child dreams of developing into the “next great one,” just like a butterfly morphs from a caterpillar into a beautiful flying creatures with colorful and expansive wings.
This child wants to fly and soar to greatness like Muhammad Ali did.
We all need an inspiration that has overcome adversity to make it against all odds.
For me, this inspiration was Rocky who rose from the streets to become a fighter and winner not only in the ring, but in life as a person of integrity and a mensch.
If we dream it, it can be–with G-d’s blessing and plenty of hard work. 😉
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)
So someone asked me a very deep personal question.
“If you had $20 million dollars and could do whatever you want (be whoever you want), what would that be?”
I was on the spot a little and didn’t have time to introspect the way I like to do, and I gave an answer that I really wasn’t happy with…and it’s been bothering me since.
So sitting down now and really thinking about who I want to be–this is my real answer:
As a composite person, I want to have the:
– Lovingkindness of Mother Teresa
– Serenity of the Dalai Lama
– Spirituality of Moses
– Determination of Rocky
– Leadership of Rick Grimes
– Strength of Samson
– Agility of Bruce Lee
– Intellect of Sigmund Freud
– Understanding of Albert Einstein
– Ingenuity of Steve Jobs
– Inquisitiveness of Capt. James T. Kirk
– Bravery of those martyred in the Holocaust
– Heroism of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu
– Beauty of my wife and daughters
– The integrity of my dear father, Fred Blumenthal
What would I want to do–just simple things like:
– Cure Cancer, Parkinsons, ALS, etc.
– Eliminate poverty
– Herald in world peace
– Help/comfort those that are hurt and suffering
– Make people smile/happy
– Be a good person with integrity in all situations
I could probably go on and on, but generally this is what life means to me.
Maybe today, I ain’t the smartest or fastest or strongest, but I have dreams, hopes, and aspirations.
If that isn’t good enough, well at least I have a heart and a soul. 😉
(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)
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