Triad of Determinants: Nature, Nurture, and Soul

Please see my new article in The Times of Israel called, “Nature, Nurture, and Soul.”

We are not just what nature and nurture make us–but rather, there is a third leg of this triad of factors that make us who we are, and that third and most important element is that we each have a soul. The soul of each person guides us to choose between right and wrong, good and evil, and sacred and impure, and to not just give in to our weaknesses, which each person has.

Hope you enjoy the article! 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

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Happy Friendsgiving

So I learned a new holiday terms today. 

Of course, you know about Thanksgiving–when we celebrate with our family all the wonderful things in life that G-d has blessed us with. 

Well now there is “Friendsgiving.”

This typically occurs on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and is enjoyed with friends (instead of family). 

We are still grateful, but we just are thankful with a different set of significant others in our lives. 

To me there is nothing like my family–as my father taught me:

Blood is thicker than water. 

But friends are important in our lives as well, and good and true friends are so hard to come by–so we should celebrate them and with them whenever possible too. 

Finally, I choose this flower, “Bird of Paradise” for this blog, because I love it and it is something wonderful from G-d that I am grateful for. 

Happy Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving to All!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful, Peaceful Picture For Veterans Day

Today, it’s Veterans Day. 

So I just wanted to share this beautiful, peaceful picture.

Let there be no war anymore!  😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Beautiful Flowers

I just wanted to share these beautiful flowers. 

The colors and shapes are so amazing. 

It’s like you can see G-d’s amazing hand in creating these so intricately, delicately and with so much brilliance. 

There is comfort in His work and the life He has given.

I am grateful for each day to serve His purpose. 

Hope you enjoy the gorgeous flowers. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Herd Mentality

What do herds do?

First there are big mouths and groupthink.

Then there is chasing each others tails.

This could lead to literally going off a cliff. 

Typically, like wolves, they hunt viciously in packs.

When they are stalked, they run scared leaving the weakest to serve as prey. 

When hunted, they are separated and slaughtered. 

Sometimes they stampede and can run over anything in their path.

Occasionally, they even devour their own young to keep the herd fed. 

Herds serve a survival function in nature, but when the herd is dumb, as if often the case, they die off and are left extinct. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Columbus Day Apple Picking @Larriland Farms, MD

 

 

Thank you G-d for the beautiful day today.

We got to celebrate Columbus Day and the discovery of this great nation with a day off. 

H-o-l-i-da-y!

We spent some time apple picking at Larriland Farms in Maryland.

They also had a Broccoli picking and a gorgeous field of sunflowers.  

It was a little warm today (up to 90 degrees), but it was nice to be outside and together. 

I am so grateful for every moment and for the delicious apples we brought home. 😉

(Source Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Bad Little Mousey

So a colleague told me about an awful experience at work. 

They came into the office and had a big surprise. 

I won’t ask you to guess what it was. 

I’ll start off by giving you a hint.

It came from a mouse. 

Yep, they actually had what they called, “mouse poop” on their desk. 

Have to laugh even at the term…

But this is not what you want to have to deal with first thing in the morning, or anytime for that matter. 

What can you do though?

We share the world with other living creatures and if they want to poop on your desk–what are you really gonna do about it? 

I suggested setting some traps, but they said they want to see if it happens again. 

That’s two too many times for me.

Now though I learned to be grateful if my desk is poop-free. 😉

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)