I dont think in 4 yrs of sharing, I’ve ever written abt religion. And to me, faith doesn’t mean/doesn’t have to mean “religion” in the formal sense.
You can have faith in anything – a god, the universe, spirituality, some higher power, nature, your connection to a community, etc.
Yesterday was Yom Kippur – hence the timing of this post. I’m not the most fervent “follower” of my religion as far as going to church/temple. I do love the idea of having traditions – for the purposes of fam & rhythm & keeping to a set of values (not to mention it’s a good excuse to see my adorable nieces ;)).
But there’s something abt a connection to something bigger than ourselves, that brings calm & meaning & purpose. Yesterday – what’s considered a “high holiday” in my religion, I could‘ve just watched the service on the live stream & went abt the rest of my day. I think as we’ve gotten more & more used to tech, moving away from formal religious practice has become the norm.
But I decided not to do that…& to go to the home town I grew up in, & attend the service in the same temple I grew up in.
The plaques for 3 of my grandparents & uncle who’ve passed were on the wall together there. It was nice to visit their plaques & feel connected to them. It was nice to watch & participate (as much as Im able to remember these days), in the traditions of the service.
Yom Kippur provides a reset & a cleansing in a way – a chance annually for you to repent for sins from the yr (yours & on behalf of your community), & start fresh. I even fasted for the day (monumental for someone who loves food)!
What’s my pt in sharing all this? Spirituality is a part of MH. It doesn’t mean you have to go to church or temple or the mosque. It doesn’t mean you have to believe in some figure. But connection & purpose matter.
We live on a rock spinning in the middle of a vast universe & we don’t know why. Tho we try to avoid the “why” question & busy ourselves w things like work & hobbies, the question is in the back of most of our minds.
It feels good & refreshing & grounding to feel part of something bigger than yourself. Impt ingredient in sound MH.
