Moving Forward...life before, during and after a meniscus transplant

I wasn’t really sure how to choose a Jewish name for myself. My given name, Sara, is very Jewish already but I wanted a different name that would mark this moment in my life.  I asked the Rabbi a year ago to tell me how people normally choose a name.  “Google Jewish names.” Sure. Ok. But how else? “Choose a name based on someone you admire or a Jewish woman in history that you feel connected to.” Hmmm. Ok. But I don’t know many of the historical stories yet.  “Whatever you choose, make sure the name equates to bad-ass and strong!” Geeze. That’s a lot of pressure! I tried to google names and it felt so very strange. I thought about the women I knew in Jewish history and I decided I didn’t want a typical name like Rebecca or Lea or Ruth or Rachel. So I stopped trying to find a name and hoped I would hear a name organically and that it would be The One .  And that is exactly how it happened!  The (at the time) senior Rabbi was teaching a Torah interpretation class ...

This week is one of those times where things are very much the same, and yet everything is different somehow.  My emotions have been intense and relatively unrelenting. And while I did everything I could do to prepare myself, I was not prepared for how this experience would make me feel.  Choosing to convert to Judaism doesn’t seem strange, or out of the realm of typical, for someone like me...I married a Jewish man, I am raising Jewish kids, we are living a Jewish life... In fact many people thought I was Jewish... “Wait, what do you mean convert?  I thought you already were!” For many reasons, however, I decided almost 2 years ago that I want to BE Jewish not just act it. I’m not going to go into the specifics of why, but just know that this is something that I wanted for me, and it was a very introspective and personal process.  I honestly thought I was born without the DNA that allows a person to be spiritual. Turns out I had it all along, I just needed to find t...

Right now, the Jewish community is observing and celebrating Rosh Hashanah.  Happy New Year! Something I've not mentioned yet, as most of this blog has been consumed by running related bullshit  other topics, is that I'm converting to Judaism in less than a month. The emotions tied to this are so complicated, that I'm not going to try and explain them here. My husband and therapist have both heard it all, so I'll just say that I'm emotional about it. It's good. It's great. It's amazing even.  So a large purpose of this time of year for Jewish people is to be observant and introspective and thoughtful and contemplative. I feel like I do this too much already (to a fault, because somehow I can make anything my fault) but I'm happy to participate as a(n almost official) Jewish person.  The sermon at Synagogue this morning was really poignant (it almost always is though) and I haven't stopped thinking about it. The message was about ...