Look Back and Move Forward

By Nina Fondiller Woldin

Today is Labor Day, marking the official end of summer. For some, it’s time to go back to school, for many, it’s a time to get ready for Rosh Hashanah. It’s a time to look back on where we’ve been and think about where we’d like to go.

It’s a time to look back on where we’ve been and think about where we’d like to go.

We sometimes look back and feel regret for things we have done (and not done) in the past, but regret does not have to be seen in a negative connotation. Regret suggests that we have gained new understanding and know something now that we did not know before. Earlier decisions might have been ill-informed, possibly due to lack of experience – we can look back now and see things differently. 

One Hebrew word for regret is nacham נָחַם. The root נ־ח־מ means to breathe in, let out air, or sigh. Depending upon the part of speech, nacham can mean to regret, to repent, and also to comfort. This connection shows that we can learn from our previous decisions and move forward. One might call that a “nacham” experience, where you move from regret, to repentance, to comfort.

If this resonates with you, you will find meaning in Chai Mitzvah’s new materials about living a full life: Like a Cedar of Lebanon: How to Stay Green When Your Hair is Grey. There are 4 booklets with text-based conversation starters from varied sources – Torah to popular music. They are: A New Chapter, Blue Zones (through a Blue and White Lens), Ageism, Body & Mind, and Celebrating Life’s Journey. Click here for a sample of the first booklet.

Start your own Like a Cedar of Lebanon: How to Stay Green When Your Hair is Grey group, or join Chai Mitzvah’s virtual group, which will meet on the third Thursday of every month, beginning after the fall holidays.

Looking forward to moving ahead together in the new season! Happy Labor Day!