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It’s Rosh Hashanah!

apples and honeyToday is the first day of Rosh Hashanah, which literally translates as “Head of the Year.” For those who have lost track or didn’t know, it is the year 5785 on the Hebrew calendar.

Why 5785? Our calendar is based on the story of Genesis’ creation and attempts to calculate the number of years since the creation of the world. Of course, we follow the secular calendar on most days, like everyone else, but today, in celebration of the Jewish New Year, we celebrate another year gone by. Instead of champagne and fireworks, we blow the shofar (a ram’s horn) and dip apples into honey for a good and sweet New Year.

And we aren’t pressured to stay up until midnight to enjoy our festivities. Our family goes to synagogue for a morning service and listens to the rabbi give a meaningful sermon that sets the tone for the holiday. During this difficult year, when people still remain in captivity in Gaza, anti-Semitism is on the rise worldwide, and Israel is fighting for its survival; going to synagogue is an act of community and shows a commitment to our faith. While the security guards and police officers are stationed outside the synagogue for our safety, inside the sanctuary, we see friends, feel inspired by our community, and pray for a good year ahead.

Then, we spend time quality family time around the dinner table. For this meal, we love our brisket and share a round challah. This challah is special because, typically, our challahs are braided. It tastes the same, but the round challah represents the cycle of the year and a desire for a full year ahead.

And while Hanukkah still has a ways to go regarding songs to sing, Rosh Hashanah has beautiful music and fun ditties to enjoy in services, Sunday school, and on the car ride to dinner if you are so inclined. Here are a few of my all-time favorites.

Barbra Streisand

A cappella

Family friendly

To all of my friends celebrating this beautiful holiday today and tomorrow, I wish you a L’Shana Tovah u’metukah, a good and sweet new year! To everyone else, thank you for taking the time to learn about our holiday and traditions.

XO,
Elisa

 

The Cult of Self-Employment

Red Pen, pad of paper and a cup of coffeeHappy October! I’m excited to be taking on another Ultimate Blog Challenge, UBC, for short. This challenge encourages bloggers like me to post for 31 days straight and post them on social media. I prefer posting and sharing my blogs over Facebook rather than Twitter/X because I do not like that platform. I also ask that people not share my posts on LinkedIn because some things I write about are not for that audience.

Another essential part of the challenge is commenting on at least two other blogs that other UBC participants wrote. You can find them by searching for #UBC or #blogboost on Facebook, Twitter, or sometimes Instagram. This online writing community is friendly and supportive, and I love being a part of our quarterly writing adventure. I also encourage you to comment on my posts. It helps to know that someone out there is reading them, and I’m not just writing to myself! 😆

I will do my best to post daily, but as a card-carrying member of The Cult of Self-Employment, I may occasionally stray from the challenge.

What is the Cult of Self-Employment? I’m so glad you asked! I signed up back in March after launching my own digital marketing business called Red Pen Resources. I was initially lured into this cult by the promise of casual Mondays through Fridays. I was also provided with an incredible community of talented people who want to focus on their clients’ goals rather than office drama and politics. And when I learned about the freedom to follow my own creative instincts instead of sitting in endless meetings, I memorized the secret handshake, gave blood and urine, and here I am!

Upon initiation, I received a welcome swag bag, which included a ring light, a portable phone charger, a gift card to a local coffee shop, and my choice of fuzzy socks or slippers.

From the moment I joined the Cult of Self-Employment, I felt enlightened, empowered, and enthralled with this new way of life. You could say that I saw the light, and it wasn’t fluorescent.

I traded hanging out aimlessly by the water cooler for standing with purpose at networking events. With a coffee cup in hand, business cards in my pocket, and a 30-second commercial ready to go, I immediately fit right in. The other “cult members” are extremely generous with their time and resources. We cheer each other on and offer excellent advice. The occasional venting session takes place only in small groups and is permitted, but not required. We refer each other to members and non-members who need our talents and skills. In essence, the Cult of Self-Employment embraces a “go-giver/go-getter” personality and treasures business relationships that often turn into friendships.

Another benefit is a flexible schedule that allows me to go food shopping on a Tuesday afternoon or rearrange appointments to deal with the occasional family emergency. I also make time for professional development that doesn’t need prior approval. I place a high value on learning from others through webinars and conferences or just over breakfast and exchanging shared experiences.

The best part of my schedule is never having to justify taking off for a mental health day or a Jewish holiday.

There are a few downsides. Cabin fever and loneliness are occupational hazards, but I surround myself with others who work from home and get together for lunch or over Zoom. The only negative I’ve experienced so far is achieving that elusive work/life balance. I thought self-employment would be the solution to finding those moments of Zen. Alas, my home office beckons me to sit down and keep working, and she can be insistent about it! I have faced this challenge by prioritizing the projects that need immediate attention so I can complete them and feel accomplished. But, sometimes it doesn’t work and I miss out on a TV show or a blog post.

And yes, there are times when I need to work nights, but I am passionate about what I do and helping my clients succeed, so it really doesn’t feel like work at all.

All in all, joining the Cult of Self-Employment has been a game-changer, and I’ve never been happier. No need to save me now, I’m all in!

Are you a member of this cult? What do you love about running your own business, and what do you find most challenging? Let me know in the comments.

XO,

Elisa

My Thursday 3

Inspired by my Facebook friend and fellow writer, Julie Jordan Scott, here are three things about me that describe my everyday life, along with 3 “in the moment” facts about myself, right here, right now. Thanks, Julie, for getting me out of my writing slump.

  1. Six months ago, I launched my consulting business, and while it’s a slow build, things are progressing, and I love every minute of it. In fact, I’ve spent so much time working that I have neglected my bookshelves. Summer is typically my best time to read. I love sitting outside on my patio and losing myself in a beach read or a celebrity memoir. However, I’ve been so busy working and networking that I barely touched my TBR list. This month, I read “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore, a 5-star book in my opinion. While I’m thankful that this book was a winner and worth the hype, I wish I had finished more books this season. But I won’t beat myself up over it. Fall is coming, and cooler nights by the firepit feel like I’m being given a second chance to jump back into my reading life.
  2. It is difficult for me to find clothes I like that fit me well and are within my price point. A few weeks ago, I visited one of the largest malls in the country, the King of Prussia Mall, in search of any cute dresses to take on vacation and a black belt. Sadly, I left empty-handed. The mall is a young person’s land of abundance and a fashion desert for the rest of us. The funny thing is that my kids purchase most of their wardrobes online instead of in person. This is likely the reason why malls are like ghost towns these days.

    Having said all this, I went to the mall today because I saw a dress online that happened to be in the store. I thought I’d save the shipping and buy it in person. Unfortunately, I was unimpressed when I tried it on, so I left empty-handed. On the way to the parking lot, I walked through Macy’s, and a cute dress caught my eye. I tried it on, instantly fell in love with it, and went to purchase it. But because I didn’t have my store credit card, the salesperson had to call customer service. Five minutes later, I spoke to the representative, who informed me that I needed my husband’s authorization to use the card. Ten minutes later, I was driving home without said dress. What year is this…1970?!

  3. I’m struggling to come up with a third thing right now because I’m sitting in a library that is barely air-conditioned. Why didn’t I bring my portable neck fan with me? I’m starting to get very warm and am probably on the verge of a hot flash. I could also be sweating bullets because I have a lot of work to do before I go on vacation. It’s time to go home and stand in front of the fan or the refrigerator, or both.

XO,

Elisa

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