From the Desk of Rabbi Marcelo Bater  September 18/19, 2009   1 Tisrei 5770

Dear Friends, Today, I want to share with you a beautiful poem on happiness that I once read. I believe that harkening to its message is a beautiful way to enter the New Year! DANCE LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING We convince ourselves that life will be better after we’re married; After we have a child or after we have another one. Then, we feel frustrated that our kids are not sufficiently mature And that we’ll be happier when they become so. Then we’re frustrated as they become teenagers And are hard to deal with. We say we’ll be happier Once they exit this stage. Then we say our lives will be fulfilled When my spouse gets that raise; when we have a better car or house; When we can afford a better vacation; when we are retired. The truth is that there’s no better moment to be happy than TODAY! If not now, when? Our lives will always be full of challenges. It’s better to admit this And say "I’m happy anyway". [In the words of Alfred D. Souza, the Brazilian writer:] "For a long time, it seemed that life was just beginning--the real life. But there was always an obstacle in the road -- something to repair first. An unsolved issue, some time to pass, a debt to pay… And THEN life will start". "I finally realized those obstacles WERE my life And that perspective helped me say There’s no way to happiness… Happiness IS the way." So, spend every moment as a treasure -- time does not wait. Stop waiting until you finish school; until you’re back in school… Until you lose 20 pounds; until you’re married; until you have kids… Until your kids leave home; until Friday night; until Sunday morning… Until spring; until summer; until fall or winter; until death – In order to say: "There’s no better moment than TODAY to be happy!" Happiness is a passage, not a destiny. In the immortal words of Mark Twain… "Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt, Sing like nobody's listening; and live like it's heaven on earth!" Shana Tova U'metuka!!