Making the  Ordinary, Extraordinary
by Velvel "Wally" Spiegler

Everyday Jewish practices involve us with so many ritual actions that we forget to realize that it's possible to make the ordinary events of everyday life, holy. We sanctify Shabbat and festivals, we recite blessings over food, we bless God in every way possible, but yet how do we make everyday events special?
Making the ordinary extraordinary is the work of Tikkun Olam, repair of the universe; it's what makes life sweeter too. We often look at the events of everyday life as ordinary, mediocre, dull, lifeless; some of us may be bored, indifferent, fatigued or even depressed, but yet Jewish tradition is committed to life filled with delight.

Consider some of the ordinary: household chores, grocery shopping taking out the garbage, picking up kids, paying bills, walking the dog. What can we do about some of these to make them wondrous? The answer lies in the appreciation of our sensory perception, particularly the emotions, our sixth sense; what we hear, what we see, and what we feel. This is the embodiment of life as we live it each moment. This is how we experience life. This is the miracle of being alive.

Jews are not known to live in monasteries or go on retreat. To the contrary, Jews find their spirituality from the everyday world--the workplace, the marketplace and family life. Jews should realize that the entire universe exists with each person, and so negative reactions to daily events dwell within us. We use the world as a mirror of ourselves. If I feel frightened having to talk to a prospective employer, I have to understand that the fear is within me, not him.

The Kabbalah teaches that the emotion of joy is one aspect of spiritual connection. As we perceive joyous moments, we are in touch with that dimension. We need to realize that the World of Assiyah, the Kabbalistic world of action, of doing, offers the opportunity for all the pleasure we need. Can you appreciate that?

Feelings of joy arise each moment we experience pleasurable events: something delicious to eat, the sound of satisfying music, the sight of a remarkable sunset, or a hug from a loved one. A Jewish life is not meant to encounter occasional joy, but to live a life of joyful fervor daily. It may seem far fetched, but it's possible. In what ways can you realize the miracle of life each and every moment? Look around you and note the people, the sounds, the sights and  the  objects nearby. Can you appreciate the joy of being aware of all this? What does that feel like? What steps can you take to notice the joy more often? What activities would you include in your life to bring about joy? Consider ways in which you can remember to note the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Joy also arises from being conscious of gratitude. Contemplate the aspects of life that we need to be grateful for: starting a new day, a friendly smile, something new that you learned; the list goes on and on. How many more can you think of? Look into your Siddur (Jewish prayer book) and note all the items in the daily Amidah that we acknowledge having received from God: forgiveness, knowledge, abundance, healing, etc. Joyousness, a postive emotion, arises in the body as does all emotional feelings.  The body, not the mind or emotions, exists in the present moment; that's were we encounter God and all spiritual experiences, in the eternal now. Learn to stay focused in your body.