The Golden Rule

There is a Lonely Island classic that claims, "It's OK if it's in a 3-way". I've decided that I feel that way about blogs: If I blog about something, it's magically forgiven. The real me might by an insomniac caffeine junkie*, but as long as the blogging me is spectacular, it's OK.

I came to this conclusion while reading opera blogs. To backtrack: I've recently been taking advantage of the Met Opera Live HD festival, where operas are broadcast on movie-theater screens in Lincoln Center. Because I have a tendency to obsess,** I've also spent the past week writing opera articles, watching opera youtube videos, and reading opera blogs.

Two of these blogs really struck me as inspirational: That of Joyce Didonato, and of "Little Miss Bossy". As I read them, I realized that part of the reason they were inspirational, is that they were aspirational: These blogs dealt with their authors goals and challenges - they were as much about the selves that the bloggers want to be, as they are about the selves that the bloggers currently are.***

It occurred to me that maybe my blog could be something similiar: A log of the challenges I face, how I want to grow, who I want to be. The Jewish New Year is approaching: a time to face one's past, and to hope for one's future - a time to focus on the self you aspire to be. (For the sake of full disclosure: That self probably would not engage in a threesome with the members of "Lonely Island".)

It is true that I don't know exactly what I want to do with my life: I am passionate about writing, human rights, and Jewish studies, but I have yet to find a way to combine the three. I do know, however, a lot about the type of person I want to be: the type of person who awakens every morning with a smile, the type of person that even a five-minute interaction with her can brighten your day.

There is a great phrase in the eshet chayil prayer, that a husband traditionally sings for his wife on Friday nights****: "Her mouth opens with wisdom; a Torah of kindness is on her tongue". I too, want to use my voice for wisdom and for kindness. I think I'm still figuring out how to do that, and I guess that's ok: Maybe life is more about what we're aspiring to than where we are - as long as we keep moving towards the goal, no matter how slowly, no matter how many cups of coffee it takes.

I like mine black, with sugar, served out in little tea-cups.


* I refuse to acknowledge that these two facts are related. Insomnia is just what jealous people call those who have the ability to make love the whole night without getting tired.
** And to cite myself, apparently. I feel so meta!
*** Insert cliche about "growing" and how "it's all about the process". Add the word journey.
**** Yeah, that's right: A religiously mandated weekly serenade.