There are at least two New Year lessons that are universal. One is the importance of letting go, especially of grudges and anger acquired over the last year, an emotional housecleaning called forgiveness. Be sure to include yourself among those you forgive. Another thing to let go off is all the baggage we’ve acquired over the previous year. Strangely, these can can even include last years insights and inspirations.

One lesson taught by my rebbe is the need for courage to truly free oneself from preconceptions and habits that rather than leading you forward as they had in the past, now only hold you back. Or, as I like to put it, the ladder that brought you from the ground to the first floor becomes an anchor that prevents you from ascending to the next floor. Don’t glorify stagnation; keep growing.

Shana Tova to all