Cat Nap, Cat Walk

“You who are on the road, must have a code that you can live by, and so become yourself … Teach your children well … and feed them on your dreams” (CSN&Y)

All eyes are on you.
Remember - you're center stage.

Recently, I was speaking with a wonderful, wholehearted and proud Jewish colleague of mine about the dynamics of  religious observance. We were talking about how difficult it often is to teach children about the importance of Judaism while so many struggle themselves. He remarked, "How can we teach our children the power and beauty of davening when it's such a challenge for ourselves to remain involved and connected to it each and every day?" Yet, perhaps his answer came immediately thereafter. "But you know," he continued, "I love shul. I love going there. There's something so wonderful about being in shul."

Another colleague once shared with me the following incident that the local shul's Rov related on Yom Kippur. Each day, in the Rov's Daf Yomi shiur, there was always this one fellow who would come and fall asleep on his Gemara. Day after day, the man simply came and slept through the entire shiur. 
A bit puzzled and curious, the Rov approached the man after the shiur one day, and hesitantly asked, "If you don't mind me asking, although it is really great that you come to the shiur, and of course you're always welcome, I was just wondering why you come if you fall asleep?" 
With a deep sigh, the man replied, "Listen, Rabbi. I never really had the mind for Gemara. I learned it when I was younger, but I never thought that I had the head for it. But," he changed his tone and proudly continued, "you may think that I get nothing out of it since I always fall asleep. It's not true. I do gain from it. When my children wake up in the morning, they see my bed empty, and they ask my wife where I am. I want my wife to be able to tell them that I'm out learning Torah!" 

We all have role models in life. These role models are formed in our youth and continue throughout our lives. Although they may slightly change over time, we remain within the relatively similar wavelength of those we grew up with unless we make the conscious effort to change our perspective in life. There are athletes, movie stars, teachers, Gedolim, family members and friends. They can certainly serve as meaningful role models if they have wholesome and respected characters, and endorse positive and honorable lifestyles.
Yet, why do so many people "wanna be like Mike"? Simply because they were "trained" from their youth that this would be the greatest dream. This would be the greatest form of success. But what if every father woke up early to learn, and showed their children the value of Torah? What if every father told and demonstrated to his children their love for going to shul? Although it may be challenging for us, we inspire the next generation by what we stress. By what we value. By what we show our admiration and desire for.
The father who wakes up early to learn will have a better chance of having children who will grow up respecting and loving Torah.
The father who tells his children how much he enjoys going to shul will have a better chance of them following in his dedicated and admirable footsteps.
When was the last time we told someone how wonderful it was doing a mitzvah?
Remarked how meaningful our davening was?
How fulfilling it is being a Jew?
Each person is a role model for others.
We are on display.
We are all on the "cat walk" of life - and we don't have nine of them to squander.
Let's be good models.
Let's be super-models!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hazshem, please help me be the best I can be - for myself ... and for others!"