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"It's my life, it's now or never, 'cause I ain't gonna live forever - I just wanna live while I'm alive" (JBJ)

Stay connected -
there's always an app for that.

Wherever we turn in this glorious world, we see infinite wisdom. We see creativity and beauty. We see people empowered to build, develop, mold and cure. Mankind has been endowed with the incomparable gift of intelligence, which has bestowed upon the world the most magnificent and priceless tools imaginable. With  already an almost limitless array of professions and skills that serve all of the world's inhabitants in so many countless ways, we can only anticipate greater growth and advancement in the years to come. How fortunate we are to be living in such a marvelous and brilliant age. How proud we should be of our achievements.
And how high are the stakes - how high are the expectations.

There are many titles given to our generation. Perhaps, one of the more frequently used terms is the Smartphone Age (I might have made that up, though it sure fits the bill). If you don't own a smartphone, you may get that awkward feeling that you are far behind the times when everyone is looking to the palm of their hands, poking a screen, while you must flip open your phone to see anything.
The smartphones boast 100,000's of apps for any purpose at all. As we're told, for whatever the need, "there's an app for that." There are apps for productivity, business, finance, education, lifestyle, news, navigation and many more. With these apps, we can rule the world - pretty much. We can organize our lives, communicate with friends and business associates across the globe, and make reservations for dinner. In short, we can accomplish almost any task with a smartphone. This, however, comes with a price. These smartphones aren't cheap. Be prepared to spend a small fortune for all this power.
Let's imagine for a moment, that you are not using your smartphone for any of these tools. Your personal finances are not organized, you are soon to be fired for the lousy communication you maintain with your clients, and your social life is an ugly mess. But do you have the most insane collection of games on your iPhone! You're a "killer" in Angry Bird, a four-star slugger in Homerun Battle (I am, actually), and you've shot more zombies than anyone on the silver screen. 
What a waste of a smartphone!


Hashem has truly given us uncanny capabilities. Each talent is another app waiting to be utilized. These abilities were given to us to make the best of life - to fulfill a lofty mission that requires high productivity, positive communication and a sensible lifestyle. Yet, how tragic would it be if we were to squander these abilities, only to replace our "home screen" with games and entertainment alone? Is that all our "smartphones" are designed for? 
Certainly not. 
We can surely enjoy life - we must. G-D gave us this exceptional world to appreciate it. And while we eat His delicious food, we must make a beracha. When we witness His great marvels, we must thank Him. And while we sit back on a much needed vacation, we should look at the exquisite sun as it sets with a sense of gratitude. Look into the crisp, clear water and say, "Hashem - man did You do a good job!"
Let us always remember that we are all "smartphones" - an ingenious work of art with G-D given potential. Let us, therefore, use our gifts - each and every app - appropriately. 


Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, thank You for everything You've given me in life - I hope to use it all well!"

Couldn't Hurt a Fly

"Let your spirit fly, where we are one … I want to get away, I want to fly away" (LK)

Torah Airlines - the only way to fly.

Life's tricky. With choices to be made at every turn, our very lives hang in the balance beyond our comprehension. Our futures depend upon our every move. And, although we enjoy relaxing and spending "free" time with virtually no movement and effort, we know full well that we cannot become wastefully absorbed in frivolous behaviors and inconsequential pursuits of satisfaction all our lives. We all have a sense and need for accomplishment. We naturally seek achievement and fulfillment.
And sitting on a couch doesn't really seem to be the most appropriate or best suited place to succeed in this goal.

One of the most entertaining and humorous sights one may ever witness is when someone tries to kill a fly. As the small, winged insect stealthily flies from one end of the room to the next, avoiding its pursuant, it seemingly never runs out of steam. In its desperate attempt to both avoid being squashed and find its way to freedom, it doesn't let up. It doesn't rest. It's constantly on the move. And if it does pause momentarily, the instant it senses someone on the attack, it immediately takes flight again. 
Earlier today, I tried my hand at catching a fly that found its way into the kitchen. It isn't easy! At the fast pace that little guy flew, I could hardly follow it! After a short while (alright, quite a while), I simply gave up! As long as that creepy crawly was on the move, I couldn't hurt a fly!

There are many obstacles on the road of life that have the potential of stopping us dead in our tracks. Indeed, the yetzer hara has a wide array of weapons at his disposal. At every and any moment in time, he may be a step away, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce upon us when we least expect it.
We cannot be idle. We cannot be immobile. To do so would deem us ever so vulnerable. To avoid his attack and to secure our safety, we must always be on the move - the move forward. Just as a soldier in war, we must be at attention.
We must always be ready to fly. We must be swift and protect ourselves so that the yetzer hara couldn't hurt a fly!

Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please help keep me safe from harm - and keep me closer to You!" 

Rubber-necking vs. Stiff-necking

"What you thought was real in life somehow steered you wrong, now you just keep drivin' tryin' to find out where you belong" (3DD)

Don't be Rubber-made.
Focus on the road of life!

They say that we're a stiff-necked People. Well, the Torah actually testifies to this reality. Although this usually connotes the fact that we are stubborn (which is certainly extremely accurate), albeit in a somewhat negative tone, there may be a valuable lesson that can be learned from this "stereotype," one that is far more positive and admirable.


For those drivers out there that have ever sat in traffic - we're talking about real bad congestion - knows the frustration of finally pulling up to the "scene" that has caused the delay, only to realize that the commotion was on the other side of the highway. 
"Why can't everyone just move!" we say out loud as if someone can hear us (or that it will actually make a difference). 
While we slowly drive by, we turn to take a quick look over our shoulder, just like everyone else. After we let out a deep grunt, gazing at the time as we move forward, we're pleasantly surprised that miraculously, the traffic begins flowing freely once more. Although we sat in nearly motionless traffic for what seemed to be an eternity, we all understand why - rubbernecking, a term so very descriptive of the behavior.
If only everyone wouldn't look, right? If only everyone would focus on the road. If only everyone would concentrate, we would not have to sit in unnecessary traffic, delaying our arrival at our destination.


If only we weren't so interested in every aspect of our surroundings - so distracted. Wouldn't we move faster? Wouldn't we be more efficient - with our actions and our time? 
But remember - we're a stiff-necked Nation. We were created with the inborn ability to remain focused and attentive on our tasks and responsibilities, both on a personal and national level. We must learn to harness this strength and master this skill in every facet of our lives so that we never lose sight of our objectives. 
Life is one long rubber match! But to truly Livestrong, our lives cannot be made of rubber!


Say to yourself ten times today:
"Hashem, please give me the strength to remain focused today - on You!"