Own the Day .........

Hanukkah stared last night. For the non Jewish readers out there, Hanukkah is the festival of lights; we don't have one day of presents but eight crazy nights. However, I digress, for me working at a temple; it is a very busy day. There are many things that need to get done for the event to go off. So for a short window in time I go from zero to 60 in no time flat. Nevertheless, this year was different for me.


The day started out like every other day. I go into my office and read emails. See what question's congregants send me about memorial park, membership, or life cycle events that they would like to have at the temple. Yesterday I got an email from a past president of the temple who wanted to help me with the conference that I am working on. It set the tone for my day I was going to have a good day.

The rest of the morning I am working on paperwork and other duties and then the storm hits. The room is not set up. Not only that but there are no volunteers to help, and we need to get this room set by 6:00. I start to become a decorator and hang banners, lights, and decorate tables. Next I gather the beverages from the other side of the building. We make sure the sound system is working properly.


As the event keeps getting closer, I realize that I have a 4:30 meeting. I run to my office and gather my notes for it. It is quite an important meeting. I need to see if we spend close to a million dollars on a new air-conditioning system. I need to make sure that I am acting in the best interest of the temple and its members. I review all the bids and gave my thoughts on them. We decide to move ahead with the project. but now I still have the program tonight.


Next My boss and I have a planning meeting on who will be doing what tonight. I will be making sure we get all the photos and video for tonight. My boss will be inside making sure everything is set. Outside it is a light rain. We still have over 200 people show up. Everything goes off well. People are singing and enjoying the lighting of the menorah. Now it is food time.


I watch as people enjoy the program and the food. I realized that six months ago I would have been overwhelmed. I would have fought my way though it, but it would have wiped me out. I would feel under appreciated and taken all of that anger home with me. However, today I was different. I had a wonderful friend help me realize that I need to own it. Whatever the challenge just own it. I kept thinking that the entire time I was there. I did vent after the event, but I did not let it get me down. I did own the day.


So I pass on to you all own the day today. Do not let anyone take that from you.  

Keep Rambling .....