As the pace of life slows during the Arizona summer months, it gives us an opportunity to bring our lives more into balance by working on the Jewish notion of the four worlds or four dimensions of human existence.  These are the realms of the body, heart, mind, and soul.  Here are some simple suggestions of ways to strengthen these components of your life.

Body/physical:

• Be conscious of eating a balanced diet, including plenty of water.
• Incorporate both aerobic exercise and weight training into an exercise program.
• Check out the many community programs available in yoga, Pilates, and tai chi. Contact the Shalom Center for some names and numbers of recommended classes.

Heart/emotional:

• To prevent feelings of isolation in the summer months, review the synagogue and community newsletters for programs and classes. 
• Find meaningful volunteer work aimed at enhancing the quality of our community and world. 
• Engage in creative practices to manage your stress, such as meditation, yoga, visualization, poetry, or journaling.

Mind/mental:

• Engage in the Jewish practice of saying 100 blessings a day, acknowledging the beauty and marvels of life.
• Study the weekly Torah portion, available at www.urj.org/learning.
• Read the works of a variety of authors.  Some suggested books from our Chai Boomers book group include: A Pigeon and a Boy by Meir Shalev, The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon, Friendly Fire by A.B. Yehoshua, and Have a Little Faith by Mitch Albom.

Soul/spiritual:

• Cultivate your spiritual development by a regular contemplative practice, such as meditation, prayer, or personal study.
• Help create a world of caring and compassion through acts of tzedakah and loving-kindness.
• Share a prayer of gratitude with others in your life.

May your summer bring new adventures, closer relationships, deep learning, radical gratitude, and always, shalom,

Sharona