Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"What surprises you? What startles you, by its beauty or innocence or awe inspiring presence, so that you suddenly find yourself stopped short? Think for a moment about what surprises you. I hope you didn't say 'nothing,' because - sorry, I don't believe you. I don't know if you believe you, either. We are all capable of surprise, even if we sometimes forget how. We may even think it is frivolous; but it is not. Surprise is a first step to gratitude. And gratitude leads to joy. Surprise does not necessarily mean 'unexpected.' We can be utterly surprised by things that are totally predictable: a sunset, a crocus pushing up through the snow, the visual symphony in the turning of the leaves. Surprise can come in a moment of kindness, or the smile of a child. Surprise makes you stop and realize that you didn't deserve this moment - it was not earned or due to you. In fact, it has nothing to do with you. This surprise was a gift. And a gift, a true gift, makes us grateful. And gratitude, that feeling of appreciation for the undeserved gift, gratitude can save the world.

[...]

"And this is where I think gratitude is so important. To be grateful you must be humble. To be grateful, you must step out of yourself and your grievances and your annoyance. Even, for a moment, to step away from your outrage. We are grateful when we recognize that we have been given a gift - one we did not expect or deserve. When we are humble we can say with simple sincerity: Mode Ani L'fanecha - for the surprise of an unearned gift, I am grateful to you, Oh G-d."

-- Rabbi Michael Z. Cahana, "Gratitude", 2018-09-10

[Hoping all my Jewish friends who celebrate are having a good Rosh Hashnah! And to my fellow Christians who are tempted to appropriation -- since I've been reminmded there seem to be more than usual this year -- a reminder: we have our own New Year, with its own religious significance, plus it happens about halfway through Christmas, shich most of us celebrate already. You can even celebrate it twice if you want to use both the Julian and Gregorian calendars to do so. We can share our Jewish friends' joy as they celebrate, without trying to copy their holidays for ourselves. Rosh Hashanah is cool, but it is not ours.]

Today is
Gregorian: 2022 September 26
Julian: 2022 September 13
Hebrew: 5783 Tishri 01 -- Rosh Hashana (new year) 5783!
Islamic: 1444 Safar 29
Roman: 2775 6th day before the October kalends
Persian: 1401 Mehr 04
Mayan: 0.0.0.13.0.9.16.6
Indian (civil): 1944 Asvina 04
Coptic: 1739 Thout 15
Discordian: 3188 Bureaucracy 50