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My Podcast

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Table of Contents

1. Preface

2. Main Article

Preface

The last three newsletters were dedicated to my personal and national history and discussing the waging war in my homeland.

This week, I wanted to change things a little bit.

As I write this, we are almost 1 month after hell broke loose on October 7th.

1 month is usually the time we witness two changes:

1. A change in the way the world reacts.

2. A change in how we behave in our day-to-day lives.

The world's reaction is mainly influenced by the media.

And as days go by, international media is becoming less representative of our reality.

It primarily stems from news reporters who lack firsthand experience and understanding of the challenges we face.

As for the day-to-day life, after several weeks you’re getting mentally exhausted.

You understand that going back to normal will take time, and even then, things may never be the same. The pain becomes something you learn to live with.

Yet, after a month, you start to smile again.

But only on certain occasions.

You smile only with those who can truly understand you. Those who, like you, are living through this harrowing ordeal. They are our colleagues, our friends who have suffered alongside us. They are the only ones who comprehend our sorrow.

They understand you’re laughing not because everything is great all of a sudden.

You’re laughing because it makes you feel human again.

And the first time you laugh, you suddenly feel a light and pleasant sensation in your chest.

A sensation you didn’t feel for a long time. You then realize you're chest felt so heavy for so long. Such contradicting feelings existing inside you.

The same contradiction is built into our collective. Take our national Independence Day, for example.

A day before Independence Day is our Memorial Day — a day of national mourning.

Memorial Day isn’t a happy day. We don’t go out to celebrate or enjoy that day. We go to work and school, and grieve. But when the clock hits 8:00 pm, Independence Day starts. And it’s time to celebrate.

This co-existence of grief and joy is ingrained in us from a young age.

It teaches us the importance of remembering and honoring those we've lost, even as we celebrate the life and freedom we have.

I recall my childhood, when at 8:00 pm, as the fireworks lit up the sky and the Independence Day celebrations began, my parents would remind me, "The families of the fallen don’t celebrate. They grieve all year."

So here I am, thinking of today’s newsletter.

I initially planned a short preface followed by an article on leadership. Something like "5 Things a Great Leader Does."

However, as you can see, this preface is already too long 😀.

(And that was the first smiley face this newsletter had over the last month.)

But after writing all this, I don’t really feel like writing about the traits of a great leader. I would rather see great leaders than write about it.

Instead, I will share something that has been extremely helpful for me over the last week.

Breathing exercises and mindfulness.

I guess I’m not ready to write about something more upbeat and happy.

I'll try again next week.

Number 62.

Main Article

Breathing, mindfulness, meditation—there are tons of apps and videos out there, far more knowledgeable than me.

But let's be honest, who has the time to dive into all that?

I certainly don't.

Yet, I have found that a simple breathing exercise can work wonders in alleviating that heavy feeling in my chest.

All you need is:

• 2-5 minutes of uninterrupted time.

• A place to sit or stand comfortably.

If you prefer an audio guide, you can listen to my podcast by clicking here. There I walk you through the exercise.

It goes like this:

Close your eyes, and start taking deep, slow breaths.

Follow the 4-second rule: inhale through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for a bit, and exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds. Repeat.

This practice serves two purposes.

• First, it floods your body with oxygen, which instantly makes you feel better.

• Second, it activates your parasympathetic nervous system, signaling your brain that it's time to relax. I delve deeper into this in the podcast.

Dedicate 2-5 minutes to this practice, and you'll notice a difference. It won't erase your sadness or end your grief, but your body will feel better.

For those who wish to deepen the practice:

1. Visualize inhaling light and positivity, and exhaling dark smoke, representing your burdens.

2. If your mind wanders, try focusing on counting your breaths.

3. You can do your first exercise together with me on my podcast. There, I provide more guidance and additional practices. You can also explore meditation apps and audio resources. There are plenty to choose from.

Epilogue

That’s it for this issue.

Hope for better, happier days.

Shay