As a perpetual dieter, I must have lost tens of kilos over
the years. Aside from the health and esthetic aspect
(gufniyus), I realized that dieting is also a matter
of ruchniyus when I heard of a diet group called
Avodas Hamiddos, with the double entendre of
measurement-size and not only good character measures.
There are many similarities between dieting, self improvement
and teshuva. They are both based on self control,
commitment and perseverance.
The mazal (Zodiac sign) of the month of Tishrei is
scales. Hashem weighs our good and bad deeds and judges us
accordingly. Tishrei is also a good time to start a weight
control regimen. After all, you don't say, "I'll do
tshuva after the holidays."
So -- before you put something into your mouth, THINK: how
many calories (`kilo'ries) will show up on the scale. Is it
worth it? If you are working on your shemiras
haloshon, then you THINK before letting the words out of
your mouth about how many prohibitions will be added to the
debit side of the heavenly scale.
Some dieticians recommend writing down everything you eat and
WHY you eat it. It's a very forceful deterrent. Likewise, the
imagery of Hashem recording everything you say and do. In the
`Old Country' mussar schools, students kept notebooks
with their resolutions and they fined themselves if they
regressed. Similarly, dieticians advise self-imposed fines
for breaking the diet and binging.
To pursue the moshol: The Israeli denomination for
money is the shekel, which somehow brings to my mind
the word shok'l, to move back and forth. The Mussar
teachers say that it's not enough to regret and confess your
misdeeds; you must take action and progress slowly.
Similarly, dieticians advocate exercise to burn fat and build
muscles, to offset the initial weight loss which often
affects muscle tissue [and makes us feel weak]. The latest
studies show that ten minute segments of exercise a few times
a day are just as effective and easier to carry out in the
long run than committing yourself to hour-long workouts.
Don't bite off more exercise than you can chew! Tofasto
meruba is true in both the spiritual and physical
sense.
Tishrei is the time for self improvement. Why not take
advantage of the extra opportunity of heavenly assistance in
getting the unwanted -- whatever -- off the scales!
Good luck!
[Ed. I was struck by the interesting thought that the
mazal of Tishrei translates to libra, which is
the Latin root for both scales -- and books (library). Isn't
it true that when the scales are in operation, so are the
books of Life open.]
