Growing Together

Would you believe it’s been five years since I started writing for Santa Clarita Magazine? Writing a monthly article taught me a lot about having a commitment, being consistent and meeting deadlines. As if the day-to-day challenges weren’t enough, the unpredictable COVID-19 pandemic came to shake things up. We sure shared a journey together.
When I started, I had no idea what my style and content would be like. As it turned out, featuring my art with my articles became bite-size insights laced with purpose and beauty. Since I’m passionate about art and feel motivated to share my lessons as a teacher of forty years, my stories simply emerge. For me, it’s connecting all the dots as an artist, writer, teacher, and student of the universe. By writing here, it’s my mission and hope that it brings a sense of togetherness and positivity to the readers in our community. When I share about American holidays and Jewish holidays, I see what unites us rather than our differences. I see the universal values that encourage us to treat others with love and respect, to show compassion to the less fortunate, to give to charity, and to be fair and honest. For example, it’s a Jewish value to have a grateful perspective (Hakarat hatov), stay positive and happy, celebrate with loved ones in joy (simcha) and be hospitable to guests (hachnasat orhim). That’s all very similar to the values that we celebrate as Americans on Thanksgiving.
Over the past five years, I’ve shared ideas with the intention that I / all of us can create the best life for ourselves. It was a game-changer for me when I first realized the direct connection between mind, heart, and body- mindfulness. I learned that our thoughts create our feelings, and the way we feel and choose to react to life’s events affects our actions. Ultimately, our actions create our reality. Wherever your thoughts are is where you are.
I learned to empower myself by being aware of the way I think and act. I examine whether it’s out of fear, doubt, anger, or depression that creates more of that, or out of love and confidence to create joy. Being aware of situations that trigger us emotionally helps us weed out toxic people and limit negative energy that doesn’t serve us well. Know that exercising self-love is not the same as being selfish. It’s okay to reach out for help when challenges become too hard to handle alone. Challenges are opportunities for growth. It’s important to have a life’s mission with a vision. Set, follow, and fulfill your goals to reach your full potential. Engage in fun and healthy activities daily to find joy. Use your precious time wisely and channel your energy only in the here and now. As Albert Einstein said, ”Education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think.” As you’ve noticed, my trademark is choosing beautiful quotes of inspiration to intertwine into each article.
It has been fun and an enriching experience for me to come up with interesting new topics and relatable art each month. I’ve learned a lot while doing it. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow both as a writer and as an artist. I hope that with this sense of optimism and renewal, I’ll continue to inspire and touch more and more hearts, enough to make a difference in our ever-changing world.
Naomi Young is a Jewish studies and a Bar/ Bat mitzvah teacher in Santa Clarita for 40 years. She is also a published writer and an artist. Contact her at naomiyoung7@yahoo.com Visit her art website at www.naomiyoung.com