Spiritual Sparks: Beginning Again
- Rabbi Ze'ev Smason
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Originally published in Spiritual Sparks on June 18, 2026.
More than two decades ago, four days before my wife's birthday and one day after mine, we were blessed with the greatest birthday gift we could have hoped for: the birth of a beautiful baby girl.
This coming Sunday, our "birthday gift" will stand beneath a wedding canopy as she and the man of her dreams become husband and wife.
Weddings inspire thoughts about love and commitment. But they also remind us of something broader: Life continually presents us with opportunities for new beginnings.
Whether we are twenty-five or eighty-five, one of life's greatest blessings is that we can always begin again.
✨3 Ideas
1. Recognizing our inherent worth
Human beings consist of both body and soul. The soul is the deepest layer of our identity -- the "you" behind everything else. But more than simply having a soul, we are a soul.
From the moment we enter this world, we possess inherent worth and dignity. The foundation of our choices is how we view ourselves.
Recognizing our worth means becoming aware of the goodness already present within us and identifying with our highest aspirations.
2. Breaking free from yesterday
We often tell ourselves, "I've always been this way," or "I missed my chance." Perhaps the greatest obstacle to renewal is not our circumstances, but our assumptions.
Yesterday may influence us, but it does not imprison us.
The soul remains untouched by the outside world. If we choose to define ourselves by our deepest identity rather than by external circumstances, we discover a freedom that nothing can take away.
3. Beginning again starts with commitment
Daily commitments have the power to transform our lives. When we wholeheartedly commit ourselves to our goals and values, motivation often follows.
Commitment transforms possibility into reality.
We can choose to be grateful for our blessings, to act with kindness and compassion, or simply to begin again whenever we stumble. The soul flourishes when we faithfully live the values we cherish.
📜2 Quotes
" … renew a firmly anchored spirit within me." — Psalms 51:12
"Take a deep breath, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again." — Frank Sinatra, "Pick Yourself Up"
❓1 Question
What part of your life is inviting you to begin again?
A 94 year-old woman was described by friends as charming, delightful, and always positive. When asked the secret of her outlook on life, she smiled and replied, "It's my enthusiasm for life. Because I think positive, I am positive."
After pausing for a moment, she added, "Even at 94, I have four boyfriends. I begin each day with Will Power. Then I go for a walk with Arthur Ritis. I usually return home with Charlie Horse, and spend the evening with Ben Gay."
Whether we're 24, 44, 74, or 94, life continually places blank pages before us.
The question is not whether we can begin again. The question is where we choose to begin. The choice is ours.
Until next time, Wishing you fresh beginnings, and the joy of writing beautiful new chapters,
Rabbi Ze'ev Smason
P.S. Have you ever embarked on a new venture or begun a new chapter in life? I'd love to hear about your experience.
P.P.S. New beginnings are among the themes explored in my new book, Spiritual Sparks: A Reader. If these reflections resonate with you, I hope you'll take a look.
