Shabbat: The Hebrew Prozac
As a convert, the rest of my family isn't Jewish so I did my rituals alone and joined everyone when I came back from temple. I look at the backyard and realized it had been crying for attention. I have been too ill to do much but I decided to go give the family's garden some TLC. I know, it was shabbat, I should have been resting - but something drew me outside. I had already reseeded my small lawn, put down soil, weed killer and then covered everything with compost. I put out all my delicate glass windchimes and left the metal ones in my collection out. I cleaned rakes, hoes, trowels, clippers and the weed wacker. I uncovered my table, chairs and cafe umbrella, swept up the pine needles and put away my numerous bird feeders. And I felt calm. I also put out a banner which hangs among the morning glories and peonies in my yard that says " Gardening is the best therapy. " Later on this afternoon, one of my family came to sit with me. She also loves to garden and we agr...