Promises

And I don’t mean the discussions around promises that might replace constraints in WebRTC.

This is the kind one makes to himself. And in this case me. Feel free to skip this post.

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Today marks Kippur, the day of atonement for the Jews. I am not religious. Last week we celebrated the Jewish New Year here. This post is about reflections and the promises I am now making to myself.

Why?

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Yesterday morning, I was on my way in my car. The same news radio station in the background. They decided to make it a special day for the soldiers who died during the war we had here in Gaza this summer. Not delving into politics in this post, so bear with me if you got this far.

The way they decided to commemorate the soldiers was by letting their friends or family members say a few words about each fallen soldier, and then pick a song on behalf of that soldier.

I cried in the car.

The stories I faced were so strong. Probably because it was at the start of that special day on the radio. It was of kids considerably younger than my age that had made such a huge mark on their friends. The only thought in my mind during that time and since then was the need to be a better person somehow.

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A few weeks ago. In the same car. With the same radio station. An interview with a teacher at a boarding school, preparing kids for the real world outside.

The teacher is asked what he wants most of all. He says that he wants people to stop asking what the country can do for them, and instead strive to improve their own lives. To gain control of their predicament.

I see it a lot around me. People who waste time complaining that the situation is bad. That people are bad. That the country doesn’t do enough for its citizens.

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Exactly a year has passed since I started on the road of consulting. It had been a great experience so far.

I sat with a colleague the other day. He raised a question – what is my purpose in what I currently do in my professional life. My answer was to have fun. To be able to work just as hard as ever and make at least the same amount of money that I did when I was fully employed.

He now jokes about me that my business model is fun.

Fun isn’t enough for me anymore.

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Yom Kippur is about atonement. It is about saying sorry for the things we did to each other.

If in any way I have hurt you, then I am sorry for it. I truly am. As far as I can remember, I haven’t tried hurting anyone on purpose lately.

I promise to improve this year. To be more professional. To be more courteous.

I promise to myself to strive and leave a larger mark on the people I meet this year. A positive mark. To better the situation around me.

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Why the hell is this here? I am not sure, but it is something I had to share. Now back to the usual program here.