Here-Ness

Do you find yourself thinking things like this:

When I get through this busy season, then I’ll be more fun.

When I get new furniture, then I’ll have people over.

When I the account gets to this amount, then I’ll feel secure.

When my kids are older, then I’ll take care of myself.

When I understand why they broke up, then I’ll heal.

When my get to that size, then I’ll buy beautiful clothes.

When I become more disciplined, then I’ll be proud of myself.

When I get closure, then I’ll move forward.

When I move to a new city, then I’ll make real friends.

When I achieve more, then I’ll feel worthy.

We long for being “there” and miss the opportunities “here.” 

In the Jewish diaspora, Jews were forced to leave or resettle from parts of the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa during centuries of exile, persecution, and expulsion. In studying this, I came upon a Yiddish word: doikayt

Doikayt translates into here-ness. 

The spirit of this word might be “bloom where you are planted.” It was used to describe the Jewish concept of: start living wherever you are, have a positive impact wherever you land, and don’t wait to return to the holy land to experience God, do it from where you are right now. 

Create beauty here.

Not someday.
Not somewhere else.
Not when the house is clean, the body is smaller, the bank account is fuller, the relationship is easier, the path is clear.

Here.

Doikayt invites us to stop postponing our becoming. 

It reminds us that life is not waiting for us in a more perfect place. It is already under our feet, asking to be noticed.

This week, let’s be more intentional about appreciating wherever we are right now. 

To practice doikayt is to bless the ground beneath you, even if you did not choose it. 

In your community, doikayt could mean investing in the place where you live instead of treating it as temporary or disposable. It might look like getting to know your neighbors, supporting local businesses, volunteering, showing up for school boards or community needs, and adding beauty wherever you can. It might mean seeing the good in the environment instead of complaining about the weather. It may be that you stop dreaming of being somewhere else and soak up the goodness of where you are. 

Some things to ponder:

What are you hoping a new place, role, body, or relationship will give you that you might begin offering yourself now?

What would it mean to build a life here, not because here is perfect, but because you are worthy of care wherever you are?

What beauty is available here that you keep overlooking while searching for elsewhere?

Where are you making your happiness conditional on something else?

Here-ness, what does that mean to you?

Let yourself be fun, have people over, feel secure, take care of yourself, heal, buy beautiful clothes, feel proud of yourself, move forward, make real friends, and feel worthy without it being conditional upon something else. It can be here now. 

Practicing here-ness with you,