October Motivation: How Many People Carry YOUR DNA? ~via @workout32789wp
I recently returned from a trip to Michigan where I attended services for the Jewish New Year. It was there and then that I learned that my Rabbi of some 47 years had imparted his DNA to literally thousands of people. Now, before you compare Rabbi Harold Loss to one of those psycho-narcissistic fertility doctors, let me clarify.
As Rabbi Loss explained it, our entire population has been uber-focused on the recent ability to trace our ancestry through our physical DNA . That information can go a long way in explaining a lot about who we are and what traits we are likely to pass on through our progenies. It also can leave a lot unexplained. That is because so much of what defines us and the characteristics that we will pass on is not any part of our "physical" DNA but rather our spiritual "DNA".
Our physical DNA may determine our build and even our life span but it is our spiritual DNA that fills the core of the structure that the physical DNA has helped mold. Is the core one of warmth, empathy and caring or indifference and apathy? Does the core effuse an enthusiasm for life or does it look only inward and find emptiness? All of the attributes that really define our being are those that are made up, not of our physical, but of our spiritual DNA.
What Rabbi Loss pointed out is that, while our physical DNA can be passed on to relatively few recipients, the passing of our spiritual DNA has a virtually unlimited bandwidth. And here's the big distinction, while our physical DNA is absolute, our spiritual DNA is discretionary. Each and every one of us has the unique ability to pass on our spiritual DNA with every single human interaction. A smile, an act of kindness, a willingness to listen. In each act, the passing of your spiritual DNA. What an amazing opportunity we each have with each and every contact. We truly can impact the world.
I look around at our remarkable Workout 32789 team and realize there is some awesome spiritual DNA contained within. I hope we are doing a good job of passing that on. I also know that we are blessed with some spectacular clients and I know that I am a better person from my own interactions with many of those individuals. Let's all continue to remember the message of Rabbi Loss and work to pass on the best in each of us with every opportunity.
~Diane
