Home › Forums › Decaffeinated Coffee › Can someone please help me
Tagged: bfsem back from sem
- This topic has 74 replies, 27 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 4 months ago by baalastshuva2.
-
AuthorPosts
-
June 27, 2017 8:23 pm at 8:23 pm #1305751back from semParticipant
Over the last few years I went through a tough time and did a lot of horrible things. I really came around the block. This year I went to seminary and I gained alotttt! now that I came back though I feel like I lost a lot of what I gained . I have a lot of hashkafa questions but no one to guide me. What should I do? Please help me
June 27, 2017 8:56 pm at 8:56 pm #1305771back from semParticipantI need good advice
June 27, 2017 9:21 pm at 9:21 pm #1305782from Long IslandParticipantCall Aish in New York. They will connect you to someone you can talk to.
June 27, 2017 9:33 pm at 9:33 pm #1305786back from semParticipantWhat’s their number
June 27, 2017 9:33 pm at 9:33 pm #1305787👑RebYidd23ParticipantGo back to sem.
June 27, 2017 9:46 pm at 9:46 pm #1305791back from semParticipantI don’t want to go back for a shana bet cuz I want to get married already. Another question- can I get married if I have a lot of hashkafic questions and im not so sure who I am anymore?
June 27, 2017 9:47 pm at 9:47 pm #1305792back from semParticipantWho’s the real me- the me from before I went to seminary? The me from seminary? Or the me from after I came back from seminary (falling again)
June 27, 2017 11:02 pm at 11:02 pm #1305835back from semParticipant😭😿😪 😡
June 27, 2017 11:03 pm at 11:03 pm #1305807👑RebYidd23ParticipantA little bit of both.
June 27, 2017 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm #1305856kj chusidParticipantOn a side note why ask advice from random lunatics on the Internet? Ask a Rav or Mentor
June 27, 2017 11:17 pm at 11:17 pm #1305855kj chusidParticipantGet your views straight before getting married, because once you’re married you can’t change your children from chassidish to litvish to Modern and back, while your single you can still change around your life
June 27, 2017 11:18 pm at 11:18 pm #1305854ready nowParticipantback from sem: Forget all those relationships you formed with all the girls, that is what is confusing you, I think.
June 27, 2017 11:32 pm at 11:32 pm #1305863👑RebYidd23ParticipantKJ, you are a random lunatic on the internet too.
June 27, 2017 11:50 pm at 11:50 pm #1305876kj chusidParticipantI agree, that’s y I suggested not
To listen to my adviceJune 28, 2017 12:13 am at 12:13 am #1305891GAONParticipantRather go back and get married after. You need to stabilize yourself before you marry.
The “real” you is the one and the times you were happy and content with. All the rest is a matter of overcoming your difficulties. We all go through strugles but the main objective is to be able to get up again and overcome the falls.June 28, 2017 12:13 am at 12:13 am #1305892GAONParticipantIn any case, you need real live guidance. Don’t you have anyone to contact from the Sem that knows you and can give proper guidance.
June 28, 2017 12:42 am at 12:42 am #1305910ChillNGrillParticipantAs Pirkei Avos says, “ase lecha Rav’. Find someone who you can be open with and discuss whatever issues you are having. Someone who can understand but help guide you in a positive manner.
I wouldn’t rush into marriage until you really know who you are and what you are looking for in life.
June 28, 2017 12:42 am at 12:42 am #1305911PinchasParticipantThe number for AishNY is 1 212-921-9090. Maybe they can put you in touch with a Rabbi or mentor. Also you can contact them via FB. Just search for AishNY.
June 28, 2017 12:45 am at 12:45 am #1305916back from semParticipantThanks everyone!
Rebyidd23- am I really a mix of all? Cuz I don’t want to be how I was before I went to seminary.Kj- the only reason I am asking “random people ” is because I don’t have anyone in real life to ask.
M
Ready now- I don’t think that’s what’s confusing me. What’s confusing me is that I went from being “at risk” to being religious/ yeshivish too fastJune 28, 2017 2:41 am at 2:41 am #1305918ready nowParticipantAsk Hashem to be patient with you, go slowly, your brain is confused, but Hashem is your only concern, you don’t need to live up to any other’s expectation.
June 28, 2017 6:45 am at 6:45 am #1305941SuperdParticipantWow sorry to here. it is extremely difficult and hard period going back, especially after going back from an intense growth filled year. Do you have a summer job? Having a daily schedule plan is essential. Having no plan and loads of down time can be a killer. Keep in touch with friends teachers madricha for moral support.
In my opinion, Marriage should not be your focus getting back in to a healthy life style and figuring out what works for you should be your goal.
Going back for Shana beis is NOT synonymous with not getting married. Girls get engaged in sem.June 28, 2017 6:46 am at 6:46 am #1305943NechomahParticipantIt’s normal to come down somewhat after coming back from sem, once out of that vacuum, it’s almost impossible to maintain the levels obtained while there. What’s important is to keep looking forward and up. Life is a downhill escalator. If you’re not working all the time, you’re going down. The more you work, the more you will climb.
As to the question of who you are, you are whoever you want to be – not the girl before sem and not the girl at sem, but a combination. You know what it was like to struggle like you did before sem and now you have goals that you were able to set your sights on while at sem. Let go of the image that you have of yourself before sem and just keep moving forward. It’s the yetzer hara that’s telling you that you didn’t really change and that you’ll never change and can never be like you were when you were in sem. Don’t listen.
Try to get some basic values/guidelines set up for yourself before you go looking for shidduchim. You can’t fit yourself into the mold a boy might create for you. You have to define yourself more and then you’ll know when there is a good fit with the boy you meet.
Like others have said above, get real life guidance. There are many continuation programs in US for after sem. You could find something that interests you and go to some classes and see if the teachers there would be good sources of advice. Don’t rush. Good advice is not easy to come by.
Chin up and hatzlacha rabba!!!
June 28, 2017 11:03 am at 11:03 am #1306198back from semParticipantP-thanx a lot!
Super d and nechama thank you for ur wonderful advice!June 28, 2017 11:51 am at 11:51 am #1306210back from semParticipantHow do I figure out what kind of guy I want? Before sem- I wanted a certain type, in sem- wanted a guy who would learn seriously for a year or two, now idk cuz Idk how I will be in a few years…
June 28, 2017 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm #1306240SuperdParticipantReally sorry to brake the bad news to you, most ppl would advice you to 4get marriage for now. For now concentrate on you and you only, you won’t have much time for that later on in life. With time bezrat Hashem those answers will fall in to place.
June 28, 2017 1:44 pm at 1:44 pm #1306292gingiParticipantContact Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstien at Or Naavah. He’ll help you. Kudos to you for coming so far. Hatzlacha rabbah! You have a great future ahead of you!
June 28, 2017 2:12 pm at 2:12 pm #1306397Letakein GirlParticipantMy thoughts: (I tried forming a cogent reply, but I’m having a hard time connecting my thoughts, so I’ll just post them in bullet form.)
-You’re not alone in feeling the way you do. Thousands of other girls that just got back from their seminary year are struggling with the same identity crisis. I’m off to seminary once this summer is over, iyH, and I’m pretty certain that I’ll be just as confused as you are, this time next year.
-Growth needs to be internal- not just external. Real growth takes place when you realize that your behavior doesn’t match up with your values, and you change your behavior so that it reflects your values. Life is about figuring out what our values are, and working on ourselves to get as close to shleimus as we can get by fixing our behavior.
– I very strongly recommend that you discuss this with a mentor- preferably someone who you’ve spoken to in the past, knows you, and is wise. Remember that generally speaking, people gain wisdom with age- it would be smart to look to a woman who has seen enough of life to be able to advise you properly. If you have never spoken to a mentor figure about personal issues before, now is an excellent time to start! There’s so much potential for good in a mentor/ mentee relationship. 🙂
– Talk to Hashem. He planned every aspect of your life. It is no surprise to Him that you are rethinking your growth, now that you’re home and it’ll take great effort to maintain your new standards for yourself. He is NOT angry at you. He’s your lifeline. Just talk to him.
– I really like what Nechomah said in her above post. I agree with every word of it. Nechomah, you’re amazing! 🙂
– Life is composed of ups and downs. Every up is followed by a down, and every down is followed by an up. Both stages are necessary and normal. Don’t give up on life, or on yourself, just because you’re in a down now. The up will come!
Hold on tight. You can do this.
June 28, 2017 2:22 pm at 2:22 pm #1306433back from semParticipantSuperd -isn’t it better for me to get married now? Cuz then I’ll have to be on the level I am on now .. get my gist?
Gingi- thank you ! But how can I get in touch with him
June 28, 2017 3:00 pm at 3:00 pm #1306563back from semParticipantThank you letakin girl! U r very smart for ur age 🙃
June 28, 2017 3:15 pm at 3:15 pm #1306587👑RebYidd23ParticipantGetting married doesn’t lock you in place, it just binds you and your husband together.
June 28, 2017 3:16 pm at 3:16 pm #1306589SuperdParticipantTo be honest I do not get your gist as I have no idea where your holding now or where you were holding b4. in my opinion deffinetly not. your future husband will not have answers to all hashkofa ?s. Seems like you also need to find ppl that can guide you in the future, can take time finding the right 1 for you and easier while your single. And when ur ready I’m sure you will be on a higher level then you are now. P.s if you currently have a bf (not that u do) he will only hold u back achieving your most.
Hatzlacha with any decisions you make and finding clarity in your life.June 28, 2017 3:29 pm at 3:29 pm #1306607back from semParticipantWhat if I know that he will help me with hashkafa
June 28, 2017 3:29 pm at 3:29 pm #1306608back from semParticipantLike what if I know for a FACT
June 28, 2017 3:43 pm at 3:43 pm #1306613Avram in MDParticipantback from sem,
Superd -isn’t it better for me to get married now? Cuz then I’ll have to be on the level I am on now
Unless you know what your values and goals are, that is a recipe for disaster, and would CV”S lead to deep resentment.
What if I know that he will help me with hashkafa
Like what if I know for a FACT
Impossible to know in real life.
June 28, 2017 6:48 pm at 6:48 pm #1306695back from semParticipantA- how is it impossible to know in real life? What if I know in real life that he will help bring me up
June 28, 2017 7:11 pm at 7:11 pm #1306754back from semParticipantHow would it lead to resentment
June 28, 2017 8:02 pm at 8:02 pm #1307076back from semParticipant🙊🙉🙈🐵🐒
June 28, 2017 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm #1307095ready nowParticipantI think going to seminary confuses people, too many distractions, too many comparisons, too much competition, too much looking at other people and measuring oneself by them, and not understanding that each person is so different from any other Try growing SLOWLY at your own pace, trying to understand that you will not be left behind because all in in Hashem’s Hand, not panicking, staying sane!
You need to de-stress after seminary, a very un-natural environment!June 28, 2017 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm #1307092👑RebYidd23ParticipantYou owe it to yourself and your future husband to get your life and values in order before you start seeking marriage. Marriage is not going to magically change you or make being you easier. You have to succeed at being a single person before you can succeed in marriage.
June 28, 2017 10:49 pm at 10:49 pm #1307089back from semParticipantI’m getting depressed
June 28, 2017 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm #1307110ready nowParticipantHashem has the perfect way for you so have emunah in Hashem, lack of emunah causes depression!
June 28, 2017 11:01 pm at 11:01 pm #1307111ready nowParticipantWhat are you doing now, working or lounging around at home?
June 28, 2017 11:01 pm at 11:01 pm #1307113👑RebYidd23ParticipantIt’s okay to be single and a little bit lost. Most people go through such a stage, some more than others. It just means that you should take some time to find yourself before throwing yourself into a huge lifelong commitment.
June 29, 2017 12:23 am at 12:23 am #1307135back from semParticipant😢😔😭
Ready now- how can I gain Emunah? And yeah, I’m lounging aroundRebyidd23- I thought I found myself in seminary but now I see that I didn’t……
June 29, 2017 7:53 am at 7:53 am #1307163ready nowParticipant“how can I gain Emunah ”
Well if seminary did not teach that! Seminary is not the real world.
Can you get “Faith and Trust” by Rabbi Shemuel Houminer
Page 27 for just one of many examples ” Remain hopeful”
This book is THE greatest, can really lift a person up, just read and re-read.
Just nearly 200 pages, but all in short snippets, so great really.Your connection to Hashem is unique, forget everything else!
In any case , everything is pre-determined!(still we have to try) and we have free will, so relax, plan what to do next, but don’t get frustrated with any disappointments, as they were not meant for you, that is the emunah, knowing with absolute certainty that things that are delayed or do not turn up are wrong for you not meant for you and that Hashem will do what is good for you and only you.June 29, 2017 7:58 am at 7:58 am #1307145aishet choverParticipantFirstly, try to figure out why the yetzer hara tripped you up before and what changed when you were in sem.
Are you back in the same situation/conditions/relationship dynamic that tripped you up in the first place?
Secondly, utilizing our strengths productively (think job or chesed), maintaining an attitude of gratitude (think gratitude journal), and strengthening our relationships can help us maintain a growth mindset.
June 29, 2017 8:00 am at 8:00 am #1307147aishet choverParticipantI think marriage at this point is a great idea if you can subscribe to these two conditions- with no unsubscribe option ever:
1- I will devote myself entirely to this person and will fulfill my obligations to him always.
2- I understand that this marriage is for the duration of our lives; therefore, any difficulties that may arise are to be fixed and not used as an excuse to absolve myself of my obligations.
June 29, 2017 8:16 am at 8:16 am #1307156WalktoworkParticipantDear “Back From Sem” –
You sound like a young woman with a good heart. I am an old man who has — amid all the joys of life — experienced periods of confusion and pain to which all humans are subject. Nonetheless, it is your pain and confusion. It is real and it deserves compassionate advice.
Please excuse me if any of this sounds glib or simplistic. It is not. It is based on many false starts and the wisdom gained from all those dead ends.
Amid all the suggestions of a spiritual nature, it is essential to not forget the physical. Assuming you are in good health, follow these guidelines for 30 days and — while there is no magic formula to solve every dilemma we face — you are virtually guaranteed an improved outlook and increased feelings of contentment if you do:
1) Exercise! Find a program you can stick with and start… no excuses. Personally, I find yoga and tai chi best, but whatever the activity works best for you — walking, jogging, tennis, etc. — start slowly. But don’t miss a single day for 30 days. Mark off your days on a calendar. Then, after 30 days, you can re-evaluate the program to be sure it is one you can continue.
2) Pay attention to your sleep habits. Try to get to bed every night and rise every morning at the same time. Save your naps for Shabbat.
3) Get out of bed immediately when you awake.
4) Take care of the things you least want to do first… in the morning and throughout each day.
5) Limit your time on electronic devices.
6) Keep a healthy diet. Beware of fads and unproven claims, but limit fats, junk food and sugars and increase your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. This is easiest to do if you allow yourself such things on an occasional basis. My best success has been with saving such treats for Shabbat because, after all, you’re never more than three days away from Shabbat.
7) Avoid excessive intoxication, but absolutely do enjoy some wine or a l’chaim on Shabbat and yomim tovim.
8) Focus intently on making others happy through an open heart and a sincere smile. Actively search for such opportunities in the street, at school, at work.
9) Spend time every day appreciating the natural world; plant a garden; study a tree; sit on the ground and watch ants at work; listen for bird calls; read nature guides about plants, minerals, insects, mammals, fishes, birds, weather, etc. Make a real study of it or of some miraculous subject such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, etc.
10) Find one pasuk that speaks to you deeply and repeat it. Repeat it again. Keep repeating. For me, “Zeh hayom asah Hashem; nagilah v’nism’cha bo — THIS is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in IT” (emphasis added) has even surpassed “Be Here Now” as constant inspiration.
You’re in this for the long haul, BFSem, 120 years. You are the only one who can make these things happen, and you can only do so by taking responsibility for doing so. With the proper understanding of how unlikely it is to be alive in such an incomprehensibly amazing world, you can then follow this paraphrased advice from a teacher of mine, zatsal:
Whenever you find yourself lacking in joy, picture yourself standing knee-deep in the middle of a cool, refreshing river that is flowing all around you. Now realize it is a river of simcha you are standing in — constantly abundant waters of joy. Whenever you feel the need, see yourself in that river, bend down, cup your hands and drink your fill.
Wishing you all the best!June 29, 2017 10:54 am at 10:54 am #1307245back from semParticipantWalktowork- thank you so much for your advice
It was so refreshing, made me feel like I have hope… thank you! I’m going to follow your advice and I hope things will get better! Thank you again!Att everyone on cr- I’m gonna be leaving, but thanks for all ur advice help and support!!!
Good luck in life!!!!!July 2, 2017 12:40 am at 12:40 am #1308297back from semParticipantHey guys I’m back 😜
Really missed this place over past few days 😉
Thank you guys for your support, I thought a lot about all of your advice/ support and I’m so grateful!! I feel like I have become much happier over the last couple days! Thanx!!!!!!!
Anyhooo…. do any of you guys have rabbi wallerstein/ ohr naava email/ number? Thanx!!
Love you guys!! 💚
You totally rock!!!!!!! -
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.