Body and soul!

I lead my life by the virtues that were instilled in me by my parents. I am a fairly traditional guy with some rather set ways about me. I believe in what I believe . My core values are simple and reflect exactly who I am.
Growing up in a Jewish home , I always had the opportunity to experience 2 New Years Days a year. January 1st on the secular calendar and on Rosh Hashana on the Jewish calendar.
While this may have seemed confusing to my gentile friends, to me it was quite simple. Although they both mark the beginning of a new year, they signify two completely different things to me.
January 1st marks the beginning of a new calendar year.It is a time for mapping out a course into the new year.
 What in my life can I improve upon?
What bad habits can I let go of?
What new practices can I incorporate?
What goals can I set for myself to achieve in the next 12 months?
There is something tangible about the entire process.
It's like a self improvement program for myself.
Rosh Hashana marks the coming of a different type of new year. 
It is part of a High Holiday experience that culminates on Yom Kippur where my fate is once again sealed as I hopefully get written into the Book of Life for another year.
It is about my soul It is about my spirit. It is about my neshoma......the thing that makes me me.
I is a self improvement program for my soul.
The secular New Year is festive , boisterous and laden with hopes of prosperity, good health and success.
The Jewish New Year for me is more pensive,soul searching and  certainly has much less bravado.
Saturday night we will shout Happy New Year to all.....on Rosh Hashana, I look into the eyes of those I care about and wish them a sweet and healthy New Year.
It is more than a subtle difference.
January 1st is at the very beginning of Winter. I know that there will be many weeks of cold before the first signs of the seeds that I've planted bursts through and show any signs of life.
After Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur,we celebrate Sukkoth, the final harvest season. We sit and rejoice and partake of the fruits of our labors and the sacrifices we have made through out the year before beginning the process all over again.
I like having 2 New Years Days.
It helps my balance. They work well together. 
And when I pay attention, I find that I can incorporate what each one brings separately into a truly wonderful experience.
Body and soul!