There was something quite refreshing about Yom Kippur. I awoke, dressed, tended to my children, put on my tennis shoes and walked to synagogue. I did not go through my usual morning routine of preparing balanced meals, deciding what to wear, spending time in front of the mirror, catching up on the news, checking e-mail, loading the car with my various bags for the day and so on . . .

While I was already a bit hungry, I realized the simplicity of my morning as I was walking to synagogue. It felt good. It was Yom Kippur and the nature of the day is to focus on repentance and return to oneself – who we truly are as human beings. It felt good to focus on the day, but it also felt good to simplify.

Since that day, I wonder: is my true self a simpler self? Could I live my life with less and perhaps be even happier than I am? I am not talking just less “stuff” but less time thinking and doing stuff that may not be productive or significant. I think I will try to simplify.