About 5 years ago, during Covid, I had a near death experience. (I shared the story on the 11th podcast, The Possibility in Choosing Joy you can listen to it on all podcast platforms!)

I told no one besides my therapist at the time about it for months. One day, a few months later I was invited to be a speaker at an online event for about 100 people. As I was sharing the planned talk with my friend, I felt an instinct to share the story with her. Her response: "Rivky, you must share this story publicly, there is so much to learn". So I decided to share it.

I shared with the group I was speaking to about my decision to choose life. While I was speaking I remembered the Modeh Ani prayer. Model Ani is a prayer that is said each morning in the Jewish tradition upon waking up, thanking Hashem (God, source, the universe) for returning our Neshama (our soul, essence, Self) into our bodies each morning.

And I realized as I was speaking and shared with the group; if we really believe we have a piece of God inside of us, if we really believe we are co-creators with the divine, with Hashem then we are also thanking OURSELVES for choosing to be alive each day.

I shared with them that one doesn't need a near death experience to remember our power of choice, and to feel grateful for that in each moment.

Next time you say Modeh Ani (I will post the prayer here if you don't know it) my invitation to you is to orient to the gratitude for the God above, below, and all around you, and also to the piece of God INSIDE of you. All facets and faces of God were and are involved in the choice for your aliveness in each moment.

The more we remember our power of choice, the deeper we awaken to our inherent aliveness, presence, and gratitude. And vice versa.

Hebrew:

מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ

Translation:

"I give thanks before You, living and eternal King, for You have returned within me my soul with compassion; abundant is Your faithfulness" or "I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me. Your faithfulness is great"