During the High Holidays, I tend to get somewhat introspective. As the weather gets cooler, it somehow seems natural to pause and reflect over the past year and contemplate the year to come. According to Jewish faith, this is the week that seals your fate for the next year; you repent for your sins during the past year, and look towards improving your behavior in the upcoming year: What was good or bad about the past year? What changes to I want to make in my life? What are my goals for the upcoming year? How can I be a better person? As I've mentioned to some of you, I am trying (as usual) to slow down some. Conviently, my body is helping me out. I seem to need more sleep than I did a few years ago. Slowing down, to me, also means focusing on and savoring the present moment; less worring about the future or dwelling on the past. I have some lofty goals in place for the year to come; stay tuned. And Shana Tova to all — Jewish or not!!

Yet another interesting read this week: Parents of a Certain Age, from NY Mag, discussing the fact that advances in reproductive technology has resulted in first-time mothers in their late 40's and early 50's. But the question remains: is this good for the children of those mothers/parents?  I often think about the fact that my brother and sister, who are ten years younger than I, had a somewhat different childhood than I did, one factor being the age that my father was when we were born. My father was in his late 20's when I was born, which likely had some advantages, but he was in a better economic situation by the time they were born, when he was in his late 30's. If I had a child tomorrow, I would be 58 when he/she graduated from high school, and 70 when she/she turns 30.  Scary to consider . . .

Just food for thought. I promise I'm not having a child tomorrow.