She took one look at me and assumed…

Today was one of those rare days when my schedule was light, so I took the opportunity to go for a walk—no makeup, a more casual tichel, just me and the open air.

Lately, I’ve been taking a few walks each week like this—alone, with no music, no audiobooks, nothing to fill the space. Just quiet. And it’s been surprisingly refreshing, giving me room to think, notice, and just be.

As I neared home, I passed an office supply store and remembered—I needed more laminating pouches for the packets I’m preparing for Tuesday’s Ramat Beit Shemesh retreat. Had I been in my usual rush, lost in an audiobook, I probably wouldn’t have remembered until it was too late.

So I walked in, grabbed what I needed, and as I was checking out, the saleslady asked, “Are you a gannenet?”

Huh. That was interesting.

And it got me thinking—if I had walked in wearing a sheitel and makeup, would she have assumed something entirely different? A lawyer? A businesswoman? A therapist?

We all do this. We make snap judgments, often without realizing it. Our brains are wired to sort information quickly, to categorize, to make sense of the world.

And we don’t just do it with others—we do it with ourselves.

We assume we know how we’ll react in a situation. We assume we know how others see us. We assume we know what we’re capable of—because of how things have played out in the past.

And these assumptions shape the way we move through the world. Until something disrupts them.

But breaking these patterns isn’t just about thinking differently. It’s not enough to tell ourselves, I don’t care what people think or I won’t judge myself this time. Because if that shift stays in the mind, it doesn’t fully take root.

Real change happens when we integrate these shifts into our bodies. When something inside of us feels different, not just intellectually but on a deeper, more embodied level.

That’s what we do at my retreats. We take those old patterns—those assumptions that have lived inside us for years—and gently, through a process that is both simple and profound, they shift.

Not in a way that makes life suddenly perfect. Not in a way that means we’ll never struggle again.

But in a way that allows us to walk out different than we walked in.

A little lighter. A little more open. A little more ourselves.

If this resonates, I invite you to join me for next Tuesday’s retreat in Ramat Beit Shemesh. There are two spots left. See the flyer below for more information or email me with any questions. You can reserve your spot by registering here.

And if you can’t make it—whether because of timing, location, finances (or maybe for a reason I haven’t even thought of, because yes, I too am making assumptions!)—stay tuned. There will be more opportunities ahead.

Do you have a sister or friend who you think might appreciate this? If so, please forward her this email. Thanks!

Warmly,
Rena

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