You Don't Need Therapy, You Need Yeshiva.

          After having a brief discussion with my brother (he was getting bored in classes and wanted me to tell him about what I've been learning), I basically wove all my classes into a coherent blob. It made logical and flowing sense, but as usual, I was so excited to tell him everything I learned I spent an hour typing out all the most interesting things and connections that had no real direction. Now, as I was typing out all of this information, I was really trying to get across the point that I was changing, growing. And I don't mean I have been getting any taller, or am becoming a conservative anytime soon, or taking out all my piercings (sorry, Ima). What I mean is I have been striking the balance I have been looking for. I'm figuring out what I stand for and believe. Who I am. All the therapy in the world couldn't help me figure this stuff out... but two weeks in seminary and I'm all mentally unraveling and rebuilding. As my brother, Josh, said to me about two/three days ago, "Who needs therapy when you have Yeshiva?" I laughed so hard I nearly cried, because that is the saddest thing I ever heard! Who needs to pay to hear advice a friend is willing to give for free? Now, I went to a great therapist for a while because I needed an adult's advice for some sticky-situations. However, in the "real world" of adulthood, the reason everyone I have ever met goes to a therapist is because the world is falling apart when it comes to relationships. Don't get me started about texting, tweeting, and facebook! And then, we have the magazines and television ads which help all of us put on the glossy-coat of facade, in where we can all loose ourselves. The point is, Yeshiva (seminary for the girls) is a wonderful place to get brain-washed. Yeup, I said it. Brain. Washed. As in, washing our brains from the mindless t.v., terrible advertisements, desensitizing movies and video games. Entering a Yeshiva or Seminary helps people get rid of all the filth from the world (although I confess I still listen to some music with cussing in it), and build a foundation where we understand ourselves and from here can reach out to other people and form true and lasting relationships that don't deteriorate with the newest fashion or the latest social-media outlet. Now, I'm not saying I'm never going to watch t.v. or use my facebook (I'm as addicted as anyone else!). What I mean to say is I'm washing myself down, and am going to slowly re-introduce things I like (such as music and t.v.). But, when I do, these things are not going to be my identity, like it is for so many people. I'm not going to be the biggest Scrubs fan who ever lived, I'm going to be a person who likes to watch Scrubs when I'm bored and need to relax. I'm not going to be this huge Dead-Head or Dispatch groupy, but instead, a person who likes to blare my music when I'm cleaning my room or trying to fall asleep. The things I do from day-to-day will be the things I do and not the person I am. So, when I reiterate, "you don't need therapy, you need yeshiva," I'm agreeing that the best kind of therapy comes from the relationships you build. But in order to make these relationships, you first need to figure out who you are... Welcome to Yeshiva.