One can never underestimate the power of a small win.
Problem is, it’s too easy to rush right by it without identifying it as a win — especially when in hot pursuit of the “big” win.
Truth is, big wins can also be difficult to identify and appreciate. Notably, the constant and dependable “big wins” that we all have in our lives from the moment that we open our eyes in the morning. Yes, the ones we have come to expect and even demand—sadly, those are hugely under-appreciated and discarded.
Earlier this week, Israeli hostage debrief team leader Glenn Cohen presented psychological angles that he and his team gained from meeting the released Israeli hostages to date.
He addressed what is on all our minds. How did they endure? Will they be able to bounce back? And many other insights..
Small wins. One element that helped fuel them was celebrating small wins. In captivity that looks very different than when living in freedom. A small win in that context was giving their captors descriptive names. Like “the liar”. Or one hostage challenging his captor to a push-up contest and winning. Yet another insisting the when his shackles were being replaced after the periodic shower — he did it himself so he could adjust the tightness.
Small wins that affected outsized results. Upsetting examples to say the least but the point is there for the taking. The power of even the smallest of wins.
At the end of the day, It turns out that there are no small wins. Each win contributes to a huge opportunity. Bigger wins may be alluring but they are no bigger than the wins that are constantly laying at our feet and for the most part are a mirage.
Coming from Pesach — the Festival of Freedom and the birth of the Jewish nation — we just spent 8 days celebrating the greatest win of all times — the gift of freedom, Torah and the gift of an enhanced relationship with the infinite Gd Almighty. Now that’s a win!
The rest of the story is now in our hands — Am Yisrael Chai!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
P.S. Our sincere condolences to Elizabeth Robins on the passing of her late father. May the Almighty comfort her amongst all the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem— condolences can be sent to [email protected].