Every year Rosh HaShana comes at me like a speeding train. I wasn't ready and I didn't see it coming. Suddenly I am jumping and running alongside, trying to get aboard. I can see people sitting on the train, people that got on the train when it was at the station. People that leapt on when it was rolling slowly. Some people a little out of breath, but finding their seats. And then there's me. I'm running and running, but I can't find a way on.

How do all these people know where the station is, I ask myself. How do they know when to start getting ready? Where do they get their schedules? When the ride is over and people are departing, I ask one of the passengers. Simple, she replied, we got on in Elul.

Each year I tell myself: This is the year Elul is the month leading up to the High Holy Days. Elul is 29 days to prepare yourself for the events of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. And without preparation it can feel as though you are being passed by a speeding train with no chance of getting on.

So each year I tell myself: This is the year! This year I will daven everyday of Elul. This year I will focus on spiritual matters for 29 days. This year, instead of novels and movies I will learn Torah for a month. This year I won't indulge in materialistic things like clothes and fancy food. This year I will forgive all those that have hurt me. And this year I will make an accounting of my deeds of the whole year and ask forgiveness for the many whom I have hurt. And the first day goes well. The next day is okay. By the third day I feel overwhelmed that I have 27 days to go. And by the fourth day I realize that there is no way I can keep this up for a whole month. And so I give up.

But this year I'm going to try something different. This year I'm going to better myself today. Just today. This year I'm going to try harder, Just for today.

Just for today I'm going to try to think well of those I encounter.

Just for today I'm going to smile more at strangers, without worrying about looking like a fool.

I'm going to smile more Just for today I'm going to turn off the computer when my kids come home from school and spend a few hours being fully "available" to them.

Just for today I'm going to handwrite a letter, instead of an email.

Just for today I'm going to forgive my husband for all the past hurt.

Just for today I'm going to focus on my son and show him that he is the most important thing in the world to me.

Just for today I'm going to be okay with the way I look.

Just for today I'm going to pray with an open heart.

Just for today I'm going to thank G‑d for the nice things around me.

Just for today I'm going to look at this world that G‑d created as though I've never seen it before.

Just for today I'm going to call up my grandparents and let them know how glad I am that they're here.

Just for today I'm going to do something nice for someone else without them knowing.

Just for today I'm not going to worry about opening my heart and getting hurt.

Just for today I'm going to tell my parents I love them.

Just for today I'm going to let myself laugh hard.

Just for today I'm going to let go of the past and see things anew.

Just for today I'm going to forgive and ask for forgiveness from others and from G‑d.

Just for today I'm going to forgive myself for being flawed.

Just for today I'm going to love myself as I am.

And I can do this. Because it's just one day.

And then maybe when the day comes that our Sages say is "The Day"- Rosh HaShana, I'll be there too; I'll be on the train.