It's October, the theme for all my in-person yoga classes is 'Abundance'. Whilst reflecting on the the idea of abundance a number of personal stories sprouted. Here's the first one. It's about my older sister.

Once Upon a time, in a suburb of Jerusalem, lived a woman who dressed from head to foot in black. Not got style black; the black of the Polish Ghettos of the 19th Century.

Her name is Rochel. And she is my sister.

Rochel went to visit Israel 30years ago and never came back. She had an arranged marriage and became extremely orthodox in a way that cut her off from the rest of the family. If you've seen the film 'Fiddler on the Roof' it will help give you some context.

Rochel works a few hours a week. Her husband didn't work at all, as we understand the word, when he was alive. In fact, 5 days a week he would study the Torah at a religious seminary. This was his work, and this was a source of pride for Rochel. Her husband, the scholar!

When she first went to Israel, I would quiz her about many things relating to the practicalities of living. I mean how do you eat and put a roof over your head without working!

Her answer to my questions was simply to say, 'God will provide'. These words, uttered with unwavering conviction, were like a mantra for her. I just found them annoying, naive, and delusional. From where I sat, it looked suspiciously as if our parents were doing the providing.

Rochel appeared oblivious to life's daily challenges. And yes, whenever I asked, her response was always the same 'God will provide'. It was a bit like watching a tightrope walker without a safety net - thrilling and bewildering.

As the months turned into years, Rochel's faith in the divine's benevolence has never wavered. And she has always been provided for.

My attitude has changed. Irritation and frustration has been replaced by a kind of admiration. I began to see something different beyond the surface. Rochel wasn't just relying on our parents; she was demonstrating a profound belief in the abundant nature of the universe. It wasn't only about divine intervention; it. was about living in harmony with the ebb and flow of life.

Rochel sees the world through a different lens, and this lens isn't necessarily confined to that of being an Orthodox Jew. It's about faith; it's about trusting in the innate goodness of life, about recognising that scarcity is often a creation of our own fears.

Rochel has gone from laughing stock to abundance mindset guru for me. Wouldn't it be great to worry less about material practicalities and more about living a meaningful life? I want more of this simple, yet profound philosophy to seep into my mindset.

As I reflect on my older sister's journey, I've come to understand that her 'God will provide' mantra isn't a dismissal of responsibility or a plea for divine intervention. It is a declaration of faith in the inherent abundance of the universe - a faith that allows her to live a life free from the shackles of worry and doubt.

Rochel's story is a gentle reminder to all of us that an abundance mindset is not only about what we have but also about how we perceive what we have. It's about having faith in the bounty of the universe, and, perhaps more importantly, in ourselves.

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