A Guten Chodesh!

Yes, I know Rosh Chodesh was last week…
I could give you a dozen good reasons why this newsletter is late, but once I settled into
camp, I realized the real reason: I needed to be here to find the message that felt just
right.

As a camp mother, I spend the first few days of camp with many homesick girls. I talk to
them, I distract them, I check in on them. I wipe their tears… and baruch Hashem, I
watch them slowly work their way through it.

But this year, I tried something new—
I came across a technique called I-C-E, and it’s been a game changer. I want to share it
with you, because it doesn’t just help homesick campers—it works for us adults, too.
Whether it’s a slump, a “funk,” or one of those days when we just need a reset, this is
simple and effective.

I-C-E: A Simple Reset

I – Ice
Yes, literal ice. Splash cold water on your face, wash your hands with cold water, or hold
an ice cube for as long as you can. This triggers the “diving reflex,” which slows your
heart rate, promotes relaxation, releases mood-boosting endorphins, and distracts you
from negative thoughts. (A little science for those who like it!)

C – Calm Breathing
Focus on slow, deep breaths—in… and out. This helps shift your body from “fight or
flight” mode. Homesick campers live in the “flight” response (“I want to go home
NOW!”), but calm breathing sends the message: You’re safe. You’ve got this.

E – Exercise
Move! Run, jump, dance, do jumping jacks—just get your body going. Here’s my
favorite part: after a camper has splashed cold water, held ice, and practiced calm
breathing, I’ll challenge her to a race down the road. (Yes, really!) Two minutes later,
she’s smiling—partly because it’s hilarious to be seen racing the camp mother, and
partly because she wins. Every time.
And you know what? It works. Again, and again.

Now… for us.
When we find ourselves feeling off, give it a try. It won’t erase every problem, but it
might just shake us out of that fog long enough to see things clearly and function better.

Try it—and tell me how it goes.
Wishing you a meaningful Tisha b”av,