I know it's a bit early, but it's already on my mind.

Does the Rosh Hashana-Yom Kippur time frame mean alot to you? Are you afraid? Does the concept of Judgement scare you? Does it depress you? Or are you more of the positive/hopeful type that thinks that things will be good?

Do you do anything different or meaningful on those days? Taanis dibbur, shul all day, etc?

R'H and Y'K mean alot to me. This time of year scares me too; whenever I'm in shul I'm always thinking of all of the bad that's happened over the year; and all of the people I knew that have died. Somehow the good evades me.

To make my davening more meaningful, last year I stood for all of the davening, straight through except for leining, on R'H and Y'K. I read that it's considered meritorious to do so. I'd like to do it again this year, if I can.

Anyone? Answer any questions.

I like Rosh Hashana. I'm not scared as much as embarrassed, though. Whatever Hashem wants, will be. But how could I have even had the chutzpa to do an aveira? That's my main thought. And I usually dread Rosh Hashana until the last days of Elul, because I don't feel ready. Afterwards, though, it's nice to have started again. And during Rosh Hashana I'm always scared to mess things up...so I act better. Of course, during the week that follows, I don't always keep it up.
But as one of my teachers years ago said, 'In the 40 days from R"C Elul till Y"K, teshuva isn't easy- it never was, and never will be-, but it's easier.'
Also, I usually hope I'll be a better person- I find it hard to daven for the basics. Even though I should daven for the basics.

I think that's a really important point. Last year I had a little list of what I was grateful for, and what I was davening for. I did not pray for health, because hey, you don't think of things like that if you're healthy. If you never have a headache, would you beg Hashem to never give you a migraine? Hardly.

It taught me a realllly serious lesson about taking things for granted.

I don't take things for granted. I just think that there are a lot of other things to be davening for. That doesn't mean that I'm right. It just means that this is how I naturally am.

It means a lot to me, but depends. Everything is more serious. I am afraid and I trust Hashem will do what is best for everything. Maybe I am too optimistic.

The vidui scares me.

I never get to go to shul on Yom Kippur after Kol Nidrei (I'm a poor faster) so I always feel like I miss out on the climax.

I have big problems with rosh hashana/yom kippur.

I can't sit in shul that long usualy. I just can't. its too long, reciting piyutim I can barely, if at all, understand, and way to little davening, although these days I have problems with being in shul on shabbos, so I'm not holding up for R"H Y"K.

although most years, one day of R"H I stay in all day (or most of it) and one day I end up hardly being in shul at all.

although for a long time I'd skip out on the piyutim and sit outside and listen.

but also, for a long time, I used to see a girl friend (not romantic) of mine and for alot of time, till I was about I dunno. 20 or so, she'd hold me cause of how misserable I was. I still feel emberassed.

(it would be often one of the few times I'd actualy get to see her.)

(and often times we would spend the piyutim parts of davening talking. she's one of the few people I can make laugh.)

I dunno. I'm just not that good a person.

(and lately, just sitting in shul is all rosh hashana means to me. I mean to shofar is nice, and I do connect, but the sitting in shul for so long is so overwhelming I can't take it.)

The Elul fear is LItvishe.

Chodesh Elul
Thoughts on the Month of Elul - Based on talks by the Lubavitcher Rebbe

http://maxpages.com/mikveh/

Currently, I am VERY VERY freaked out about Rosh Hashana. A lot of scary things happened to many people around me recently and emotionally I'm very concerned as any of the many things could have happened to me or my family.

I had similar thoughts last Elul when 2 relatives had been diagnosed with cancer within a few months of each other.

Basically RH makes me VERY VERY nervous as I really don't get to daven so it's not even like I get a chance to 'plead my case'. However, I did make mh promise me a few nights ago that even if he has a hard time davening for himself, he's gotta' daven for me this year (and us, and kids, etc. but it's different when someone else is relying on you.) I told him I don't care if it's hard, since I can't daven, he's got to shoulder that burden.

Now, I gotta' hope/pray that Hashem realizes I'm really just a big baby and can't handle anything.

I take it you've never read Likutei Diburim.....

Say what?

When I think of Elul, there's a shutdown of my emotional system. Too much to handle.

For those that responded that it's hard to get to shul - how is that? If you have kids, why not get a babysitter? Isn't this time of year important to make time for shul and prayer?

It's not easy to get a babysitter on such days.

Likkutei Diburim and other such comments aside, that is what I have been told. Chassidim don't "faint" at the idea of an upcoming Elul/Tishrei season.

Unless they're cooking, lol !!!!!!!!!!

DuncePolice, don't you daven in a shul with a kiddie program? My shul has THREE such programs !

Fear of Elul is FAR from fainting. That's quite a leap. What about K'vakoras Royeh Edroi etc..?

No kiddie programs. I wasn't responding about myself though. I switch off with my sister.