When you wish upon a camel
Blog: American TV, talk-show host and journalist fulfills her childhood dream of living in Israel and learning Hebrew
I am famous for this. Even after making a decision and taca, taking steps in that direction, I will silently torment myself, wondering whether I made the best choice.
So, when no questioning occurs, when I make a decision and feel completely "shalem" (at peace) about it – it stands out. It is like, "Whoa. What is this whole clarity thing about? No inner struggle? Really? Am I okay?" It does not happen often, you see.
That is exactly what happened this year when I decided enough is enough - I am going to live out my childhood dream of living in Israel and learning Hebrew.
My love of Israel started at age 11, when my family and I lived in Netanya for one month. The memories are still vivid today. Since that young age, I was always trying to figure out when I would return for the summer to learn Hebrew. However, inevitably, whenever concrete plans would begin to materialize, some career opportunity would present itself and I would cancel everything and stay in the States. I have always been very career-minded, and thought my Israel dream was too self indulgent to take precedence over practical working matters - until now.
May 5th, I turned 30. Yikes! I had now been thinking about this trip for over 15 years with zero action.
I asked myself, "Lara, are you really just full of it? Either do what you say you are going to do already, or stop talking about it!" I knew I would forever regret not pursuing this dream. Furthermore, I realized this idea of the "right time" simply does not exist. My life would never stop to let me live my dream. Did I think taking off to another country would become easier as I grew older? No! The right time would be when I said it was. So, I said it was.
As soon as I made the decision, magic began happening - and now I understand why. See, deciding to live in Israel is different than wanting to go party in Brazil. The "Guy Upstairs" will move mountains to help you go home - and so it was with me. All the pieces fell into place with curious ease: My apartment was rented; I got great deals on movers and storage; my parents supported my decision and were excited for me; a best friend would just happen to be in Israel before I arrived and would find me an apartment. Pashoot! (Simple!)
Now, I ask you: How often is uprooting your life and moving a stress-less situation, free of doubts and uncertainty? The idea is laughable. Moving is said to be one of the top 3 most stressful occurrences in a person's life - let alone when you are going to the other side of the planet, away from friends and family to a place with a foreign language! When despite all that, you feel total peace and ease, it is magic - it is a gift, and I felt the gift. I felt in sync with the universe - gently guided, taken care of, validated in my choice and just... happy.
Thus, my trip began: The adventure I have dreamed about since I was a little girl. Lucky, lucky me. Here I go...
Lara Berman is best known as the effervescent, award-winning host of “CU@USC,” an interview-style, TV show that gained huge followings around the world, most notably in Russia and Japan. She also recently appeared in Discovery Health’s hit, special series, “Baby Madness, Candid Kids.”
Conversing easily with celebrities, your man-on-the-street and children, she has traveled around the country conducting red-carpet interviews at various premieres, press junkets and film festivals. Lara was also featured in “O,” Oprah Magazine for her work with Intuitive Eating and is currently in development of her own television show and a children’s book series.
Lara has an MA in broadcast journalism from USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and her BFA in drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She originally hails from Fort Worth, Texas and loves wet-nosed pups and Israel.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
