Some people dream of greatness. Some people even strive for greatness.  But only a select few actually have the audacity and the strength to live a life of greatness. Our matriarch, Sara, who is eulogized at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, was one of those few who lived a life of true greatness. We are told in the opening statement of her eulogy that she lived for one hundred years, and twenty years, and seven years. That is to say, each portion of her life was lived totally and completely. The commentators explain this to mean that at the age of one hundred, she was as pure as a twenty year old, at the age of twenty, as pure as a child of seven.

How did Sara do it?

Perhaps by utilizing each moment and each person that crossed her path. Sara was known as a hostess, as a listener, as a giver. Not by going out and changing the world, although she did do that almost accidentally along with her husband, but by staying in her own sphere, in her own place and inflecting change and growth with the simple method of leading by example. Sara stayed “in her tent” as they say. She worked on herself, on her own character traits, and that created the ripples that brought thousands to her home.

It may be presumptuous to say that Azi lived a life of greatness…but he certainly utilized the short time and the many people that crossed his path. Azi worked on himself, no  one else. He never told anyone how to grow or change. Azi focused on his own growth, which by extension gave all those around him the desire and the appreciation for growth.

We are still at the beginning of a long winter. Many of us tend to “hibernate” throughout the cold months. Let’s use the time that we have, away from others, to focus on our own growth. Focus on what you need to work on. Don’t worry, the ripple effects will come.

Count your days and make every day count!