Just recently, I was asked to offer some new 16th birthday advice to a Beloved Spiritual granddaughter. My mind went directly to my Baubie (grandmother) Jenny Epstein’s answer to me when, as an eight-year-old, I posed this question:
“Baub, how do you know if it’s O.K. to do something or not?“
Before I give you her answer and explanation, let me give you a quick description of my grandmother’s early years and why I felt I could ask her anything.
She escaped czarist Russia at the turn of the 20th century when she was 12 years old. Pogroms had escalated in Baubie’s village. Her family had to escape. My great grandparents devised a plan.
The Jews in her tiny town in Russia had befriended the hay man who came to their village once a week delivering hay. He was there link to an opportunity for freedom.
My great grandfather paid the hay man to let my Baubie and her older sister, Becky hide under the driver’s seat. While the hay man crossed the border, Baubie and her sister huddled together as the Cossacks drove pitchforks into the hay to kill any stow-away Jews. Under the hay man’s driver seat was the only place pitchforks could not reach.
At an early age, my grandmother learned to stay connected to her instincts and her internal knowing. She spoke a combination of Yiddish and some English. Her way of communicating to me was direct from her heart and soul. I never had to guess what she meant.
Now, back to her answer:
“Yeah, yeah, no, no”, her brown almond shaped eyes looked directly into my soul.
“What do you mean, yeah yeah no no?“
“If it feels good, and you know what I mean, do it. Feels good, yeah, do it, yeah. Yeah, yeah.”
“If it doesn’t feel good, and you know what I mean, don’t do it. Doesn’t feel good, no, don’t do it, no. No, no.
“What if I get yeah, no?” I asked.
“Then do nothing and wait till it’s one or the other. “She didn’t miss a beat.
“Is this true for everything, Baubie?”
“For everything.“
I am 74, and, “yeah yeah, no no” has served me well in all of life’s up and downs.
Diane Halperin 
I love this! I use it with many things that are so unclear! I hope you are doing well in this very interesting time with so much unrest globally. It sure is a time for spiritual connectedness to al human beings. Love, Barb
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Love this story Diane! I know you have told me about your Baubie and “yeah yeah, no no” before which I LOVE but I am not sure I knew the backstory or that part of her life. I have gotten many good wisdom “nuggets” as I would call them, from you. There was one that popped in my head from you the other day and of course I cannot remember what it was now haha. I think I even shared it with someone. I have learned so much from you. Miss and love you lots. I hope you are well! Looking forward to when I get to see you again! xo Melanie
Sent from my iPhone
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