Due to aging and feeling less energetic, many things were left uncleaned and disorganized before Pesach. While the pre-Pesach cleaning frenzy is partly about halacha, it mostly involves spring cleaning. Priorities shifted as I helped my daughter-in-law after the birth of their daughter and during her emergency appendectomy. Despite the lack of thorough pre-Pesach cleaning, I managed to set a plan in motion.
I decided to tackle one unfinished cleaning task each week. The first week after Pesach, I cleared out the top shelves in a cabinet where I keep gifts for family members. The following week, I continued organizing the shelves and rediscovered forgotten memories and items. Among them was a trophy I received for consistent shul attendance as a child.
Despite living far from the synagogue and facing challenges like no eiruv and cold weather, I made it a point to attend shul regularly. While the plastic trophy may have been the initial motivator, my dedication to shul attendance eventually became rooted in deeper, holier reasons.