So, please.
It’s the Three Weeks.
I know you’re going to fast. I know you wouldn’t set foot in a movie, or listen to any music on the radio.
Perhaps you won’t launder your clothes or take a trip anywhere for fun.
But it’s the Three Weeks. And why should any of these weeks be any different than the other weeks of the year?
I mean you still might hit or emotionally abuse your wife. But it’s okay as long as you don’t bathe “for pleasure.”
You’ll sit on the floor and painfully fast during Tisha B’Av. But you’ll become so proficient at loshon hora that it becomes normal.
You know where I’m going with this.
It’s all a show. It’s spiritual costume jewelry.
That is, unless you really mean it this time.
You will join that 12-Step group for your substance abuse.
You will take your spouse to counseling for real this time, and work out whatever it is holding back your marriage.
And you will tell your children how really, really proud you are of them, and how much you love them.
Anybody can say words. Anyone can work can wring their hands in righteousness.
But not everyone can be “authentic” with HaShem, with the people they love, and with themselves.
Until that authenticity happens to even all of you “scholars” out there,  you might as well keep the bricks and mortar in storage somewhere.
This is about personal growth and the guts to break oneself down, and rebuild oneself.
Start there, the Temple will come later.