Out Like a Lion!

So much for the end of winter....we actually had some snow and sleet yesterday. Currently it has changed to rain so I am excited to see all the greenery and flowers as the weather gets warmer in the next couple of weeks....we hope. Hard to believe that Easter is right around the corner. March has flown by and everyone in Boston is preparing for the beginning of a new Red Sox season as they attempt to defend their World Championship by starting their season in Japan. If you haven't heard, the Celtics are having a record season as well having just ended the Houston Rockets 22 game win streak and continue to add wins to the NBA's best record. I'm not a big fan of the NBA because it seems to be too individual with the stars taking all the shots and making or breaking their team, but this year's Celtics squad seems to be sharing the load. I don't profess to be the biggest fan, I'll leave that moniker to my buddy Arto, but it has been enjoyable watching them compete this year.

Acupuncture school has been full of new experiences such as electroacupuncture, which is stimulation of needles using a slight electrical current, and old ones, such as preparing for a test every week. We are starting to put some pieces of this whole Chinese medicine puzzle together (at least that is what they tell us) as we prepare for a Comprehensive Exam in the middle of May. I haven't started studying yet but went to a review session and am in the process of organizing my materials. It'll happen one of these days.

In case you were unaware, I consider myself to be a Buddhist and had the opportunity to attend a recent retreat in the Boston area at the Shambhala Center last weekend. Luckily it was a slow weekend for studying so I didn't have to stress about getting any "real" work accomplished. Basically during these retreats we do a lot of sitting meditation interrupted briefly by walking meditation practices and tea breaks. Occasionally, we have an opportunity to discuss some of the issues we are having with the practice with a teacher and other students which provides a welcome break from the aches and pains of sitting as well as gives us some insight into other ways of thinking about the same problem: how to open one's self to the world and its inhabitants without fear. It's funny how almost 3 hours of sitting in the same position and walking in silence will clarify things for you....or not. Anyway, it was invigorating and I really felt a shift in my mental attitude and state this week. I did want to share something our teacher told us about daily interaction with other people. She mentioned that a good way to develop an understanding and compassion for others, whether they be strangers or friends, was to try the following exercise:

Discreetly look at someone's face (don't creep them out though)
Keeping their face in your mind say to yourself
"This person wants to be happy,
This person wants to be taken for who they are,
This person wants to be loved,
JUST LIKE ME!"

Give it a try and see what happens. It is especially useful when you are waiting in line behind someone slightly annoying or while driving on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day earlier this week, check out the YouTube videos of the Muppets singing Danny Boy. Very funny:)

May you find happiness and the root of happiness, Cheers!