Monika Blogwell

Because I went to an amazing yoga class last night, I’m feeling very zen. And so, today’s post will be a Buddhist story that my father used to tell me when I was younger. It’s not a religious statement, and I’m sure my twist on it isn’t wholly accurate, but it’s a story that makes me feel strong in the face of adversity. I hope it gives you, too, some peace as you make it through day-to-day trials and tribulations.

One day, Buddha was walking through town and a man accosted him, shouting angry insults. He accused Buddha of many things and told Buddha he was not qualified to teach.

Instead of being outraged or insulted, Buddha asked the man calmly, “Sir, if a person gives you a gift, and you do not accept that gift, to whom does that gift then belong.”

The man looked at Buddha and said, “Well, I suppose the gift would belong then to the giver.”

Buddha smiled and responded, “You are correct. And I thank you for your gift, but I do not accept it.”

It’s not easy, but whenever I feel anger swelling inside of me, I am trying more and more to remind myself that anger is poison for the body and the mind. It’s easy to become consumed by negativity, so when you start to feel yourself succumbing to it, just remember that some gifts aren’t worth accepting.

Spring is here in Texas, and that means it’s allergy season. The Little Blue Gem is more like the Little Greenish Yellow Gem now, thanks to an influx of oak pollen.

I’ve felt lethargic and loopy the last couple weeks, and it seems that none of my usual medicines work. So I’ve resorted to my neti pot, and it’s turning into my best friend.

I started a garden last Sunday, and between the dirt and the pollen I wound up doing not one but three neti pots. Call me an addict.

If you haven’t heard of a neti pot, it’s looks like a little teapot that you put in your nostril. You pour a saline solution through one nostril, and it flows out of the other nostril. This may not sound very tempting, but once you get used to it, it’s not so bad. When used properly, it completely flushes out your sinuses (the process is also known as saline nasal irrigation).

I look completely ridiculous doing it, of course. But that’s part of the whole experience: you let your face and your mind go as your sinus passage gets cleaned and renewed. It’s like Pinesol for the soul (except I don’t recommend putting Pinesol up your nose).

It’s a little weird and scary at first, but if you suffer from allergies, I highly recommend it. I’m not sure I could function this time of year without mine.

If you’re interested, here’s a video showing the process.