Category Archives: laughter

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Making Money Can Help The World Go Around

I used to dread the concept of making money and believed in the delusion that the pursuit of money would lead to selfishness, greed and countered my Buddhist beliefs until I read Geshe Michael Roach’s Book “The Diamond Cutter: Managing Your Business and Your Life”. The book had a powerful effect on me as it merged Buddhist concepts of interconnection, financial health and helping people and our world. This was a mind-blowing revelation to me because now I could see money as an integral part of our lives and that it could not only make my life better but also my friends and loved ones.

The basic’s of Roach’s concepts are that by planting a seed in your mind for success in whatever endeavor you pursue, you can succeed if you also help a friend, family member or someone who has the same sort of goal for achievement. This takes the concept of thriving financially and materially to a new level where it’s not longer a selfish pursuit but one that can help people and the world around you.

Now I perceive making good money as a healthy and rewarding pursuit that will enable me to not only help those close to me but also aid me in growing my business. By making my wellness business thrive, I will in turn be able to help other people as well as being able to donate to great causes in the world.

For more info on Roach’s work, check out some Youtube videos and The Diamond Cutter Institute.

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Update on The New Neurotransmitter

I posted before about a theoretical neurotransmitter that I made-up. I know what you’re thinking, “Paul, you’re not a neuroscientist and you don’t know anything about finding neurotransmitters in the brain!”. True, I’m not but I like to play one on the internet.

But not-so-seriously, I’ve changed the name of my new “discovery” to laffamine. The more you indulge in comedy and humor in your life, the more you’ll increase the rate of laffamine flow in your brain.

Check out Jim Gaffigan and see if you can up your laffamine…

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Question for My subscribers. What’s fun about meditation?

As I work on my book, I’m trying to find what people really enjoy about meditating and mindfulness. I’d love to get feedback from anyone who has thoughts about it.

Have any of you heard of funny anecdotes relating to it?

What do you think keeps people meditating?

What might appeal to young adults?

How can I appeal to people who think that meditation is only for intellectuals?

I think that there’s plenty of focus on the how wellness and mindfulness helps stress. I want to focus on the positives and how it enhances aspects of people’s lives.

Thanks so much everyone.

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Having Fun With A Manic Musical Moment

I have an interesting manic memory about an event at my alma mater, American University that happened in Spring of 1989 during my sophomore year. It involved a guitar, a wireless guitar transmitter and a whole lot of rock ‘n roll noise. Sometimes hypomania lends itself to a need for attention; at this incandescent juncture in my life I craved it.

With my new guitar wireless that I had bought on one of my spending sprees, I set up my amplifier in my 6th floor dorm window overlooking the dorm’s quad. It was a square, unadorned courtyard made up of two drab looking residence halls, Letts and Anderson that were built in the 70s, an era when good architecture was sorely lacking.

I cranked the amp’s volume to 10 (though had there been an 11, my solo Spinal Tap performance would have been complete). I sat on a bench in the middle of the quad with my over-the-top Jackson electric guitar that was festooned with a vibrant yellow and black crackle paint job. It was a fitting manic color scheme but now I cringe when I see a picture of it.

I plugged the wireless unit into my guitar, turned it on and proceeded to unleash a barrage of solos and riffs on the unsuspecting residents of the halls. No one realized what was going on as I played numerous notes and chords that reverberated throughout the quad; its rectangular design was perfect for the added echo effect.

The resident assistants and hall staff had no clue that the guy sitting on the outside bench with the crazy gleam in his eye and the obnoxious looking guitar was creating the cacophony that assaulted the dorms. Even the students who walked by me were clueless to my creative disharmony. I remember that one thing I played was the “Star Spangled Banner. Since I was practicing about two hours a day, I was pretty decent.

The only kink in my plans was that my amp was creating a thunder on the 6th floor. Some of the residents on my floor told me later that they wanted to string me up because of the roar my performance. Fortunately, I was well liked and I and my floor mates knew that I was a bit nuts so they didn’t call the staff to complain. I kept the noise to about 10 minutes to avoid over-doing it and getting caught. I apologized to those on my floor that I had inadvertently tortured.

Right after my fun, the university instituted a policy banning anyone from playing music out of his or her windows. At that time, it was a proud moment for me and thinking about it now makes me giggle a bit.

Me, my yellow ax and a friend. AU dormroom, 1989

The quad where my solo show happened (minus the kids in the "rally"). My dorm was on the left. I sat on the bench that the dude on right is standing on.

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I’m A New Teacher!

Success, I’ve been hired by Phoenix Natural Medicine Center in Phoenix, AZ to be a part-time mindfulness meditation teacher! So, if you’re in town I’m teaching on Saturdays in March at 10am. More time slots coming soon.

 

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Impermanent Romantic Love = Wonderful Friends Forever

I’m sitting in my apartment on a cool winter’s night reflecting on my recent life. I’m currently on the nexus of a new one and I’m stressed because I’m moving back to Boston in the next few months and my marriage with Alana has ended. We’re on the cusp of an amicable divorce but it’s still a sad time. We’ve gone through plenty of pain and have struggled to maintain our friendship but we’ve also managed to make sense of it all and keep our unique and special bond. Alana is an excellent person and I have great love and respect for her as one of my best friends.

Over a hardy brunch the other day, we discussed the ups and downs of our marriage and why it was inevitable that it would come to an end. We were eating at Chompie’s, the terrific NY style deli in Tempe, AZ (http://www.chompies.com/), and happily stuffed our faces. I had the almond-crusted French toast (the best on the planet), turkey sausage and a cup ‘o joe and Alana had the matzo ball soup and a massive half of a reuben sandwich. If you’re going to do some productive discussion about the end of your marriage, having a major meal at Chompie’s is the perfect way to help with the healing.

Alana and I discussed the good aspects of our marriage and also the numerous complexities that we’ve faced. We talked about how we’ve had some really fun and funny times in Tucson, Boston and back in the Phoenix area. I’ve never known a woman who could make me laugh harder and no one can silly dance like her! But, over brunch, we agreed that being two very creative and divergent thinkers doesn’t necessarily make a good marriage.

Like any marriage, we had plenty of difficult times but with both of us having mental health issues, there were some incredibly challenging situations that were brutally painful. Sure, divorce sucks but after being separated for almost two years and doing lots of processing and healing together, we now both see the light of our decision clearly.

What it comes down to is that Alana and I have always understood the importance of a solid friendship based on unconditional love. We have finally realized that our romantic love and marriage were impermanent but with a core respect for each other we still have an enduring friendship based on mutual respect and a love that’s absolute. It’s been 10 years since we first met and I know that we’ll still be connected until the end.

A gorgeous flower on Longboat Key, FL. Makes me think of Alana and the beautiful friendship that we still have.

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Three Can Be As Great As Twenty

I had the great opportunity to teach a mindfulness class that I created I call Peaceful Minds to some people in the mental health field. This was my second time I got to teach it at the training center of Magellan Heath Services in Phoenix, AZ. The first time I taught, I had nearly twenty people and was really stoked but this time, I merely had three. I’ve taught a class on bipolar mania and had the same small amount and it didn’t phase me a bit. I taught these three enthusiastic ladies as if I had fifty people in the room and it was great. It is such a privilege and pleasure to teach people such positive material.

 

Hamming it up. Pic by Ian Lewis. Being silly is important!