UPBEAT TIMES, INC • February 2016 • 9 WORDPLAY: MAITRI


Santa Rosa. CA. ~ [my-tree] I recently met a woman named “Maitri” –an uncommon name. I exclaimed that I work with another sweet woman named Maitri, who said it means kind- ness and friendship.


Figuring


we can’t off er or receive too much goodness or benevolence in our lives, for February, I’m exploring the art of caring.


In Hindu mythology, the San-


skrit word maitri has various connotations, such as friendli- ness, being on the same wave- length, expressing good will, or actively being involved with others in a mutually benefi cial way.


It’s like the word “metta,”


the sacred Pali language of T eravada Buddhist traditions, and the name of a beautiful meditation practice I teach in my mindfulness class. It begins with generating kindness


to-


wards ourselves, then extends to loved ones, strangers, en- emies, and eventually to all liv- ing things. In 1993, my awareness of


bestowing kindly, generous acts was expanded greatly. I’d bought a little book compiled by the editors of Conari Press, Berkeley.


Random Acts Of


Kindness contains stories of ev- eryday people like you and me doing spontaneous, inspired acts for others. T e foreward states, “Random acts of kind- ness are those…things we do for no reason except that, momentarily, the best of our hu- manity has sprung, exquisitely, into full bloom.” I’ve used my dog-


eared copy in many of my classes, stir- ring tales of both of- fering and being of- fered random acts of maitri. Writer Ann Herbert started the movement with her oſt en quoted words: “...dance with those you love...T e rocks are watch- ing, and the squirrels and the stars and the tired people in the street. If you love them, let them know, with grace and non-inva- sive extravagance. Care about the beings you care about in gorgeous and surprising ways... Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. T is is your last chance.” Imagine how great life could


be if everyone did one kind thing each day?


Smiled at a


sad person, put coins in some- one else’s parking meter, fed a homeless soul a hot meal, danced with a somebody in a wheel-chair ---tithed to the local food bank or rescued a soggy potted plant someone threw into the trash… When I see someone with a hand-made sign, asking for help, standing at a traffi c intersection, I like to


hand them a wholesome snack bar, and wish them blessings and better times. It forces me out of my protective shell, too. T e Journal of Psychological Sciences has released a study


by Marcia Singer lovearts@att.net


our bodies. We literally breathe easier when we make a positive diff erence in someone else’s life, be it a grandchild, spouse or cocker spaniel. Valentine’s Day 2016 falls on a Sunday. Whose day might you or I make this February 14th by giving him or her an unexpect- ed Valentine? Let’s stretch our imagi- nation, be creative, open our arms. An Irish proverb says, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” And sayeth Ralph Waldo Emerson, “No man can sin- cerely try to help


showing that maitri practices, doing something nice for oth- ers,


is actually good for our


mental health. When we liſt our mood, of course, it also impacts


Shine delight and spread the maitri, Marcia


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another without helping him- self.”


JOKES & Humor # 4


Last night I went to a 24-hour grocery. When I got there,


the guy was locking the front door. I said, “Hey, the sign


says you’re open 24 hours.” He goes: “Not in a row!”


I have a large seashell collec- tion, which I keep scattered


on beaches all over the world. Steven Wright


“You have brains in your head. You have


feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll


decide where to go...” Dr. Seuss


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