Pandora's Box

In our last staff meeting, Nelly, one of my co-workers (who is also a licensed acupuncturist), gave us all a presentation on stress-management techniques.

First, Nelly handed us each an egg and asked us to crack it, releasing all of our stress in the act of demolishing the egg.

I carefully wrapped my egg in about five layers of paper towels, fearing the inevitable spoog that would result when the egg cracked.

"Okay, go!" Nelly called out to the room.

There was a long pause. Egg shell is much harder to crush in the palm of your hand than you might imagine. I was determined. I took my other hand and used both hands together and then finally...

>*crack*<

~splash~

My egg was the first to explode. A spray of slimy wet egg white splattered from my palms into my hair, onto my jacket sleeve, into my lap - and worst of all... down the front of my low-cut tanktop.

I quickly chased the egg droppings with the now half-saturated paper-towels. The trail leading down my shirt pooled just above my belly button. I hesitated standing up to get more towels for fear the trail would drip farther south.

After the egg fiasco, Nelly came around the room and one-by-one taped these little seeds inside our ears. She placed it at about the shenmen spot on this ear diagram. She instructed us to keep this seed-like bandaid on for a week and press on it from time to time - especially when we are feeling anxious or stressed. I was intrigued during my search for an image for this posting to learn that ear acupressure has been researched as an effective treatment tool for stress and anxiety. I figured I needed to squeeze the seed just to relieve my anxiety over being covered in raw egg right before starting a full 8-hour day of school lectures!

My next class was a physical assessment lab. I disrobed to put on a gown so my classmate could examine my heart more easily. As I pulled off my tanktop, what did I find? Egg white glued to my breast by yolk. Fortunately, laughter is a good stress-release as well.