FIRE...I'll take you to learn...

learn the value of having a community acupuncture clinic, that is!

2 weeks ago I showed up on a Sunday morning at NAP to finish the books for 2007 to be greeted by fire engines and a group of DJs/Volunteers standing outside the KOOP radio station that is right next door to us. A fire had been started (later to be revealed as arson) and there was significant smoke damage throughout the building.

As I unlocked our clinic to go in with the fire department to turn off our alarm, I was shocked to find our clinic transformed from a tranquil place to a dead, eerie space. The fumes and smoke were in and on everything...our herbs, our books, our files. I was so relieved that the fire didn't make its way into our clinic and that no-one was hurt, that I didn't realize until a day later...how much this was going to affect me.

For the past month, I have been a little worn out and doubting myself as a practitioner. I was conflicted, missing going out to watch bands, drinking, not caring about anyone, being a jerk...

As we watched our clinic grow and people coming in the doors who had been referred to us, I really began to question myself. I had strayed away from meditation to make time for marketing and bookkeeping. I was doing mostly Jingei treatments, but almost mechanically. While patients were improving, I didn't feel connected to their treatments.

I didn't realize how far I had gotten away from my own health and incorporating the Tao into my life until the fire. I was go, go, go the first 3 days...like a speed freak. I even started blacking out at random times. I was certainly not one with chaos.

I encouraged Tony to do the TV interviews because he is so calm and they were asking questions like, "do you feel like a victim?" "do you hate KOOP?"...he took it all in stride and just said...from the ashes comes birth. (hee hee)

I, on the otherhand, felt exhausted, felt like giving up. I almost took this as a sign that I shouldn't be treating people. Only one of my friends called to see how I was doing. Oh, I felt so abandoned by the universe...and saw it as my own fault.

THEN something wonderful happened...

Our patients starting calling...some even showed up...offering support, ready to volunteer, ready to play benefits. A couple of my patients read my mind and left messages saying "don't you dare think of quitting on us!" Our volunteers checked in ... ready to work. This thing called NAP is just not about me and Tony and Paul...it really is about community.

So Tony was right....from the ashes...

From the ashes comes my renewed belief in myself as a practitioner...and I can even say as a healer. A renewed belief that I am doing what I am meant to do. Our patients are staying with us. I am renewing my dedication to them AND my own health.

They initially thought that it would take 2-3 months to rebuild the radio station, which meant 2-3 months that we wouldn't be able to treat out of our space. We have good news that we will be back in by the end of this week....it wasn't as bad as it had initially looked.

I am glad to have partners like Tony and Paul...I am thankful to South Austin Community Acupuncture (who has their own woes with construction going on next door) and Peaceful Village for offering us their space and support. So many people stepped up to support us, that are in the community acupuncture community.

I hope no-one has to go through this to realize what a wonderful thing community acupuncture is....(just in case, check your insurance policies for loss of business and extra expense..its worth it!)....but this is really something wonderful going on here.

What goes around comes around, fer sure!

Laura