Doing it Yourself

Dear Patient,

“Do you ever do acupuncture on yourself?” a person will ask me.

I do, but I’d much rather have another acupuncturist treat me. I’m a little squeamish when it comes to sticking needles into my own body.

But there’s something more to it. I remember coming out of quarantine and getting my first haircut in many months. And oh, those blissful minutes my stylist spend washing my hair, rubbing my scalp in circles as he worked in the shampoo. The simple touch of another human. I could massage my own scalp for days and it still wouldn’t feel as good. 

Yes, I can do acupuncture on myself but it’s a lonely endeavor. The needles hurt more when I do it myself, but more than that, I like being helped by another human. Capable as I may be at doing acupuncture, doing it on myself isn’t the best way. 

There’s something missing when we try to take on everything ourselves. Getting acupuncture, getting your hair washed, accepting help—these are invitations to expand your heart, to receive the offering of another, and to recognize that we cannot be everything to everyone, ourselves included. 

Love and gratitude,
Your Acupuncturist