It was the first time I’ve ever walked out of a yoga workshop in my life. Let’s be clear — the teachers were fantastic.

But after my fourth downward dog, I started breaking into a cold sweat, got nauseated and my head began throbbing so hard it felt like it was about to explode. “Oh great,” I thought.

right now:

There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.

Someone you haven't met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.

The other day I got one of those email forwards – you know, one of those anonymously written messages that sometimes comes with an introductory “This made me laugh” or “So true!” from the sender. These days it’s rare that I get such an email, and it’s even more rare that I read it. But when this one appeared in my inbox, I just had to look, in that can’t-stop-watching-a-train-wreck sort of way. Its title: “Why men are never depressed.” Its first line: “Men are just happier people -- What do you expect from such simple creatures?”

Happy Saturday Posse Party, Pinkies (that's always a mouthful)! Please welcome back Trish Rankin, mother of our own Dr. Lissa and Pinkie extraordinaire, joining us today to talk about the power and possibility of community. Enjoy, and thanks Trish!

A few months ago I went to visit the only active Shaker Village in existence, with Shakers still living there -- three to be exact. The only three left in the world, living in Maine. While learning the doctrine behind their existence, I discovered three things that make them unique: common goods, celibacy, and confession of sin. Doesn’t sound like much fun? Give up all of your possessions to move in with hundreds of others, choose to be celibate for the rest of your lives (even if you are married at the time), and confess your wrongdoings to another in your community? The reason I was so impressed with this sect was that the guide not only told us how hard they worked all day and usually into the evenings, but how happy they were. Over and over she stressed it. They were happy.