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1 20166 Most prescriptions filled within 10 East St, Pittsboro M F: 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Sat: 9 am to 1 pm 542-7283 Closed Sunday Hablamos Espa ol FREE DELIVERY! Call for select delivery of Waiting?PITTSBORO DISCOUNT DRUGSI nfinite Sky: (Part 6 of 10)by Gregory LouieDear Readers, In my last column, I wrote about the stress of unemployment. Well, I ve found a job! Hurray! Instead of the stress of unemployment, I now have multiple challenges that arise from employment!!I claim this is good stress, stress that leads to growth. I accept these chal-lenges! How? I know that there are many challenges in life. As I have aged, my perspective has grown larger and larger. So it has become naturally easier to accept the challenges of s a general concept at work here ..The larger our perspective, the easier it is to understand the whole enchilada. The smaller the perspective, the less we , even though the concept seems to be a syllogism, practically, it provides me with comfort during times of challenge and change.

2 I understand that I don t have the complete picture yet. So I can wait patiently, gather more perspectives, and accept my lack of understanding with humility and compas-sion. Sometimes, I recognize that I just don t know what the bigger picture is. I can It s simply too early to tell. That is the nature of life, the nature of learning. Looking back, I find that I usually can find a perspective that makes sense. My life represents a learning progression. At my age (60 years young!), I see the value of waiting in a state of not knowing, but trusting that I ll learn what I need to it is with meditation in my daily is a practice of silence that allows humility, acceptance and compassion. Returning to the present moment with awareness, I can stand in the emptiness of unknowing without attachment. My worried mind is full of shoulds. These are expectations of life that remain unfulfilled. And unfulfillment leads to suffering.

3 This is a truth of life as the Buddha cure? Complete acceptance that has no expectations, no shoulds. Easier said than done! Therefore, I practice meditation, practice emptying the mind of my worries, expectations and shoulds. Doing so eases my mind, calms my nerves, lessens my stress, and frees my subconscious to solve problems magi-cally in the background. This is supported from numerous studies of meditation, neuroscience and creativity. Patience, faith and relaxation are keys to meeting the numerous challenges of life with hope and once again, dear readers, thank you for spending your time reading my thoughts. Even though I may not know you, I appreciate you. Saying so fills my heart with gladness. May you also be blessed in your own practices!Gregory Louie is an experienced meditator and taiji practitioner. He can be reached at @ SERVICES INCLUDE Heating & Air Conditioning Appliance Repair (all major brands) Plumbing Building and Remodeling General Carpentry & Home RepairProudly servicing Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Pittsboro and surrounding areas since 1981.

4 (919) Old Farrington Road, Chapel HillOffering FULL Residential Service!BUD MATTHEWS SERVICECall Us for Expert and Trustworthy Service!178 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro SHOP ONLINE! Sat: 10:30 5:30, First Sundays: Noon 5 Where South Africa, France and Everything in Between Collide in Harmony and ArtFrenchc O nnecTIOn SWhimsical & AuthenticShop for fabrics, baskets, metal art, tablecoths, tea towels, African masks, antiques, home decor, and so much more! the poultry and swine industries, and the American Kennel Club. North Carolina is #2 in the nation for poultry and pork production (and #1 in turkey production). These indus-tries don t want minimum standards made on any animals because they fear it may lead to similar requirements being imposed on them. Most of the poultry and swine farms are located in the eastern half of the state. The pork industry alone is a $ billion industry in North Carolina.

5 It seems these industries are inf luencing the votes of many of our state s law really had a difficult time understanding why the American Kennel Club (AKC) would oppose laws that improve the quality of life of breeding dogs. Director Geppi explained that the AKC receives a fee for every puppy registered with them. So the fewer puppy mills the less money they would receive. Each year there are about 30 puppy mill busts in North Carolina. While the AKC and the majority of puppy mill operators are making money, it costs law enforcement and rescue groups an estimated $ 500,000 per every 250 dogs confis-cated. (The HSUS offers a $ 5000 reward for reporting puppy mill abusers who are success-fully prosecuted.)ADDITIONAL SURPRISEST here were a few other issues I learned from the workshop that surprised me. (1) North Carolina is reducing municipal authority by no longer allowing individual counties to have ordinances regulating standard of care for farm animals; this includes horses.

6 (2) Two NC Senators have proposed a bill that would increase the use of wire traps for fur trapping. (I was not aware that in this day and age fur trapping was something people do. These traps often catch unintended targets like dogs.) and, (3) The Ag-Gag bill passed making North Caro-lina one of only seven states where it is a crime for agriculture industry employees to report or record animal abuse they witness at Bill 554, Protect Public from Dan-gerous Wild Animals, has passed in the NC House and is waiting to be voted on in the Senate. I have never understood why it has been illegal to own a wild animal native to the state, such as deer, raccoons, and foxes, but it is completely legal to own non-native wild animals like monkeys, lions, and tigers. This bill will also make it illegal to own these types of the way to improve the lives of animals requires laws to be made or changed. Since North Carolina has so many anti-ani-mal lobbyists, according to the HSUS, the pubic must get involved for positive change to happen.

7 This begins with public dialogue, often requires media attention, and definitely needs people to contact their legislators. This is not an intimidating process. It is typically done by email or phone. When I have called, a polite assistant answers the phone, and you can tell they are taking a tally of whether you are for or against whatever the subject is. I remember hearing a politician say one time, for every phone call he received he figures there are about a hundred other people who feel the same April 25th the Short Session of the NC Legislature begins. They will first set the agenda for the session. At the time I am writ-ing this, no one knows which bills or what dates votes will take place. It is my hope that members of the NC House and Senate will hear from the public and take is a Humane Lobby Day scheduled for Tuesday, June 7 from 9 5 at the Legislative Building Auditorium, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh.

8 There is no cost to attend and anyone can come and speak to their local representatives about animal-related issues. To register for a time to speak to your representa-tive, contact Erica Geppi at the email address below. You don t have to speak to a politician to come to the event. There will also be top-notch guest speakers, and the opportunity to network with other advocates. I plan to be find your state representatives go to receive a copy of the Animal Advocacy Workshop presentation contact Erica Geppi by email at: containing HSUS Humane Score-card: Broadway, the Canine Coach, is a dog trainer and behavioral specialist. For information: or CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Feel E. Raleigh Street, Siler CityGift Certi cates AvailableStillpoint Community Acupuncture ClinicThursdays, 3-5 pmgoing on vacation?read us AN ADVOCATEH umane Lobby DayTuesday, June 79 5 Building Auditorium, 16 West Jones Street, Raleigh