C3
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARcH 1, 2019
Feeling overwhelmed
Dear Annie: I pride myself and yes, you are at risk of burn-
on being an empathetic per- ing out. My homework for you
son. I’m known in my friend is to try being as empathetic to
group and family as a person yourself as you are to others.
who “has it together” and is a The best gift you can give your-
self is time to engage in
comforting shoulder to
DEAR
activities that give you
lean on. I am also some-
ANNIE
one people can turn to
joy and pleasure.
at work to get things
There is an old Zen
done and remain pos-
story called “The Over-
flowing Teacup,” which
itive and professional.
you might find helpful.
However, increasingly,
You sound like a much
I find myself wanting to
kinder person than the
curl up at the end of the
day and just watch TV ANNIE LANE gentleman in this story,
Creators
but the message is the
or zone out. I don’t want
Syndicate Inc.
same: In order to help
to reply to messages
others, you must not let
from friends who want
to meet up, and I’m also avoid- your own teacup get overloaded
ing chores and other responsibil- with other people’s burdens.
ities. Just taking out the garbage
“Once, a long time ago, there
feels like a herculean task.
was a wise Zen master. People
When I do gather the energy from far and near would seek
to go out at night or on week- his counsel and ask for his wis-
ends, it’s always a blast. But then dom. Many would come and
it seems to take twice as long as ask him to teach them, enlighten
usual to get back to a normal them in the way of Zen. He sel-
amount of energy. For being dom turned any away. One day,
so attuned to others, I’m rather an important man, a man used
blind when it comes to my own to command and obedience,
life. Is this what being burned came to visit the master. ‘I have
out feels like? How do I snap out come today to ask you to teach
me about Zen. Open my mind to
of it? — Sizzled in Sioux Falls
Dear Sizzled: You sound enlightenment.’ The tone of the
like a loving and caring person, important man’s voice was one
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
used to getting his own way.
“The Zen master smiled and
said that they should discuss the
matter over a cup of tea. When
the tea was served, the mas-
ter poured his visitor a cup. He
poured and he poured, and the
tea rose to the rim and began to
spill over the table and finally
onto the robes of the wealthy
man. Finally, the visitor shouted,
‘Enough! You are spilling the tea
all over. Can’t you see the cup is
full?’
“The master stopped pour-
ing and smiled at his guest. ‘You
are like this teacup, so full that
nothing more can be added.
Come back to me when the cup
is empty. Come back to me with
an empty mind.’”
Dear Annie: Quick question:
Do you cut crispy bacon with
a knife and eat it with a fork?
Or do you pick it up with your
fingers and eat it? — Fork or
Hands
Dear Hands: That’s my
quick answer. Assuming the
bacon is served crispy, whole
and dry, it should be considered
finger food. On the other hand,
if it is really thick, you could cut
it into pieces and use a knife and
fork.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Dress well and
remember names. It’s not for them; it’s for you.
When you’re not feeling self-conscious, you
can read others better and your flirting skills
tantalize.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained” does not
account for the sort of luck that come through
an auspicious birth or the dumb luck of improb-
able circumstance, but it counts for the the sort
of luck that’s available today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). If you do some-
thing because you should, then the action will
be joyless. Find what’s in it for you, and then
do it for you. Suddenly, it’s not drudgery but an
expression of your spirit.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Something
you thought would be a setback or disruption
will turn out to be just what was needed to
invigorate your circumstances and inspire a top
performance.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). People adopt be-
liefs without investigating them all of the time.
Social conditioning requires this, in fact! That
said, you have more freedom now and are ready
backtrack, to put certain beliefs to the test.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You were going
through emotions while you made your work
and now those emotions are embedded in the
work. Sensitive souls will be able to feel it.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Family is important
to you, but that doesn’t mean you have to ac-
quiesce to every request (and demand!) of your
clan. In fact, it’s time to consider a style of family
interaction that suits you better.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Grandiose proc-
lamations will be used to cover up inadequa-
cies. The truly able will just tell you what they
can do. Supersized outcomes are no big deal to
supersized players.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The world has its tools
for assessing the success of others, but they’re
usually crude and impersonal. You get to
choose the metrics by which you judge yourself.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You may regret
certain things you say, but don’t worry too
much about it. People really do hear what they
want to hear. And once a person gets to know
you, the listening goes a little softer, the margin
for error wider.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). What you do to
strengthen your voice will also strengthen your
position. This is meant both figuratively and
actually, as great power and intelligence can be
conveyed in the sounds that come from your
mouth.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Maybe you techni-
cally don’t need to prove yourself to keep your
current job or relationship in good standing,
but you’re still thinking about doing the extra
thing that sets you apart. Let nothing stop you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The saying,
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (March 2). Your
dance with destiny goes through style vari-
ations. First, you’ll be the lead, and then life
carries you along. In both instances you’ll have
the grace of a professional, which comes from
putting in the effort to figure out relationships
and work at deeper levels. Notable: Family
makes you proud. There’s a cash win in July.
Cancer and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 49, 8, 1, 21 and 39.