During my stay at the Royal Thimphu College in Bhutan, I had my hair cut by a monk named Lopoen Tshokey. Prior to getting my haircut, Lopoen Tshokey spoke to Tenzin, one of the International Officers for our trip. The monk did not speak English, so Tenzin translated his Dzongkha into English. The monk said he was very proud of me for taking this step, because it symbolized a new beginning. While the monk cut a small piece of my hair, he prayed over me in Dzongkha.
Many people know me as the guy with long hair. It has been a staple of my personality for years. When Tenzin first told me, I was going to get my haircut in a few minutes, I began to feel nervous. This feeling faded as Lopoen Tshokey began to speak to me through Tenzin’s translation. I knelt to allow him to reach my hair, and he began praying. While he was praying, I focused on my past, reminiscing on all of the negative things I had done. The haircut symbolized a new beginning, a brand-new start in my life.
Spirituality has meaning for me. I believe everything has its own energy and everything is connected. The cutting of my hair serves as a reminder to not be affected by minor setbacks. Instead of allowing minute problems to irritate me, I should focus on the positive aspects of life and move on. This will allow me to spend more time being productive and happy instead of dwelling on the negativities of life.
Nicholas S
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