Tell us about something you (or a person close to you) have done recently (or not so recently) that has made you really, unabashedly proud.
Other than my little boy, whose every accomplishment makes me so happy, the one thing that I am probably unabashedly proud of is the vocation that chose me.
I’m a massage therapist – a bodyworker to some people and I specialize in pain relief and relaxation. I entered massage therapy because of two things: the first was that everyone I worked with during my physical therapy days said I had wonderful hands, and that I should be a massage therapist. Having grown up with a dad who did have a massage parlor of sorts as part of the gentleman’s club he owned for a few years, massage for me had the darkened connotations of dim hallways and happy endings. Still I decided to check it out for the second reason: to work out my issues regarding touch.
I have a history of abuse and so touch for me was really an iffy thing. Touch to me equated sex, and nothing else. Which meant, if I wasn’t sleeping with you, or I wasn’t getting paid to touch you (as part of your physical therapy treatment – no happy endings, of course), then I wasn’t touching you. Period.
I was fortunate to have been blessed with two wonderful teachers when I started – Allison and John – and the gift of friendship and touch with Pam, a fellow student and later friend, who passed away three years ago from ovarian cancer, still giving massages, often for free, till three weeks before she died. Together, they taught me the power of touch in a safe and nurturing environment that allowed me to accept new realities and truths, that a simple touch can be as powerful as the intention attached to it, and most of all, that not all touch is created equal.
These days, I don’t work the six or seven days I used to work in my private practice. I work one to two days in my office and though I don’t have the 200 or so private clients that I used to see, I have a handful who refuse to see anyone else. It won’t make me a rich woman working the hours I do (I also teach massage), nor provide me with a cushy retirement, but no one gets rich just giving massage, and I mean really giving massage, not buying some franchise or owning a spa – you’re a businessperson by then.
But for those of us who still do it, and like Pam, will probably keep doing it with or without pay till the day we croak, we do it because we respect and recognize the power of touch. For the lucky few of us – practitioners or clients alike – we know how it feels when someone with the intention of pure compassion touches us. And if I can help just one person recognize that in the way I touch them, then of that, I am unabashedly proud.
Morrighan's Muse 
Thank you for sharing a post so honest and the inspirational story of strength and courage that you’ve found, great post 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Wow….you story is similar to mine. Thank you for sharing hope.
I’d love to read your story. I’ve found your blog btw and just followed it. Love that you’re doing the Dave Ramsey financial steps!
Thank you for your wonderful story and message about what massage is. Everything always seems to have a double edged sword in which we must intuitively weald for the benefit of ourself and others, while having a watchful eye not to harm.
You’re very welcome! Thank you so much for stumbling onto my blog post! Not a lot of massage therapists blog – or probably have the time to blog LOL
Yes… I know what you mean. I however make time since I do it for work. Its a great way to build SEO for your massage business and also educate yourself.
I have another blog just for massage and health stuff (though I don’t post on it as much as this one) and my own website for my business and teaching schedule (santithaiyoga.com).
I love that you’re using WordPress features to your best advantage for your website as well as to build SEO. It’s one area where many massage therapists struggle with.
I like your websites. You seem to be a very creative thinker.
Here is a post from my art website. They are refections in puddles made to look like the Mountain/Lake reflection scenes.
Hope you enjoy.
http://raytchapman.blogspot.com/2011/11/puddlescapes.html
Oh wow! Those pictures are amazing! But no photoshop at all?
I’ll post my comment on your pictures on your blog 🙂
Thank You!
These picture are photoshop free. Only minor correction to lighting/exposure.
I forced perspective by using a really wide angle lens and being really close to the puddle. So close that my camera was on the water. Some of these puddles were as small as 5 feet in diameter. Much like using your fingers fake pinch large objects by having your hands close to you eyes.
oh all of these pictures were taken in Missoula, MT
Dear Liz, I am also a massagetherapist and I would love to use the black and white image of the “massage hands” on my website. Do you know if there is any copyrights on the image or do you know the photographer?
Cheers Tine