bring it 30!

Last year for my 29th birthday there were a few things I wanted to do before turning 30. You can read that post here.  How did I do?

• I graduated from massage school and I am now a licensed massage therapist.
• I gained 7 lbs (13 lbs to go).
• I wrote on my blog averaging 2.66666 per month.
• I did not go skiing or snowboarding, but still want to do that sometime in this lifetime.
• I was asked to be on the board of directors for a non-profit organization.
• I love serving and being part of my community this past year.  I am committed to continue doing so this next year and for the rest of my life.
• I didn't finish my quilt.  Maybe I'll complete it 2014.
• I did a lot of yoga and meditation, but no retreat. 
• I love sharing my experiences and things I am learning about nutrition with others, but did not teach an "official" nutrition class.

29 has been a fabulous year and 30 is going to be even better.  The things I would like to do, accomplish and be part of this coming year is:

• Start my own massage business.
• Continue my massage education in Thai Yoga and eastern modalities.
• Begin my formal education with herbology, Ayurveda and nutrition.
• Finish my quilt. 
• Gain 13 lbs.
• Continue to write on my blog twice a month.
• Have a daily practice of meditation. 
• Have a yoga practice 3-4x a week.
• Take horseback riding lessons (*hint, hint, cough, cough Kami, West, Rhianna and Jill).
• Serve in my community; volunteer and staff at Impact Training for Quest and Summit trainings 2x each.
• Go on spontaneous adventures once a month.

Yes 30 is going to be a wonderful and exciting year.

Namaste

the perfect environment...not!

My thinking unhappy thoughts leads to me feeling unhappy.  My feeling unhappy leads to unhappy attitude.  My miserable, not so good, unhappy attitude leads to me being unhappy.  My being = unhappy girl.

I am blaming part of my unhappiness on my current job.  I strongly dislike my job and I am miserable.  I believe it's important to enjoy where I work and be surrounded by positive things.  I believe that being in a good and happy environment does wonderful things for my health.  I've had no desire to be there from day one and because of that I haven't put much effort into my actual job.  I love the massage part of it, but everything else I am very negative towards.  My negativity is effecting me as a person, it's effecting my thoughts, effecting my attitude about getting another job, effecting the massage I give and effecting my confidence as an individual. I realized that I am being negative and pessimistic about where I work, I'm afraid of getting another massage job and that I won't enjoy giving massage.  This makes me so sad because I love massage and bodywork.

I haven't been thriving in my work environment, but I am learning to be confident in myself and in places that I am uncomfortable.  I am learning that if I wait for the perfect environment to be there I will have missed much opportunity to make a difference.  My heart is in the right place and I want to do what God asks me to do, but how can I even be open to what God asks me to do, if I'm negative all the time.

My job is not the perfect environment.  It is the perfect opportunity to make a difference and bless those lives around me.  Yes, I am going to look for work else where, but I am also going to be happy where I am at, enjoy the work I do and make my environment a better place.

Cheers to creating the perfect opportunity to bless and touch all of God's children who I come in contact with in my life. God bless us everyone!

Namaste

why massage therapy?

I am an individual who has always been interested in healing the human soul both emotionally and spiritually.  It was a little more than three years ago that my attention was drawn to the cause of disease in the physical body.

Near the end of July 2009 I became very ill.   I felt constant fatigue.  Just getting out of bed was a chore for me.  Within a few days of becoming sick, I developed a large lump on my neck close to my collar bone.  I despise going to doctor's offices' and checkup appointments, but because I knew something abnormal was happening with my body I decided to go to the Instacare.  I explained to the doctor what was going on and he was very brief.  He told me I needed to go see an ENT specialist about the lump on my neck and then prescribed me antibiotics.  It bothered me a great deal that he would give me pharmaceutical drugs when he couldn't diagnose my problem.

A few weeks later I sat in an ENT doctor's office.  During the exam he asked me questions about my symptoms and then immediately ordered a chest x-ray, CT scan and biopsy.  I am grateful for this specialist because he showed me what it means to care about your profession and your patients.

On August 31, 2009 I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Disease.  Even though I knew something wasn't right, I was not expecting to be told that I had cancer.  I was shocked, emotional, distressed and didn't know what to expect.  Within a matter of minutes, maybe even seconds, a peaceful serenity enveloped me and I knew that this was not my time to go.

My experience with various doctors, having cancer and going through chemotherapy treatments has led me on a journey I never expected to travel.  What it has done for me is given my life direction, unconditional love  for mankind, and healing.  It has given me a passion to share with others that everyone has options to choose beyond conventional medical practice and that's something I didn't have.

My life's direction now is to create a space of healing, peace and compassion for individuals in their own lives on both a physical and spiritual level.

Namaste


NOTE: This is my entrance essay I wrote for admittance to Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 2011.

massages, marijuana and mormon missionaries

Fall 2011
I am going to massage therapy school in San Diego, CA.  For my Swedish massage class I am required to have a minimum of 16 massages outside of our class time by the end of the semester.  Because of that some of my classmates and I get together often to practice and coach each other on giving massages.

It's a Friday night and my classmates Beatriz, Christine and a few others are over at my place having a massage party.  My roommate, Naenae is expecting company anytime as well.  So we have two massage tables set up in my front living room with two naked girls (under sheets of course) on the tables.  The smell of marijuana permeates my apartment, almost as if we are enjoying it ourselves (my neighbors are frequent pot smokers).

A knock sounds at the door, I open just enough to see who's on the other side, expecting Naenae's friend.  It's two Elder Mormon missionaries!  I slam the door fast, without a word.  I didn't know what to do or what to say to them.  I turn around and say something to my friends about missionaries being at the door.  Christine and I slowly open the door ajar to stick our heads out and tell them they have to go away because we're having a massage party.  I'm sure the missionaries got a good laugh, felt awkward or both, I sure did.

Namaste


NOTE:  For those not associated with the Mormon religion, members commit to living high moral standards and no substance abuse including, but not limited to abstinence before marriage and sobriety.

happy birthday to me!

Today I am 29 years old.  I've decided that I am going to make it the best year of my twenties and go out with a bang.  This next year I will go to where I have never gone before and do things I have never done.

So... Where do I want to go and what do I want to do? 

• Go to massage therapy school and get my massage license
• Gain 20 lbs.
• Write on my blog twice a month
• Go snowboarding for the first time ever
• Get involved with a non-profit organization
• Be of service and volunteer regularly (1-4x month)
• Finish my quilt
• Go on a yoga retreat
• Teach a nutrition class

Now... How will I accomplish these things and get to where I want to go? 

First, be my powerful, courageous self and let my light shine.  Second, be open to the lessons that come my way and learn from them.  Third, let go of attachment and expectation that things have to look a certain way. Fourth, be open to change and that anything is possible.  Fifth, remember to breath and take one step at a time.  Sixth, live in the present moment, be conscious of choices, and love the journey.  Seventh, God is in the details.  God is everywhere and in everything. God is part of my process, my life and my journey.

Namaste.