Every day, I talk with people who are ready to change their life.
It’s rewarding to see the answer YES to the questions “Are you ready to change your life?”
This year, we are seeing students enroll who have bachelor and masters degrees and who have jobs in the field that they studied in college. The interesting thing is how the pandemic changed people’s focus on what is important to them. Our students are choosing to move into a career that is more heart centered, where they can help people feel better. To this I say YES!
Massage therapy saved my life in 2005. It excites me to see how this career transforms those who attend. here is my story.
I have a Mortality Motivation mindset.
Losing half of my family in 7 short years has given me tremendous motivation to keep growing.
- 2 of my 3 siblings died in their 30’s. My brother was 36 (stroke) and my sister was 39 (motor vehicle accident).
- My 3rd sibling was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in her 30’s.
- My mom died at 59 years old. We found out her Lung Cancer diagnosis on a Saturday and she died 2 days later. It was a wild fire in her lungs.
One thing I know for sure, life is precious. And it goes so fast. It is easy to settle into the status quo of life and just coast; seemingly satisfied with where you are.
Through all of this loss, I was that person “coasting through life.” I was doing what I thought I was supposed to do – work and raise a family. The reality is, I was miserable. I was an IT Director and supporting 150 computers in 10 offices and 2 states by myself. I also suffered from daily headaches and great stress.
I was taking 10-12 ibuprofen every day.
I thought I would die before I was 40.
How I used that motivation to take control of my life
In 2004, I woke up one cold January morning and decided to run the Seattle marathon. I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but not a distance runner. In fact, I was going to play soccer in college, but my brother told me they ran 5 miles every day and I just couldn’t do it. I let fear lead my decisions.
Getting my first massage while training for my first marathon in 2004, I realized that I could have a better life. I had an epiphany while getting that first massage that massage is what I had been looking for my whole life – not as a career, but for my own health.
Over the many months of training, my massage therapist talked to me about becoming a massage therapist – he said I would be good. I asked why he thought that and he said that because I was an athlete, and I had recovered from injuries, I would understand how the body moved and injury recovery. Interesting…
I decided to go to massage school after running that marathon. Which by the way was the most challenging thing I had ever done. I remember tears as I crossed the line, thinking of my family and wishing they were there to congratulate me.
I worked all day and went to evening massage school. It was the hardest year of my life – but also the most exciting for all the new information I was learning.
Since that day, I’ve never looked back.
- I became my own boss the minute I had my massage license.
- I’ve helped thousands of people feel better.
- I’ve earned more money than I ever would have had I stayed in IT.
- I’ve traveled the world.
- I’ve challenged myself to continue to grow.
- I’m helping others like me find their joy.
If you’re miserable and can’t figure a way out, consider a massage career.
Ask questions.
Be curious to see if this is an option for you.
I always say, lead with love and you won’t go wrong. Love yourself enough to not be miserable another day.
Oh, and about mortality motivation – I am inspired to live every day to the fullest. It’s helped me see that I can be happy. I deserve to be happy. I don’t regret one bit of my decision to become a massage therapist.
We are enrolling at all 3 of our campuses.
We would love to help you find your joy.
Call 360.350.0015 to get your questions answered.
Santa Fe student? Read this article from the SF Reporter.
