What’s a Girl to Do?

It's not often that one gets a chance to redefine oneself, to start from scratch as it were. This is certainly true for a cautious soul like myself who generally avoids upheaval like the plague! Yet there are times when change is thrust upon even poor little old me and I must carpe diem!

If I don’t feel exactly capable of “carpe”ing anything right at the moment, I am at least attempting to awkwardly catch—girly style, two handed to the chest—and not embarrassingly fumble said “diem.”

So I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about where I want to go next with my life and, as a result, doing research on massage therapy programs in the area. My dream (realistic or not, I’m not yet sure) is that massage therapy might make it possible for me to work part time while still pursuing, but not being supported by, my creative endeavors. I hope that it might also be a fulfilling way of helping others in a more relaxed setting than the law office!

After visiting a couple of newcomer programs last week, I spent all day Sunday at an orientation workshop at what seems to be the grand old man of Carolina massage therapy schools: Body Therapy Institute in Siler City, http://www.massage.net/. (How early in Both the massage and internet phenomenons do you have to be to get www.massage.net?!)

It’s a beautiful drive out to BTI on twisty back roads through forests and the most picturesque farms imaginable. The school itself is on a working farm and it’s a gorgeous place to learn. During the excellent lecture and hands on exercises in “body mechanics,” “presence” and “quality touch,” I would glance out of the windows to see hawks swooping low over the fields and occasionally stooping after a small furry dinner. After class I took a walk through the fields myself, around the pond and past radiant yellow irises and fragrant honeysuckle (another delightful new floral experience for someone from honeysuckleless Chicago—but I shall keep my gushing to a minimum).

I am most tempted by this beautiful, supportive place and by this potential career.

At the very least Dan is going to be one happy, relaxed fellow for the next year or so if I go for it…