12/03/2024
It’s the third day of Advent, and in the first year I’ll be observing it. When I popped online several months back and tucked in a line about returning to Catholicism amidst a larger life update, I wasn’t sure yet if it was anything I would share about. If there was anything I learned from having rode the post-lockdown wave of “Spiritual Coaches,” it was that some aspects of the journey need to be private. Sometimes whole seasons need to be private, kept away from prying eyes while the experiences are properly and fully composted within.
I haven’t been sure if I wanted to open myself up to criticism and debate while still finding my footing. I have a Tortoise Mind- I have to mull it over, examine it from every angle before I know what I think and feel. I’ve been afraid that I won’t yet have an answer to a question that will result in me looking foolish. (Incidentally, I’m not sure being afraid of looking foolish has ever adequately prevented it.)
I’ve also been afraid of alienating people I’ve come to know over the last few years. There are people whose voice I would dearly miss, even if their message often reflects beliefs I no longer hold. And I wondered if my massage clients would feel uncomfortable or put off by the change.
But something happened a few days ago while I was thinking about my first foray into Advent-
By not being open about my faith I’m doing a massive disservice to the people who are looking for someone like me. Belief systems don’t necessarily influence massage or come into play during sessions, but I have seen a number of people desiring a Christian massage therapist who might incorporate their faith into their work.
I also realized that approximately zero of my current clients would turn tail and run. If they want to talk about it, we can. If they don’t, they never need be worried that I’d press it upon them.
So things will look and sound a little different around here. You might stick around, or you might create a little distance. I understand if you gotta go.
Advent is about waiting, reflecting, and preparing. It's a time that invites us to slow down and look inward while keeping our hearts open to what’s to come. Sharing this journey feels a little vulnerable, but it also feels right—like lighting a candle in the dark and trusting that it will guide someone who needs it.
If you’re here for this next chapter, welcome. If you’re not, I hope you find peace wherever your path takes you. Either way, I’ll be here, showing up quietly, a little braver than yesterday, and trusting that this season—like all seasons—is a gift meant to be fully lived.
