
08/30/2025
This is one of the most beautiful Saturdays I have ever seen!
Oh my gosh; if the weather had to be described by one word, I would say PERFECT.
Please tell me YOU have gotten out and about today?
Don't miss it, friend.
It's absolutely life-giving out there.
I have had something on my mind to chat with yall about for quite awhile.
(Oh gosh- what now, right? 😂)
Well, it's a serious matter and I want to speak as a friend, out of concern and as a professional, out of care.
When I was in school for Massage Therapy,
one of the first lessons we were taught was:
"to treat the client as a person and not as a diagnosis."
Which means I am to treat YOU as YOU and not
as the Sciatic pain you may be feeling from time to time.
Or the Diabetes that you have.
The POTS you may have.
The Vertigo, Cancer, High Blood Pressure, Lymphadema, Degenerative Disc Disease, Arthritis, ADHD, Parkinson's-
Let me explain a little more.
One day I had a client sit in my massage chair and I had been working with her for almost 7 months.
And every single time she sat in that chair she started the conversation with:
" I'm sorry I'm late; my anxiety and Depression
are bad this week and I just forget."
And during the course of her session she mentioned HER anxiety and Depression at least every other sentence.
One day, I could no longer take hearing it.
I wasn't angry.
I was concerned and aware of the proclamation of symptoms of illness trying to become this person's entire life because she constantly dwelled in it.
(And by no means am I belittling or downplaying any health issue.
I have the utmost sympathy and compassion for every person dealing with any health concerns.)
I spoke up:
" Do you realize that since I have worked with you that you have mentioned YOUR anxiety and Depression at least 5 or more times in every conversation we've had?"
This statement completely stopped her in her tracks.
I could see the shock on her face.
She said:
" Oh my gosh. Have I really been talking like that? I never even realized it until you said something about it. I have been so consumed by these things that it's really all I think about."
I asked her to try an experiment.
To try to go at least an hour without mentioning Anxiety or Depression.
She looked at me and said:
" I'm not sure I will be able to.
It's been a part of my life for so long."
Friend.
I never want to sound cruel or mean or judgmental.
In no way am I speaking from a place other than love and care.
I have an extra special interest in mental health and I see what has started happening to folks; they are becoming a diagnosis.
You know what-
You may have Diabetes.
But that is an illness that is out of your control.
It is a malfunction of an organ to produce insulin in your body; it is not WHO YOU ARE.
STOP making it your life.
It is a piece of your life.
It can be treated, managed and you can live as healthy and vibrantly as the next person.
That is your choice.
There is always help if you make the investment.
Ok.
You have Arthritis.
It is not WHO YOU ARE.
That is a condition of the joints.
It can be managed.
You can treat the symptoms of Arthritis with Massage Therapy for temporary relief.
Movement is also excellent to halt the progression.
Heat, anti-inflammatories, water therapy.
But keep going!
Stop letting it become YOU.
Stop blaming it for life you are not living-
By your own choice.
You probably understand my concern by now.
Get ACTIVE.
Stay ACTIVE.
Life with INTENT.
Live WITH the symptoms; don't BECOME the illness!
Treat your mind with delicacy, importance and kindness.
When you allow yourself to continually dwell in negativity and thoughts that do not bring joy, it becomes YOU.
You may not even be aware of it.
I see YOU.
Not your symptoms.
I love YOU.
And your symptoms.
Let's treat YOU and this can help the symptoms.
Let me encourage you to keep pushing forward.
Whether it feels like it's through quicksand or through a field of sunflowers.
Aren't YOU worth that?
If you are feeling overwhelmed and consumed by health issues, reach out to health professionals.
We are here to help lift you up.
To pull you out of a consuming thought pattern that could become a lifestyle.
Because to me, you are worth it.