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| Clockwise: My brother had a stroke that affected his vision. My son I had irregular blood sugar levels hypoglycemic to hyperglycemic. My sister broke her arm. My husband had gallbladder surgery. My son had an idiopathic issue with his kidneys and vision. |
I have a regular client whom I see every month. She's been coming to me for about two or three years now, so we've gotten to know each other a little. She knows some of what's happening with my mother and my caregiving responsibilities because there have been a few occasions when I've had to postpone her appointments due to family emergencies.
The reality is that dementia has started to cut into my working hours, and I worry about what that means for my position at work. I never want my employer to grow weary of the unexpected absences or schedule changes. But this is the reality of family caregiving. Emergencies, medical crises, and life and death situations don't follow a schedule. They don't wait until your workday is over or until you have a convenient day off.
And it hasn't just been my mother's situation. Life has thrown quite a few curveballs at our family. There was a time when my blood sugar levels were so out of whack that my manager had to call 911, forcing the cancellation of all my appointments that day. My husband has had medical emergencies, one of my sons who helps with caregiving has had his own medical issues, and my sister has even broken her wrist. We've also had COVID make its way through our household, affecting all of us at home.
Then there was the time my brother suffered a stroke. I had to make an impromptu trip to Arizona because he refused to go to the hospital by ambulance, and I needed to get there and convince him to seek medical attention. Sometimes, family emergencies require you to drop everything and go, regardless of what you have planned or what obligations are waiting for you.
When it rains, it pours.
Sometimes it feels like one thing after another, and I would be lying if I said it didn't scare me. I worry about my family, my ability to keep working, and how all these unexpected circumstances affect the people who depend on me professionally. There is only so much control you have over life's circumstances, and caregiving has certainly taught me that.
Anyway, my regular client recently booked several massages over the next month or two so she could use the remainder of her membership before moving on to take courses in holistic and alternative healing.
I couldn't help but wonder if I had been a little inspiration along the way.
With almost 30 years of experience in the massage industry, I've had the opportunity to explore many different aspects of the healing arts, from the New Age side of the industry to more clinical approaches. I've watched the profession evolve, continued learning, and developed my own understanding of the work we do and the people we help.
One of the things I genuinely enjoy is seeing other people develop an interest in healing, wellness, and helping others. Whether someone is just beginning their journey or expanding on years of experience, I love seeing that curiosity and willingness to learn.
We don't always know how much of an impression we leave on the people who cross our paths. Sometimes, what we do goes beyond the massage itself. A conversation, an experience, or simply sharing our knowledge and passion for our work might plant a seed in someone else.
And if I've played even a small part in inspiring someone to explore the healing arts, that's something I can feel good about.
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