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Health care ~ A non-political view

Health care... to me these are two separate words that have been united in society incorrectly. We bunch so much into what we call health care that there is little care in our health programs.

I care for my health each and every day. I do things that support my care and well-being. I meditate, I swim, I write, I work out, I hike, I do therapy, I eat well, I release my emotions, I clear my mind... I care for my health.

To me, this is the most precious gift. It feels wonderful and it lifts me up so that I can participate in this world to my greatest ability. I have often said, “It doesn’t matter how long I live as long as I live fully and graciously.”

It is such a gift to have great genes (not blue jeans) that contribute to terrific health. I feel blessed by the health that I feel each and every day. Back in 1982, I tested my body. After busting it apart, I had the opportunity to put it back together in a way that supports me and the way I choose to live. Not everyone has had a similar opportunity, and I wouldn’t recommend falling off a cliff any time soon, but it has worked for me. Losing my nervous system and feeling again has given me a deeper understanding of care from so many angles.

I do feel health care is a personal responsibility, however, we all need help from another now and then. In my practice, I see and feel many things in people that do not support health, so I do my best to guide them toward it. Health is the greatest gift that we have.... watch worlds crumble without it. To care about it is even greater. It spreads the love and makes us want to be here quite a bit more than dis-ease.

Health care is AWESOME, when we care enough to be healthy. Be well.... Nancy T.

P.S. Please feel free to share your views on health care here or as a fan of Natural Massage Therapy on Facebook. No politics... PLEASE.

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Acceptance... a long word for a reason.

It takes a  l o n g  time to accept some things in life. I have been focused on acceptance a great deal these days. Some times, things are easy to accept... some things take time to accept.

Personally, my greatest challenge is SELF acceptance. Playing with that one is a huge process for me. Yet each time that I accept a part of me, it is like calling pieces home, which makes me feel whole. In turn, my personal power increases and I am better able to accept whatever challenges life presents.

Expectations stand in the way of acceptance. When I expect something from someone and they don’t live up to my expectation, I am disappointed. Of course, I would like every situation or relationship to play out the way it feels right to me. But, deep down I know there is no room for growth there. Challenges present an opportunity to expand my acceptance of life... to step outside of my comfort zone.

Acceptance is to receive what is offered. To accept me is to receive me. All of me, the good, the bad and the ugly. For the most part, I am a good person. I’m a better person when I accept all of me. I make a conscious effort to step into my day with gratitude and acceptance. It doesn’t always stay with me throughout my day, but I reflect upon acceptance and what might be keeping me from it. I was born a strong-minded person, an independent person. Sometimes that separates me from others. Yet my mind is what brings me back to situations, to reexamine what happened and to see where acceptance fits in for me.

Not all of life is received favorably. It is tough to accept some things. In those times, we must accept what we cannot change or change our attitude toward it. To accept what is offered is not always easy. I feel we need to look inside to see if it takes more energy to hold on to it, or if it is best to simply let it go... to accept what is. Either way, we will have an answer for ourselves.

A C C E P T A N C E... it’s only as long as we make it. NMT

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L O V E is in the AIR...

I love LOVE. I remember when I was growing up and I’d say... I love my bike or I love that TV show or I love playing basketball. Each time that I would express my love for something my dad would say, “You LOVE it?” I’d backdown and say, “Ok, maybe I REALLY like it... but now I know it was L O V E.

Love comes in many forms. My dad seems to think that love is reserved for people only, but I disagree. I love so many things in life... absorbing the sun, catching the yellow hue of the full moon, gazing at the stars, listening to the ocean, swimming in the Caribbean Sea, hiking in the forest, watching the flowers blossom, taking in blue Arizona skies, being with friends and family, sitting on the porch and feeling the heat of the sun on my skin in the middle of winter... on and on! I do love it all and so much more.

Love is an intense feeling. I have fully experienced love and the intensity of it from all of the above mentioned forms. What a gift.

Of course there is also romantic love. Tis’ the season... Happy Valentine’s Day!

My valentine tradition is to step beyond chocolates and flowers, to feel the love that I have in my life. It feels good to feel LOVE. My heart sings as love titillates all of my cells. What could be better?


P.S. I  L O V E  getting cards... thanks Patty, Ma and Dad.

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FUN

     Have you had any FUN lately? If not, what's stopping you?
     Personally, I had a fun afternoon. I met my friends, Audrey & Dana, for lunch. Dana asked for a date to talk about my books.* The fun began as I sat and listened to how my words were fully absorbed by my friend. Dana reflected upon the depth of my book regarding my brother’s death. Each of us shared how writing has impacted our lives. Eventually, Dana aimed his questions in the direction of Polarity Therapy and Unwinding Therapy.* Stories and examples poured forth. I truly enjoyed (in joy) having an audience who was interested in my stories and touched by them.
     My fun continued with some therapy. A client called yesterday in a great deal of pain. We worked out a time and we had a great session together. I love to play with therapy. I listened to her history and then I dove into the story her body longed to communicate. Sometimes the stories match, other times they tell two tales. Work is play for me and I feel so fortunate to have fun with my work.
    A walk in the neighborhood with Beth completed my day of fun. Just as we were headed for home Beth pointed to the sky and said, “Look.” There it was, a HUGE yellow moon... taking that in was a fun way to end the day.
     Last week, after a few major snow storms, I had fun walking around in the snow. Our first trip around the neighborhood was extremely wet as water gushed through the streets. The creek at the end of the road overflowed near the run-off. Beth asked, “Where’s the bridge, wait, we must be in the wrong place?” I said, “It’s right there under all of those tree branches and water.” I pointed out a small section of the bridge displaying its wooden construct. It was fun to see water in Arizona; flowing and changing the landscape.
     Two days later, with bright blue skies, people were out and about. The melting stage had begun. We decided to walk into town for lunch. Without a sidewalk to keep us safe, we only made it to the Mexican restaurant down the street. Both of us were happy to be safe, warm, and well fed. As we made our way home we smiled when we saw two adults having fun making a snowman. Great packing snow was the consensus. The white stuff can bring out the kid in all of us.
     Fun comes in many forms. The thing is to notice fun and play in your life. That makes life worth living. If you aren’t the happiest kid in the park, go out there and have some FUN. Be well... Nancy T.

* Books & therapy information available at www.naturalmassagetherapy.com

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Life or Death

Do you want to live? Are you living your life to the fullest? If not, what is keeping you from having the life you deserve?

These are some BIG questions. I recently had a client who said, “For the first time in my life I feel like I want to live. I have been going through life without that desire for over sixty years.”

This may seem odd to some people and familiar to others. How do you go through life NOT wanting to live... NOT wanting to be here? Look around, I’m sure you will notice the difference between the two groups in faces surrounding you now.

As I have matured, I reflect upon life more fully. I see that I never really thought about wanting to live, I just went through my days as they unfolded. In high times, life felt “worth living”; in low times, I questioned my existence and felt that I could “off” myself at anytime. (That’s a little Chicago talk).

Many people walk this earth waiting to leave. They do not tend to stop and smell the roses nor do they really care to do so. Life is hard, life is a burden, and so it is. I’ve had client’s talk about suicide*, but karma keeps them from pulling the trigger and blowing away the gift of life.

On the flip side of the coin we have those begging to live... who would give anything to have more quality time on this planet.

Today I choose life. I’m grateful for my choice and for what this day will bring to me and for what I will contribute as well. We’ve all heard the saying, “Life is short.” I know that no matter how long or how short my life is I will live it as fully as possible. I will step up to the challenges presented to me and I will experience life through my bodily sensations because that is what my spirit deems necessary and what I am here to do.... to feel life, to taste life, to smell life, to hear life, to touch life.

No matter which side of the coin you fall on, make today a day worth living and then see what tomorrow brings. Be well.... Nancy T.

* One Of Eight–my perspective on our brother’s suicide available at www.naturalmassagetherapy.com

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Gratitude

Wow, 20 -10... Happy New Year!!!

Closed out 2009 in a mellow fashion, yet I am filled with gratitude for the year, for what I accomplished in 2009... namely publishing my second book... Finding My Way From Paralysis To A Rich, Full Life. Although my excitement was short lived (with marketing taking precedence), I have experienced the richness of my initial glee and a deep gratitude for finally getting my words, my story out to the world. I'm grateful for continued book sales that allow me to make a sizable donation to the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation.

In December I visited my cousin Jackie (JJ) who is the person who really taught me about gratitude. JJ is 28 years my senior, yet we connect on many levels. When she was in a terrible car wreck in 1993 I decided to move out west to help her recover. In that time, I found gratitude.

JJ is a person who sees beauty in nearly everything. She sees the grace in a southwestern sunset, the awe of Yosemite, the bliss in a child’s face. When our paths first crossed I thought, “She’s kidding right, how can she think that everything is great?” But the more time we spent together, the more I gave things a second look. I paused to see the sky and the stars and the mountains and people. And I became grateful for the experience.

Gratitude is something that changes my ATTITUDE. My friend Ozzie used to say, “You have a bad attitude!” He was right. In my youth, I was so angry and frustrated that I didn’t see nor allow myself to feel gratitude.

Presently, I find that when I feel gratitude in my day my attitude takes on a warm quality. My day progresses in an easy fashion. I talk to people from my heart and not my head. I communicate with life. I am grateful to be here. With gratitude I drop the “attitude” and life simply flows. AND for that I am so grateful.... Nancy T.


Visit www.naturalmassagetherapy.com to purchase books, read articles,
and obtain therapy or class information.

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