I have made the decision to go “green” at my office for my health and for the health of my clients. It’s been slow going because as at home I use up whatever it is I have there. Recently I switched my massage lotion to Pure Touch Organics Massage Cream. It’s great, there is nothing unnecessary in it. It smells so clean. This is not however my review, you’ll find that at Modern Hippy Reviews very soon.
I also switched my cleaner away from 409 to simple vinegar, water and citronella essential oil. I’m also using biodegradable laundry detergent from Seventh Generation, it’s the Free and Clear Natural 2x Concentrate Laundry Liquid on my sheets. I’ve thought about trying Maggie’s Soap Nuts. I don’t know a lot about them other than they have been used for hundreds or thousands of years. They are biodegradable and a renewable resource so very good for the environment. I am getting low on detergent so it may be time to give them a whirl.
The couple of things that have not been phased out are: hand sanitizer I use after I massage people’s feet, the color safe bleach I’m using along with the detergent, the tea candles and paper towels. I’m on the lookout for green hand sanitizer. I doubt I’ll get more bleach. I’m only using it because it’s there and I have trouble wasting things. The paper towel thing is an easy fix. They carry recycled paper towel at Central Market, I could even get the unbleached kind. I’m not sure what I’ll do about the tea candles though. I cannot afford to use beeswax tea candles all the time. On a busy day I go through at least two candles while burning my essential oils. Though of course, if anyone knows of better options that aren’t horribly expensive let me know.
So that is it, my little massage office is getting greener every day. I’m quite proud of it. Hopefully in the next month or so I’ll have the “un-green” items replaced with eco-friendly things. Good luck and good green to everyone!
First let me explain just a bit. I’m a self-employed (and very proud of that) massage therapist. I do seated massage for the staff at Providence Home Health and Hospice office. It’s about to come to an end. I finish up this stint the end of this month. I really like it but I’ll be glad when I don’t have to get up at 5:30am 2-3 days a week, just once a week for my business meeting. But when they want me back I’ll be ready. Anyway, on my breaks I scribble this and that. Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it does not, but I like it. So here is one of the “notes” on my yellow pad.
July 22nd @ Providence Home Health and Hospice, Everett WA
I always feel so productive when I come here. I make “To Do Lists” between clients, text fam & friends. The only disappointment is I don’t have my computer with me. Maybe I should get a cute bag and start taking it everywhere. I can’t feed my addiction to blogging if it isn’t here. Or can I? I’m just writing on the back of my “To Do List” for last week. That’s close.
I don’t know what it is about this place, but I feel like I can get anything done. Maybe it’s the structure of my day, maybe the energy of the place. Here I feel like Super Woman. Or maybe it’s the 24 oz sugar free vanilla latte I drink every time I come here.
I feel like I have a real job. I think, perhaps, it’s been slowly working it s way into the other areas of my life. I actually get up and do things, like organizing my new shelf. I kept the kitchen clean all weekend. I finally got a shelf for my pots and pans so now my counter and stove aren’t cluttered. I feel like I can think more clearly. I can breathe. Now if I can just muster up the courage to de-spider apartment.
I am so tired. My head hurts and my eyes are scratchy. I’ve cried and cursed. Now I think I’ll just type. It is pretty much decided that we’ll move north in the next year or so. It is also decided that when moving I’ll be closing down my practice here. That means that I will have to rebuild it up north. That idea is incredibly overwhelming. Makes me want to cry again.
Since we aren’t staying around here for long I’m not sure I want to put a huge effort into further building what I have here. What’s the point? Other than making and saving money for the move and a house? If I say that out loud too much I’ll start quitting now. I can’t do that.
Along with this is a “closing door”, the chiropractor with whom I work is going to eventually take over the massage part, my part. Now to be fair, Rick and I decided to move before he brought it up, we have been thinking about it for a long time and what that would mean for my business. It’s understandable that he would want to control that area of the office. He will make more money in the end if he does. All he gets from me is rent each month, a set amount and no more. He should want to make more. But I, I’m not sure, I just feel let down.
As a massage therapist, I depend on chiropractors and M.D.s or N.D’s to give me referrals for PIP, L&I and most insurance massages. What if, when we moved, two years after I’ve set up another chiropractor decides to do that again? I hate depending on people, so-called higher up. I want to be solely responsible for things. I hate it that I am considered an inferior practitioner by docs and insurances.
I must figure out how to make my treatments individual so that I don’t have to depend on anyone other than me and Rick and our ability to market. I have continuing education to take. I have parts of my education I have yet to use regularly. I am so frustrated! I feel so out of control!
