My office

Posted on 22nd November 2008 in Life, Small business, massage related

I thought I would share some pictures of my office/massage room as it was and as it is now. (Sorry about the small picture, I only have it on myspace and could not upload it to my other hosting site)I still cannot believe that it is mine, though surely not forever. It is mine now and has been for a year and a half. Proof positive that a silly little girl whom never really lived in the real world but in her own imagination can survive in the world.
Though most days I would prefer a story book or hours of day dreaming I do love massage. It brings satisfaction that I am bettering the world through people. It takes imagination so that part of me is not wasted. It is not just for relaxation what I do is actually medically relevant in both western and eastern medicine.

Being that I did not start out with much money, it has taken me a long time to gather and use the things to make my massage room. I changed rooms earlier this year. I have more room that is now filling up.

This is it.

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I thought as a child that working in an office would be romantic, different, and exciting. I had always imagined working on a computer and having amazing amounts of knowledge at my fingertips. I realize now that office work as I thought it does not exist, according to Rick. I think there is some silly romance in being self-employed. Days ago, I was lamenting how most times I have no control over how busy I am, especially right now in this economy. However, it is still awesome. I have my own files, do my own paperwork, and do not have a boss. It’s great!

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A blog written on paper – With a pen, not a keyboard.

Posted on 22nd July 2008 in Small business, massage related

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.

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About Me Section – The extended version…

Posted on 21st July 2008 in Life

I’ve been researching blogging, possibly getting paid for it, green living and skin care related subject. A lot. I’ve enjoyed my experiments with shea butter and lip balm. I’m shocked to learn that mineral oil is used as a dust reducing agent in rice in minuscule amount, but still think of all those people whom eat a lot of rice. A lot of a little amount makes, well more than minuscule. It’s Monday afternoon, 3ish. It’s hot with no breeze through the apartment. I’ve noticed in my research that there are a lot of blogs done by housewives, stay at home moms, career women, regular people. Well, why can’t I do it? My life might not be cliff diving exciting, but it’s unique. Of course everyone thinks that. Oh well.

So back to what I set out to do. I was thinking about the typical “About Me” section in myspace, blogger, and facebook, whatever else. I hope I don’t sound full of myself or self-centered. I love filling them out. I love thinking about little things about me that sound interesting. When I read other people’s section I feel I get a tiny insight into who they are. I’m an introvert so it can be hard for me to express myself to people in person without muddling it. It’s easier to write it down.

So, what or who am I? I’m a girl first. I don’t really feel like a grown woman. I’m 24 and I still feel 17 except I’m a little less angry. I just feel like an adult said, “Okay now you are on your own, we’ll check in later.” And no one ever came back. I finally feel pretty. It took 21ish years. I still feel a little overweight because I have put on some weight since getting out of school. But I am still pretty. I, crazy as this is, met a guy four years ago and married him almost three years ago, and am not tired of him. I make him mad and he does the same to me. But he loves me. I love him. He is the only person I have been able to live with and not resent. It’s really strange. I didn’t know it would be like this.

I went to school two and a half years ago and graduated a year after that as a massage therapist. I rented an office that I still have and worked two jobs for about a year. I’ve been working for myself solely for about 6 months. I like it. But I’m starting to realize that I depend on other people for my business too much. I depend on the chiro(that’s short for chiropractor) for too many referrals and my room. At some point in time he will take over the massage part of his office, which is being run by me now. As much as that scares me I was thinking about leaving anyway. Rick (my hubby), and I are planning on moving to Skagit Valley. But still that is a closed door to me. I’ll just finish it up and then we will move. Or maybe we’ll have to a transfer of “power” first. He’ll take over and I’ll be an employee and I can help him figure things out. That doesn’t sound appealing but oh well.

I love taking care of people, yet on most days I’d prefer my dog and cat to another person. I love animals and can hardly wait until we have a house and a back yard and our fam can grow. Yup, I want another dog, maybe two and another cat. I love my babies, but love the idea of a smattering of different dogs and cats.

I love vegetable and fruit. Sometimes I like meat. Sometimes, like now, I don’t feel like eating it at all. I love Mexican food. I want a garden so that I can grow my own zucchini and beans and have apple trees and raspberry bushes.

We’ve lived in apartments since we have been together. I hear that it’s just a part of life; that you have to earn your home. And even though I love the idea of having a back yard I’m slightly afraid of being stuck in a home. Apartments always have an out. I just need to understand that you can always move. It might take longer in a home but you can still move. I think it might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in one house. It was the first house my parents bought and they still have it. Rick has lived in many different houses. He, I don’t think, views homes as being something that will tie us down.

But that’s not all. I’m Missy. I realized after typing this all out in word, I can’t tell you everything. I don’t even want to tell you everything. So right now, I blog about what I care about, about my career, about my married life and lack of a friend life, pets and apartment living, and so much more. Oh and I like to walk barefoot except when it’s cold.

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it sucks to be a grown up massage therapist

Posted on 18th July 2008 in Life

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!

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