http://beewellmassage.com/2007/12/20/staying-warm-healthy-and-happy-this-winter-with-massage/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 07 Jan 2009 12:07:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 http://beewellmassage.com/2007/12/20/staying-warm-healthy-and-happy-this-winter-with-massage/#comment-33 The power of holiday touch Mon, 24 Dec 2007 16:02:57 +0000 http://beewellmassage.com/2007/12/20/staying-warm-healthy-and-happy-this-winter-with-massage/#comment-33 Thanks so much for letting me comment here because I felt inspired after reading this writting on holiday massages. I agree with everything you wrote Bee Well, and as a massage therapist I wanted to share my holiday massage story. This is about how I gave the gift of massage, and I was given a gift as well. As a single women with no children and most of family down south, it was a struggle for me to get into the holiday spirit this year. So as I was looking for this love for the holidays I knew I had, I was hired by a friend/boss to practice massage for his family who were arriving from out of town for Christmas. I went there prepared to work and put myself in the state of mind I do for any other massage job, but what I was not prepared for was what I most needed! I arrived to the house, I walked up the snowy steps and knocked on the door. Soon my friend opened the door, we gave eachother a great big hug and I walked into the coziest, warmest house with the aroma of home cooked food and a burning wood stove. I knew this was going to be a good experience. The first to arrive was the brother and his wife who was ill, so I gave his brother the first slot and practiced an hour for him. He reminded me so much of my friend. I started to really miss my sister and wish for her company this holiday season. It took everyone else a little while to arrive so while we waited I helped around the house preparing for the family Christmas party. This is when I started to really feel the holidays. With the family catching up, joking, and laughing, telling stories, hugging and all working together to pull off this special meal I felt apart of something special and new this was a special family. Eventually the parents arrived and can I tell you, they are the cutest parents I have ever seen? Mom is full out Christmas turtle neck and sweater, Dad came ready for the holidays with his santa hat on, they were great. I then gave a massage to the mom. She was so sweet and kind you could tell she was a mom of large family. Where the room was set up, I could hear the rest of the family arrive. It was such a magical thing to experience from the outside. Everyone looked alike and the men all sounded the same. The women gathered in the kitchen talking about food, and the holidays, men around the table discussing skiing and booze. The family moved so they were all sitting at the table in front of the raging wood stove, with music on and cocktails in their hands, it was a sight. I continued to massage the wife of a brother and girlfriend of another brother, both women were so sweet and very easy to talk to. I can see where they fit in with the rest of the family so well. My four hours came to an end so quickly. I really felt that the holidays were upon us it was such a joyful time of year, and I could finally feel it! I was paid and then invited to stay for some drinks, I decided against it. As I drove home, I saw families in cars, houses all decorated, and cars filled with gifts, they had a new meaning to me. Even though I don't have children and my mom and sister are very far away I can have a different Christmas experience with my fabulous friends and people that are close to me. I will make this Christmas just as special as they have always been and will continue to be if all of us have the spirit! Thanks Bee Well for letting me share, and thanks to the fantastic family for the wonderful holiday gift they didn't even know they gave- the gift of spirit.