I've always known the importance of touch.  I was blessed to have a mother that used her hands to care for and comfort others.  I am happy to have inherited her touch. While she was dying in 2014, I was able to return some of her years of comforting touch she always gave others.  I would sit behind her in her hospital bed or while she was in her wheelchair, and gently massage her head, shoulders and neck, as her head slowly started drooping.  Her muscles just became so rigid and painful.    I've always had the capability to make people feel better even if it was a simple shoulder, neck, or scalp massage. Yes, I even did this BEFORE I became a licensed massage therapist!  I had many people tell you, "You are missing your calling!!"  In high school during a career fair, someone from Palmer College of Chiropractic came in to talk to us about being a Chiropractor.  I was very interested in pursuing that path; however, my parents were of the belief that you should graduate from high school and find yourself a good job and keep it until you retire.  I was already working as a waitress while in high school and I loved it!  I worked in the same restaurant for 6 years, until I got my first job with benefits, in insurance.   I started in the insurance industry and kept it until they let me go almost 30 years in.  Some people would have been absolutely devastated by that news, and I was for a day or two, but then I realized that NOW is the time that I can CHOOSE what I WANT to do.  And I chose to follow the career path of being able to help people with my hands through massage therapy!  I was enrolled in massage therapy school by the end of the week!!   I truly feel blessed to be able to help people by the use of my hands.  When someone says, they have better range of motion or less pain in their back, neck, shoulders, arms, or jaws, it just makes me feel I am right where I need to be. I love to learn.  I'm kind of a nerd.  You will often find me listening to audiobooks, or podcasts on anything health and wellness.   I am also a wife, mother to 3 children and a black lab.  My 2 oldest kids are out on their own. Both are successful, kind, wonderful human beings.  My youngest is in grade school, and I only hope that she turns out as healthy, happy, and wonderful as the oldest two.  She is my reason for not working nights. She needs me.