per·i·pa·tet·ic
ˌperēpəˈtedik/
adjective
  1. 1.
    traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
    "the peripatetic nature of military life"
    synonyms:nomadic, itinerant, traveling, wandering, roving, roaming, migrant,migratory, unsettled
    "I could never get used to her peripatetic lifestyle"
  2. 2.
    Aristotelian.
noun
  1. 1.
    a person who travels from place to place.
  2. 2.
    an Aristotelian philosopher.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Midlife Is Not a Crisis

Entering midlife for me has been a perilous journey so far, full of twists and turns, but I keep in mind that it is only one more stage in life and not my final destination. In about two months, I will embark on a new voyage, training to be a licensed massage therapist. In December I fulfilled one of my dreams: satisfying the requirements for a Bachelor's degree in English. Now, I will seek the fulfillment of another one: learning more about--and ultimately being able to teach others--the benefits of massage.


Am I crazy at 47 years of age to undertake a new career like massage therapy? Some of my relatives and friends probably think so, but I have never been one to retreat from a course of action just because someone whispers "She must be nuts to think she can do that!" I intend to prove my naysayers wrong. After all, two of the most important people in my life encourage me to go for it: my husband and my daughter, who is a massage therapist herself.

My daughter Sarah inspires me everyday to want to help people with physical as well as emotional pain. She has realized after working in the field for three years that the physical pain we feel is often the result of repressing deep emotional wounds. Massage therapy can often help bring about an emotional release as it works out the "knots" in muscle tissue. We all have knots (or nots) in our head that prevent us from reaching our full potential as human beings. I'm learning to untangle my own knots so I can help others do the same.

4 comments:

  1. I can so relate! A year and a half ago my corporate job was eliminated. The timing was good in a way, as there was a family illness that demanded caretaking. After the crisis was over, I couldn't stand the thought of returning to corporate life and am now working on building my own business. Most, of my family and friends believe in me and are very supportive and encouraging of my dream. It's not easy making a midlife career change. I too hope to prove the one naysayer wrong.

    You're not crazy to follow your bliss. Life is too short to do otherwise. I believe we all have a purpose here, and yours is a noble desire. There are few things more satisfying than using our gifts to improve the lives of our fellow travelers while we're here.

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  2. Thanks for your comment and encouragement, garden girl. Since I have started blogging, I feel more positive about my goals and about my life in general. The blogging community (especially this one for gardeners) is so supportive and nurturing. Reading everyone's posts and getting responses to mine is like taking a tonic for the soul! Just wish I had more hours in the day to read and write more.

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  3. I hope this dream is happening. I saw "career choices" on list of topics you have blogged about. Yes physical and emotional pain are often intertwined.

    I tried to hand back the chance to start the horticulture program because I felt unqualified. Luckily my friend offered it back.

    Good Samaritan, me???? thanks.

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  4. Mr. S, sadly, the dream is still just a dream. After I started massage school in May 2008, I discovered that I had a ruptured disk in my spine. Not a pleasant experience and not at all helpful for pursuing a career as a therapist. Right now, I'm waiting to see where my husband can find a job before I look for one. We may have to move again. He is a geologist and has always been the major breadwinner of the family. We are a bit old-fashioned as families go these days, but it's worked for us these 29 years so I'm not complaining. I think a lot of us feel unqualified for jobs we are meant to take. It's too bad humility has gone out of style like so many other important things. And, yes, Good Samaritan is quite appropriate. Wear the title as it's intended, with humility, friend.

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