Well, I did it. I got in to grad school and start on Tuesday. I have orientation tonight where I will meet my fellow students. Who knows, maybe I will meet some bosom friends?
My parents are happy because they like the idea of me being in legit school and getting my masters.
I am happy because I get to learn about Chinese medicine which appeals to the spiritual side of me.
What I love about Chinese medicine is that it makes energy work more tangible/physical. There are specific indicators that you can look at- like the tongue or the pulse or someone's finger nails that help you diagnose what is going on in the body.
I'm not knocking Western medicine and for an acute problem I would recommend everyone going to their doctor. You break your arm and you are not going to go see an acupuncturist.
Where I think Western medicine fails is in the preventative stage. Also in the idea of what being well and healthy is. Being healthy isn't simply not being sick. That's just the middle ground. Chinese medicine can help people feel great.
Anyways, I'll be able to tell you a lot more in a few years. But I wanted to write a blog post today because I'm about to set out on a big adventure and it'll be interesting to look back when I am done and see where I was.
So where am I? Living in Chicago in a tiny apartment. Which, to be fair, is huge by New York or Paris standards! And would be plenty big enough if I didn't have so much crap. No children, no pets, but one hell of an awesome husband. Still working at 1000 Waves and really enjoying that. A bit overweight but generally healthy. Trying to give up processed sugar and soda pop- and while it is not completely gone from my diet, it is getting much better.
So where do I hope to be in five years... in a house, with mike who has his brewery/restaurant thriving, with a kid or two and a dog or two and my own space to do massage/acupuncture and qi gong. I also want to see my sister married, my brother have a job he loves, my friends have significant others that they love and enough money that I don't have to feel super stressed out.
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
just do it
I'm a planner. I like to plan and scheme and dream. I do actually DO things as well. But I tend to hang out in the planning stage for a long time. Don't really rush into things. Not major life decisions anyways. Or do I?
I guess sometimes I just go with my gut. And it leads me to wonderful places.
And now my gut is telling me that I should go to acupuncture school and learn about Chinese medicine.
I'll admit that it's been in the back of my mind for years. But way back on a back burner. Yesterday was the first time that I started talking about wanting to actually do it. My mom told me that I should do it right now. Don't wait. My husband said HELL YES! (but that's just because he likes being my guinea pig!)
And so tomorrow I'm meeting with the admissions officer. And I've already hit a couple of people up for letters of reference.
And it is scary and exciting and new. And I'm loving that. I'm loving getting out of my comfort zone.
I guess sometimes I just go with my gut. And it leads me to wonderful places.
And now my gut is telling me that I should go to acupuncture school and learn about Chinese medicine.
I'll admit that it's been in the back of my mind for years. But way back on a back burner. Yesterday was the first time that I started talking about wanting to actually do it. My mom told me that I should do it right now. Don't wait. My husband said HELL YES! (but that's just because he likes being my guinea pig!)
And so tomorrow I'm meeting with the admissions officer. And I've already hit a couple of people up for letters of reference.
And it is scary and exciting and new. And I'm loving that. I'm loving getting out of my comfort zone.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Break me wide open so the world can pour in
Holy emotional turbulence, Batman! What a day.
But before I get to that... doesn't it seem weird that we can have so much affection for things like the moon? But I really do love the moon.
Yesterday in shiatsu class we worked our Gallbladder and Liver meridians. To start the class we did a few stretches, a meditation and then a couple of qi gong exercises. And the exercises helped my jaw to finally release. My jaw has been "stuck" for months. Not terribly painful or anything, but somewhat uncomfortable. Like a bone/knuckle that needs to crack that you can't get to go. Or like needing to sneeze and it just won't come.
Well it finally released. And when you've been holding on to something for MONTHS and finally let it go, it's huge. It felt great. But the release of so much tension is overwhelming. So I felt a bit weepy. In a good way, but weepy still.
And then following class I had my free shiatsu session with Steve, the founder/ owner of my school.
Which starts by doing a client intake interview which is a lot of VERY personal questions. And I was weepy to begin with. And they were things that are not easy to talk about. Things that I thought I had gotten a lot better at talking about... but apparently that is just when my protective walls are up.
Because yesterday when my walls were down, suddenly it all felt so very raw.
And suddenly I was bawling on the table.
He starts by working in my hara (abdomen) and he hit the spot for Lungs (which ties in with grief and letting go) and I just lost it. I probably could have been broken open even more but I was a little resistant- I didn't really want to be sobbing on the table with this guy I barely know, so instead I was just heavily crying, instead of outright sobbing.
I hate the "emotional hangover" after a good cry though. And while a good cry is necessary and helpful every now and then, having a good cry in front of someone I don't know is NOT my idea of a good time.
And despite my Lung meridian making me cry so hard, it is actually my Stomach meridian that I need to work on- especially for getting pregnant.
Stomach is about appetite and NOURISHMENT. And while that does involve food and eating, it also means nourishing the soul. So I need to think about what nourishes my life- and do more of that. I was making a list yesterday and was laughing to Mike saying that this will be an excuse to pamper the heck out of myself. I NEED to get pedicures to nourish me so that I can get pregnant, baby! ;)
So obviously this is a short and random list of things that came to me during a five minute period last night but here are some of the things that I came up with that nourish my soul:
But before I get to that... doesn't it seem weird that we can have so much affection for things like the moon? But I really do love the moon.
Yesterday in shiatsu class we worked our Gallbladder and Liver meridians. To start the class we did a few stretches, a meditation and then a couple of qi gong exercises. And the exercises helped my jaw to finally release. My jaw has been "stuck" for months. Not terribly painful or anything, but somewhat uncomfortable. Like a bone/knuckle that needs to crack that you can't get to go. Or like needing to sneeze and it just won't come.
Well it finally released. And when you've been holding on to something for MONTHS and finally let it go, it's huge. It felt great. But the release of so much tension is overwhelming. So I felt a bit weepy. In a good way, but weepy still.
And then following class I had my free shiatsu session with Steve, the founder/ owner of my school.
Which starts by doing a client intake interview which is a lot of VERY personal questions. And I was weepy to begin with. And they were things that are not easy to talk about. Things that I thought I had gotten a lot better at talking about... but apparently that is just when my protective walls are up.
Because yesterday when my walls were down, suddenly it all felt so very raw.
And suddenly I was bawling on the table.
He starts by working in my hara (abdomen) and he hit the spot for Lungs (which ties in with grief and letting go) and I just lost it. I probably could have been broken open even more but I was a little resistant- I didn't really want to be sobbing on the table with this guy I barely know, so instead I was just heavily crying, instead of outright sobbing.
I hate the "emotional hangover" after a good cry though. And while a good cry is necessary and helpful every now and then, having a good cry in front of someone I don't know is NOT my idea of a good time.
And despite my Lung meridian making me cry so hard, it is actually my Stomach meridian that I need to work on- especially for getting pregnant.
Stomach is about appetite and NOURISHMENT. And while that does involve food and eating, it also means nourishing the soul. So I need to think about what nourishes my life- and do more of that. I was making a list yesterday and was laughing to Mike saying that this will be an excuse to pamper the heck out of myself. I NEED to get pedicures to nourish me so that I can get pregnant, baby! ;)
So obviously this is a short and random list of things that came to me during a five minute period last night but here are some of the things that I came up with that nourish my soul:
pictures of puppies and
pandas
trees
the Lake
cuddling
puppets
laughter
getting body work
magic
yahtzee
connecting with people
fancy face cream
baths
swimming
good food
dipping my hand into a bag
of beans/grain
using special glasses and
plates
helping others
making others smile/laugh
having a clean house
looking pretty
letters
hanging out with friends
scented candles
mood lighting
peter lik photography
flowers
colors
pinterest
good books
working up a good sweat
picnics on the boulevard
fresh sheets
circuses
food art
monet’s paintings
music
a good hair wash
pedicures
baking
hedgehogs
yoga
tai chi
qi gong
tae kwon do
hula hooping
thankful lists
presents
eye lash extensions
good glass of wine
shaving with a good razor
lemony drink
sleeping naked
kisses
hugs
I realize that some of these seem a little bizarre- like "eye lash extensions." But hey, whatever works, right?
What nourishes your soul???
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