I wrote this

A few things are tumbling through my mind so I figured I’ll write my heart out about it.

In the last year, several other massage therapists have closed their doors.

It’s not because they don’t love the work, it’s not because they aren’t really good at it, and it’s not because of being burned out or not wanting to see clients.

They all love the art and craft of bodywork, but here’s the thing- massage is our livinghood- it’s how we pay our bills, buy our groceries, get gas and all the things that make life what it is.

For all of them, it’s not a side hustle, it’s not a “ barter/trade/ give and get” thing they do to fill in the gaps and get treats they wouldn’t usually get.

None of these massage therapists can pay their cell phone bill with the sourdough bread and homegrown honey that someone wants to trade for a massage.

None of them can go to their doctor with a basket filled with fresh eggs and garden vegetables.

None of them can walk

over to the courthouse and register their tags with a handmade door wreath and a box of goat milk soap.

They just can’t.

Yet in this industry, people are always asking for trades or for gift certificates to be donated to a school, a band, a PTA, the FFA, the baseball, football, track club, cheerleader, Hokey Pokey fund raiser.

Always.

Over and over, again.

They just can’t do it.

Our overhead has skyrocketed, our products cost more than even just 6 months ago, our card processing fees, website, marketing costs have all gone up.

They put things in place to protect their business- online booking with payment required for really good reasons, confirmations and verifications requests and all that.

People sometimes get frustrated

“ I’ll pay when I come in, hold that spot for me and I’ll pay online later. Etc”

The therapists try doing that- a good faith gesture that usually blows up with this scenario-

“I got sidetracked at work and forgot.

I’m your friend, you know how it goes- I was trapped up with the kids, a movie, scrolling for marketplace stuff, a lady minute lunch date that I just couldn’t resist.

Oh, I meant to cancel but I forget—- I’ll book another one!”

This is what causes “ no shows” in this business and for many of these therapists, a “ no show” means “ no pay,” even though the therapist was ready, the room was set, the oil was warm and the music was playing.

So they cut back on staff, switched locations, made changes and some of those lead to closing their doors.

I don’t want to do that.

I love massage therapy.

I know I was created to do this work because it’s always came as natural as breathing to me.

But the thing is, I was also created to be a wife, a mom,a Jamma, a friend.

I was created to write my heart out, to make people feel known and loved, to share my love of coffee and Jesus and chocolate.

I wasn’t created to be taken for granted or taken advantage of. I wasn’t created to stress over whether or not I did the right things, said the right words, or made the most memorable marketing post in gosh knows how long.

Neither were those other therapists.

This is straight shooting.

If you love a massage therapist’s style, book with her ( or him) and support them.

Refer them, review them, show up for them.

And yes, bring the chocolates, bring the candles, the lemons and limes and peanut butter fudge.

But bring it as a gift- that can be shared – because you know that the therapist will be going all out for your session-adding on the hot stones, pulling out the most incredible face and scalp treatments, placing a gift sachet in your hands as you walk out the door.

The door that opened for you.

The door that is trying so hard to stay open because once the therapist walks inside, her heart feels full of anticipation for who is to come.

So book that massage.

Keep the doors open.

It really does matter.

Even to the ones that already closed theirs.