Hi Friends,
I remember being in grade 5 and afraid that my friends would find out that I still loved watching Mr. Rogers.
He was a wonderful, subtle and progressive teacher for children and adults.
Let's send a very hearty shout out to teachers all over the United States, Canada and the world.
I offer empathy and hope to those who have worked tirelessly to learn the technology to teach via a virtual classroom, to those who have made very difficult decisions to retire or leave their careers, to those who have chosen (or perhaps felt they have had no choice) to walk into a classroom and manage all that will entail.
It's not an exaggeration to say that a great teacher can change a life.
I've been thinking alot about the many people in my life that have proven to be my greatest teachers.
I believe that every life experience makes us who we are and leads us, not always seamlessly, to where we are. From the relationships we choose to the work that we do.
I love the hands-on work that I do.
And I'm so happy to be seeing clients again @ Island Soma Therapy here on Hilton Head. I love seeing the results of massage, stillness, breath work, sound and presence on the human nervous system.
The perfect antidotes to anxiety, stress and pain.
Not surprisingly, most of my life's most important lessons have come from really difficult moments. And I'm grateful for all of those experiences too.
I mean, I am now.
Can you relate?
And, in looking back, I wasn't aware of the significance of many of those moments until later.
Much later. Years later.
How about 20 years later?
Rewind to 1996. The year I discovered what Occupational Therapy was.
I was spending time with Lois, my brother in law's wife, who had just been transferred from weeks in an ICU, to her new hospital room.
(This is the woman who taught me the family tradition of making Christmas gingerbread men)
She had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and almost every major bone in her body had been broken during the car accident.
She and her husband had been hit head on by a drunk driver.
They both survived and are living with quality of life, but life was forever changed.
She had multiple tubes and wires coming, going, in and out of her.
She was becoming more and more anxious and agitated, tugging at the tubes and in a very slurred and unrecognizable voice said "die".
I remember feeling so helpless, flustered, almost panicking. I was way out of my comfort zone. I didn't know what to do. My mum, who was a very quiet, reserved and unfailingly kind woman and didn't know Lois well, was with me that day.
She stepped to the foot of the bed and gently but firmly put her hands on Lois's feet. She began to tenderly massage and hold both feet, one and then the other and Lois began to unwind. I will never forget the deep breath and shudder that came out of her in a form of release and relief. It was like magic, like something I had never witnessed before. A calm came over her, filled her and filled the room.
Of course the story of Lois's recovery doesn't end there. But my story of realization, of experiencing the "magic" of compassion, empathy, the power of human connection and the healing power of touch, presence and holding space began that day.
And I didn't even know it. Then
My mum was one of my greatest teachers and even through her death, she taught me. I learned more about spirituality, about how I wanted to show up in the world and of course about Hospice and what a truly amazing organization they are. I've been honoured to work with them ever since.
I'm not going to write a lengthy bit here about why gratitude is important.
If you're hanging out with me here and you're still reading...
You get it.
But I do want to recognize and share my gratitude to every client and patient that has given me the privilege of working with them, you are my teachers.
And to the body & energy workers who have influenced, encouraged, supported and of course taught me.
And as you begin to consider whether you are ready to go back to receive massage/bodywork, acupuncture, energy work (as state regulations allow) or if you haven't experienced these types of wellness/healing modalities before but are interested in experiencing and learning, you will be in good hands with the very wise teachers that I have listed below.
"Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching"
~Lin Pernille~
Be Well & Shine On
Shannon