Help Me Leap Into Acupuncture

(If you don't want to read all this, that's cool, just skip to the next section where I offer you stuff. If you want the whole story, then read on!) What do you want to be when you grow up? I've never had a single answer to that. At various times, I've wanted to be a doctor, an actor, a firefighter, an animator, a physical therapist, an artist, an architect, a professor, a kung fu fighter, an exercise physiologist (that one kind of just happened), a writer, and artist. Most of those were really just dreams. And then one day I a headache stomped into my life.


It was a persistent bugger. It hung around the next day. And the next. And the day after that. For 121 days the headache and I tried to coexist, but it was a bad relationship from the start, and I wanted am annulment. I had tried everything, and I mean everything. Nothing helped, and then I found acupuncture. It was amazing, a miracle. Within a few treatments the headache was gone. I still occasionally get them, but now an acupuncture treatment sends them running. Since that moment I have sung the praises about the benefits of acupuncture. I was a convert. As I told more people about acupuncture, I realized what was missing,- I need to help people in order to feel satisfied in my job.


Then, like so many moments in my life, I leaped into the unknown, and everything just fell into place. One day, on a whim I came home and search acupuncture schools online. I still don't really know what possessed me to do that. I didn't have any conscious thought about going back to school, yet alone med school, but there I was looking into it. I found the Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine (SIOM). They have a program that lets you continue to work while you attend. It is an apprentice based program, so I will learn by doing, not just theoretical concepts from a book. And just like that I knew what I was going to do.



I went in a talked to the owners of Pinnacle Physical Therapy and Medical Wellness, where I currently work. I told Josh and Staci what I wanted to do, and to my utter amazement they were encouraging and supportive and altogether fantastic. They have even said that they would like to add acupuncture as a service that they offer! I still had a large hurdle standing in front of my, though. SIOM is a highly competitive international program, with a single cohort each year limited to around 12 students. Some how I was accepted, and will begin my acupuncture studies starting September 9th.



So, there's the story in a nutshell, but there is a rather large obstacle standing in my way. Acupuncture is Eastern Medicine, and as such books and tuition are med school expensive. So, if you have ever wanted to be a philanthropist when you grow up, here's your chance. And while altruism is a fantastic concept, I think you should get something tangible for your donation to my dream of becoming an acupuncturist. Therefore, I have a pay back program. (If you don't live in the area we'll work something out.)


Ø If you give me $1 - $5 you will get a hand written thank you card.
Ø $6 "“ $30 will get you a hand written thank you card and a 30 minute Tuina (Chinese massage) or a 30 minute Shiatsu (Japanese massage) session (once I am at least somewhat proficient of course).
Ø $31 "“ $60 will get you a hand written thank you card and either a 60 minute Tuina session or a 60 minute Shiatsu session or a 30 minute acupuncture.
Ø $61 "“ 100 will get you a hand written thank you card and either an 80 minute Tuina/Shiatsu combined session or a 60 minute Tuina/acupuncture session or a 60 minute acupuncture session.
Ø $101 will get you a hand written thank you card and either an 80 minute Tuina/Shiatsu combined session or a 60 minute Tuina/acupuncture session or a 60 minute acupuncture session and my undying gratitude.


Thank you all for helping me in any way you can. If you know of someone who may benefit from one of the offers above feel free to forward this to them. I am so fortunate to have such fantastic friends!