Right now I am halfway through a massage therapy program at Montgomery County Community College. My Covid pivot saw me return to retail, culminating in my solemn attempt to go corporate and join Amazon. But selling my soul didn’t stick, and I was left at a deep crossroads.

My previous life as a filmmaker is still an ongoing source of artistic expression, but not a way to support a family. My time in retail had come to an end, and I could no longer put my energy towards businesses that drain the world of light. My stint as a bar back made me realize I was happiest head down, silently working with my hands, and my personal spiritual journey gave me the conviction that I wanted to contribute to the world.

While soul-searching what to do with the rest of my life, I was given a suggestion that made more sense the longer I sat with it. And that was to return to school to become a Licensed Massage Therapist.

I’ve had a long relationship with massage. Some of my earliest memories are of massaging the swollen legs of the elderly woman my mother acted as live-in care for. I remember massaging my mother’s shoulders, back, and arms after long days as a rectory housekeeper. By the time I got to summer camp I was skilled enough that me giving back massage became the entirety of our improv class time.

Massage has been a key component to every romantic relationship I’ve ever had and half my friendships. Perhaps because of how intimate and caring it’s always been for me, I never considered doing it professionally. Yet, here I am! Halfway through a part-time program and loving it! I believe in a circular, cyclical nature of the universe , so this path I’ve always been on makes complete sense to me.

My life-long passion for science is being scratched with all the anatomy, kinesiology, and biochemistry. My equally-as-long desire to walk a holy path is being scratched by the aspects of being an energetic healer. My inner artist is enjoying working in a new medium. And my restless business-owner is chomping at the bit to get The Body Mechanic Body Shoppe off the ground!

And that’s where you come in! I can’t work enough hours while going to school to make it through financially, but I can begin to do Body Work while I complete the program. Clinic hours began this spring and so far my clients have all given me rave reviews! I have the sketches of my business model down, and the basic equipment I need to get started. But I’ll need help to cross the finish line.

I still need to pay MontCo the rest of my tuition by the end of this month, and I will need some start-up capital to get The Body Mechanic Body Shoppe off the ground. I deeply appreciate any donations.