Yesterday, I did the MTI holistic massage practical exam. This consisted of me going through a consultation and a massage with a member of the public (although they knew it would be with a student being examined), with an examiner watching over the session and listening to every word too.
I was very nervous, and honestly doubted I'd get everything right enough. But... Yay! Passed! :) Even had a few nice things said about me. Apparently I am very good verbally with a client. Who would have though so?!
I was so nervous I could hear my heart beating during the massage. How oxymoronic is that? I'm trying to relax someone else - I mustn't be worked up myself or it won't work! Well, I guess I blagged my way through, or maybe I really am as cool as people say. :)
Although there were some points to improve, I was quite happy with how the massage went. A women with tense shoulders and neck (very common symptoms as most of you know) simply wanted relief from that. So I did lots of lovely stretches, mobilisations, deep pressure work, breathing exercises and similar things... Quite an interactive massage, with both of us working together rather than just me on her.
Apparently it was quite different technique to massages she has had before. She found something new that day. I wonder if my teacher picked an easy client for me. :)
I am lucky to have had superb teachers...
By the way, I'm not yet qualified with MTI certification. That depends on the result of my theory exam, which hasn't arrived yet.
The flat at Apsley Road is nearly empty now. I am just clearing the last car full of things (it will be the fourth today, and that's just my things). It's late, and I should have left already, but I have been rather tired as I didn't sleep since the massage exam yesterday. (I went straight from the exam to moving things from one place to another. Life, one thing after another innit?).
I shall miss this place. Living with Dave was both fun and enlightening. Though, I haven't seen much of Dave recently as he's been busy loving a nice young woman lately. The flat itself is a lovely place. Enormous, welcoming rooms with high ceilings and plausibly enjoyable decor. Nice rugs, ok furniture, enough room to do spread out papers on the floor for an evening's homework without feeling cramped. The surrounding area is a nice place too.
I'm moving somewhere much smaller, in a rather more down to earth part of Bristol. Everything about this move is a step down in terms of status and comfort. Except my new housemate, who is probably going to take me on the bizarrest of journeys relating to my latest fields of study.
Why am I moving? Well partly because Dave is moving on to exciting ventures anew, but mainly so I can save money.
Since being made redundant, you can imagine I am more cautious about spending money than I was. If it were a short-term glitch in income, there would be no point in moving to get better rental terms. But I plan for it to be more than a glitch, while I explore what I consider to be "ethical" work. By explore, I don't mean sit and contemplate - I mean do and on my terms.
Such an exploration requires that I optimise my expenses, expecially food, communications, housing and transport.
(I've had enough of slaving pointlessly in an office, the whole office managed by people who are nearly as incompetent at managing as I am, given only the vaguest vision of what I'm supposed to be accomplishing, yet actively discouraged from clarifyfing it too. I want to create things I can be proud of - grr! That is what I am aiming for now.)
For the moment, my strategy is very straightforward. I'm sorting out my accounts, paperwork etc., trimming years of crud in my (paper) files, and completing some of the many Free Software programming projects I've started over the years, not to mention publishing them :) The practice at finishing and publishing will do me good. Oh, and practising holistic massage part-time (probably only a very small part-time at first). That will do me good too.
It is good to feel in charge of my own destiny again...
My new mailing address is shown on the home page of shareable.org.
I won't have any internet access at all for a while, so I am not likely to read my emails for a few days, maybe even a week or two. Please telephone if you need to contact me urgently.
- Hugs, all! -