A Promise To Myself.

WHEN IT COMES TO THIS LIFE

I'M RELENTLESS

BY ANY MEANS.

MY DRIVE IS TO EXCEED ALL THAT IS

EXPECTED OF ME.

I FACE ALL OBSTICLES HEAD ON AND

EACH ONE I WILL OVERCOME.

ALL GOALS ARE MORE THAN

ACHIEVABLE.

I WILL SUCCEED.

MY POTENTIAL IS ENDLESS.

I CONTROL MY OWN DESTINY IS MY

PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

YES, THIS IS MY LIFE LONG MISSION AND

I COULDN'T STOP IF I WANTED TO.

FROM BEGINNING TO THE END,

BEING AMY IS ALL I KNOW AND

ANYTHING ELSE WOULD BE A

DISRESPECT TO MYSELF.

My Letter To Myself

About a year ago at the beginning of massage school we were given the assignment to write ourselves a letter as if we had already graduated-- a letter from the future if you will. I worte this letter because I had to, not necessarily because I thought I was actually going to be graduating. I was still unsure of massage school and when I sat and down and earnestly thought about the future I had a hard time believing I was going to finish school. I wrote this letter anyways and did it as honestly as I could. Two months following graduation I received my letter in the mail and it brought a few tears to my eyes. I CAN'T believe how far I have come.

Amers,
Hey hotness! (Yes. I really did start my letter that way thanks to Olivia, my ten year old niece.) Congratulations on graduating from freakin' massage school! Can you believe it!?! I know there were many, many, many times you wanted to throw in the towel, but you kept on truckin' and have come SOOO...far! Thanks to your AMAZING support system; your parents, the Beach's, and all the great instructors and staff at UCMT you have learned some great skills and more importantly you learned A LOT, A LOT about yourself.
Thanks to Char you learned how to say, "I CAN" instead of saying and believing "I can't" You CAN!! I know you struggled with believing in yourself and trusting yourself and your body, but look at all you have overcome and are able to do! You are just as capable as anyone in this world. Don't allow your disability to disable you. Instead, allow it to enable you! Now go forth and conquer! I'm really proud of ya and all you have accomplished in these last seven months. You ROCK my SOCKS!
Oh yeah! Don't forget about Cat--she's been your saving grace a number of times throughout this journey. Don't forget to thank her for always being there for you and keeping you going even when you thought your world was crashing down around you. Always be grateful for the role she played in your life.
Remember the instructors and their patience, kindness, and willingness to help you in ANY way they could in order for you to grow and succeed. Be grateful for the challenges they put before you--you're stronger because of them.

Love,
Amy

Funny how just within a few weeks of school I already had a feeling of what I was getting myself into and just how hard I was going to get pushed. I was also aware of how badly I may end up wanting to quit. Yet, at the same time there was still just enough of the "unknown" to keep me from running away in fear. Had I known just how school was going to go from the very start there would have been no chance in hell I would have even bothered in staying through to the second day. I would have given up.
It's also funny how I knew who the important people were going to be and who was going to keep me going. I did thank Cat and I continue to thank Cat for what she did for me. And I'll ALWAYS be grateful for her. I owe her everything I have and she has played a pivitol role in the person I have become.
The one thing that ended up surprising me the most was how much I learned to love body work. There were times during school when I was absolutely sure I wasn't going to become a therapist in the end. Now? It's kind of surprising to me how happy I am to go to work and how much fun I have doing it. I love what I do and school really did change my life for the better. I am a completely different person today because of school and all the lessons I learned there. For the first time I think in my life I am truly happy to be Amy. I wouldn't change anything for the world. I am exactly right where I want to be and life couldn't be any better.

My Job Is Awesome!

Something a friend said to me got me to thinkin'. I made the comment about going to work and being extremely excited about it and she asked me to send her some of my enthusiasm. My first thought was: everyone who works should have the same enthusiasm for their jobs as I do for mine. How horrible it would be to wake up every day not looking forward to the day ahead and not enjoying the work I do. Work shouldn't be a hassle nor should it be something you resent. It should be enjoyable and something you love doing. I love being a massage therapist. When I go to work I am excited and I never get bored--that's the way all jobs should be. For years I thought work had to be hard and zero fun, then I entered the massage field and realized how wrong I had been. Work can and should be fun, exciting, and fulfilling and that's what I get out of my job. I never thought anything I did in life could have such a positive affect on my life like body work has. School helped me grow as a person and every time I go to work I grow as a therapist. I take pride in what I do and I wish it was the same for everyone. I love the quote, "If you love what you do you will never have to work another day in your life." It's so true. Work to me isn't a paycheck anymore--it's more than that now. It's being able to help those in need, it's about serving others in the world and giving back. I get up and go to work because I love it, not because I have to. My job is awesome and the work I do is awesome! Every day I wake up I am grateful for UCMT for providing me with the amazing education which ultimately enabled me to be in a career I love and am truly passionate about.

Filbert!

I wonder how people have so many things to blog about. I never have much to say because nothing ever seems to happen. How do you do it? How do you come up with enough stuff to get on the computer and write it all down? Becasue nothing seems to happen coupled with my enjoyment of blogging I have no choice but to write a completely random blog about nothing in particular. This weeks topic--FILBERT!

Filbert...mighty mighty Filbert. He's the highlight of one of my boring weeks. A couple weeks ago I went and visited career services at my school to discuss finding me a job. I'm pretty sure I have the funniest career counselor at that school--Cherie. She's a riot! I enjoy visiting her--she's always good for a laugh. Well Cherie has this plant that sits on her desk--perfectly placed for optimal sunshine. Because of where the plant sits it tends to attack anyone who sits at Cherie's desk. I've been attacked by this plant before so one week I decided to embrace the plant and nip the attacking problem in the bud from the very get go. I didn't even give the plant a fighting chance. Before taking my seat at Cherie's desk I picked up the plant and set it on my lap where it stayed for the remainder of my visit. However, there was an instant bond between the two of us when the plant became incapacitated and was no longer able to attack my head. He kinda started to grow on me the longer I was there so eventually I had to name him! Filbert is his name and he's my little plant buddy. Any time I go visit career services I pick him up and craddle him in my arms. He's still a little out of control and if given the chance he will try and pollinate your head, and he may need to be rotated in the sun regularly but he's my Filbert and he's a keeper and a little bit of a cutie as far as a plant is concerned. Hahaha. My visits with Cheire are always enjoyable but with Filbert added to the mix one never knows what might just happen. You could end up wearing a fuzzy pink tiara on your head, with a banana sucker in your mouth, posing for a silly picture. It's totally unpredictable in that office I'm tellin' ya, but that's why I like it and keep going back.

My Life Plan

So I've had like a million and one people ask me what I'm going to do with my life since finishing school...well... I'm not sure. However, never wanting to disappoint anyone I asked my very wise buddy "Yoda" what my plan is and being the amazing person Yoda is, this is what they came up with. Sooo...until further notice this is my life folks! Yoda was persistent that I NEVER forget that last line either. As long as I remember that and believe it all is well.

Why is it...

What happens if you are the first person I think about when I wake up and the last person on my mind before I go to bed? Why is it that when my phone vibrates and makes that funny chirp I can’t help but smile and maybe even giggle a little because I know it’s you? Why is it that I hate to be touched with a deep fiery passion but the first thing I do when we’re walking side by side is reach for your hand? Why is it that when you touch me, I get goose bumps and all sorts of tinglies? (Yes, I did just say tinglies). Why is it I go out of my way to find reasons to hug you? ME!?! Hugging others. Preposterous. Why is it that when I rest my head on your shoulder it fits perfectly between your neck and chest--like it's meant to be there? Why is it that when I spend time with you the closest people in my life can tell just by the silly smirk on my face and demand to know where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing? Is it really that obvious that you make me that happy? How utterly disgusting. Why is it that when anyone mentions your name whether it’s in reference to you or not me eyes light up, I smile and go, “Awww…?” How is it that I could be having the worse day in all of America-- seriously on the verge of killing someone, and yet the moment I see you all those feelings leave me and I’m suddenly a calm happy camper? WHY must I be so damned happy?!? How can just one person have such an affect on another? How can just one person change the way I look at and feel towards certain things? How come I can go my whole life HATING hugs, doing all I can to avoid them and yet, the moment I see you I HAVE to wrap my arms around you? And if I don't? My day just sucks.

I don't know why this happens and I'm still not sure if I like what is happening, but if this is the cost of being with you I will do it--and most likely with a smile on my face.

Kimmy so help me god if you make fun of this I will beat you silly and kick you off my blog! Oh, and never ever ever speak to you again!

Da Best and Most Wisest Words Eva!

We're not going to mess up our lives doing what other people think is right. You've thought of me, your father, almost everyone else--alright. But what about you? What do you want? -Jim Craig- (The Man From Snowy River)

The only person who can make you happy is you. You have to decide if you want to be happy. -Kristi Belliston-

Amy, don't be afraid of being yourself. Respect yourself enough to live true. -??-

Obstacles are put in your way so you know what's really worth fighting for and for you to see just how strong you really are. -Connie Nelson-

It doesn't matter and I still love you. -Tami Beach-

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time you fall. -Confucius-

If you are a single woman traveling through Bali and somebody asks you, "Are you married?" the best possible answer is: "Not Yet." This is a polite way of saying "No," while indicating your optimistic intentions to get that taken care of just as soon as you can. Even if you are eighty years old, or a lesbian, or a strident feminist, or a nun, or an eighty year-old strident feminist lesbian nun who has never been married and never intends to get married, the politest possible answer is still: "Not yet." -Elizabeth Gilbert- (Eat, Pray, Love)

Just dance around naked--you'll feel better. -Raquel Cook-

If life's a game, I wanna know who came up with all these rules! -Courtney VandeMerwe-

Let me tell you something, girlfriend, I'm constantly asking myself if I'm doing the right thing. That's just a part of life. No situation is ever going to be ideal 24/7. There will always be ups and downs. The down's are what make the ups so great. Stick it out; keep the option open, and keep exploring. I'm only 36 and already I've been a computer programmer, a travel agent, a hobo, a corporate banker, a newspaper editor, a radio show host, and a teacher. I shudder at the thought of doing the same thing for the rest of my life. Just have fun. Life is FUN!! Hard as crap, but fun. -Raquel Cook-

Life is about avoiding embarrassing situations, and when they can't be avoided... getting out of them gracefully. -Shan'tel Nelson-

Chicken, cheese, and Jamba Juice is all you really need to be happy. -Paige Ferguson Hone-

Be who you are and say what you feel. Those who matter won't mind and those who mind don't matter. -Dr. Suess-

Chill and eat a Cheeto. -Tami Beach-