This past summer I had the opportunity to take my family to Europe.  We were primarily celebrating my son’s play being accepted into the Edinburg Fringe Festival (which is a big deal for actors like him).  We went to Italy for a week, and we got to visit the ruins around Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii…fantastic!  One of the coolest things I got to see was the ruins of a Roman bath.  This was delightful for me as a former middle school Latin student, as well as a massage therapist and massage therapy instructor.  It was fascinating to see the bath system and the be reminded how important self care and wellness was to people so long ago.  It makes me sad that we, as a country, have forgotten about self-care.  

As an instructor in a massage therapy education program, I constantly remind my students to follow their instincts.  You know your body better than anyone, and you know when things aren’t right.  Don’t ignore those signals that your body is sending you.  It’s difficult to talk to your clients about wellness, if you aren’t healthy yourself…that doesn’t mean you have to look like a fitness model or be a vegan. It does mean that you are taking care of yourself, and you look rested and 

fresh.I know its getting easier to be well, but I think we still have a long way to go. So I just want to remind you that taking care of your self is important, and that it’s up to you to choose how you care for your self.  Get a massage, eat the chips (sometimes), take a bubble bath, say no, it’s okay!  I tell my students, you can’t pour from an empty vessel – I learned this lesson from personal experience.  Take the trip – even if it’s to bed early tonight.