In August 1993, a young woman called and said that my friend, a bodyworker for over 15 years, had suggested that she get a massage from me while she was away. Although I had been expecting the call, it petrified me. As a brand new therapist, barely out of school, I was ill prepared. I had no idea what to charge her, no office set up and barely enough supplies to offer a massage. On top of all of this, this woman had a terminal illness. I spoke to my friend and gave her all the reasons, why I shouldn’t work on this client. I was no comparison to my friend who had been working for so long. She assured me that all would be fine. “All she needs is touch Meg, she’ll be ok in your hands”. My knees knocked for the entire session, but in the end, I had a new profound appreciation for the work that I had just finished my training in. You see, when I started massage school, I really didn’t think I was headed for a career. I thought that it was something that I was interested in and something that I would be able to earn some money from, to pay for the training. After this session, I understood the significance that my role as a massage therapist could play in a person’s life. I saw this woman; ill, nervous and worried about how I would treat her, relax and embrace what I had to offer after a few small words of reassurance and a few minutes with my hands on her back. I knew that this work was more then what I had initially perceived it to be. I could make a difference to someone. I saw her commitment to the work that we continued to do, even though it was sometimes uncomfortable for her. She believed that what I could offer her was helping her. In our last session, she was so sick that she simply asked if I could hold her, as she could no longer lie on my table… I held her for an hour as she wept, accepting my concern and care for her and allowing herself the vulnerability that does not come easily for most. What was that relationship, I thought? How could it be that this woman who barely knew me, could find comfort and feel safe? The answer, I now know, was that my intention was to help her and that my heart was open to helping her and the power of touch translates all. Since that time I have offered thousands of massages to hundreds of clients, some only once and some every week for over 15 years. Clients have come to me during pregnancies, deaths, marriages and divorces. I have seen clients get married, get pregnant (sometimes twice or three times), I have attended their births and I have heard their stories of parenthood. I have even massaged some of the babies! I have been one of the first people that some clients have called after a death in their family or after a tragedy in their lives. Clients have shared their stories with me, be it happy, sad, funny or fascinating. After September 11th, I felt, as I massaged, that I was able to do “something” to help relieve some of the shock and fear that we all fell victim to. Of course clients have come with injuries, with aches and pains and with the stresses of everyday life. Always with a smile and always saying how happy they were to see me. Clients have come to be silent and to allow themselves a “retreat” to heal, relax or to just be pampered. They have sent their friends, family and loved ones to me and they have returned over and over, even after their shoes were taken from in front of my door or after luxurious spas have opened in the area. They have moved to a new office with me and rearranged their schedules time and again, as I was called to attend births with laboring women and as my job as a Dean at the Swedish Institute has required me to minimize my hours. Clients have offered recommendations that have enriched my personal life and they allowed my dog Mookie to lick oil off of their feet. They have shown care and concern for me and asked me for my guidance in many aspects of their lives. They have trusted me, relied on me and asked me to be there for them, when they need me. And so now, after 16 years, as my hands begin to tire, as the career that I never thought I would have has taken me to new heights, I would like to say THANK YOU, as I begin to bring my practice of massage to a close. It is hard to say what it has meant for me, to be your massage therapist, it is hard to define the role that I feel I have played in the lives of so many. But as I say to the graduating students at my school, as they begin their careers in massage, “The one thing that no one ever told me when I sat in your seat, was that you are about to embark on a career that will introduce you to many people, some of whom will challenge you, fascinate you and help bring your own personal journey to new and exciting places. You will meet people that will make each and every day of your life interesting. And that makes for an empowering, enriching and truly worthwhile career”. For me this has been a remarkable period in my life and it has been truly a pleasure to serve you. I hope to see some of you in the next months ahead, as I plan to keep working until the end of 2009. At that point I hope to have a list of referrals to offer, as I hope you will all continue to take advantage of the many benefits that massage has to offer. In peace, Meg Meg Darnell, LMT Licensed Massage Therapist Serving the Park Slope Community since 1993 www.parkslopemassagetherapy.com "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter"

In August 1993, a young woman called and said that my friend, a bodyworker for over 15 years, had suggested that she get a massage from me while she was away. Although I had been expecting the call, it petrified me. As a brand new therapist, barely out of school, I was ill prepared. I had no idea what to charge her, no office set up and barely enough supplies to offer a massage. On top of all of this, this woman had a terminal illness.

I spoke to my friend and gave her all the reasons, why I shouldn’t work on this client. I was no comparison to my friend who had been working for so long. She assured me that all would be fine. “All she needs is touch Meg, she’ll be ok in your hands”.

My knees knocked for the entire session, but in the end, I had a new profound appreciation for the work that I had just finished my training in. You see, when I started massage school, I really didn’t think I was headed for a career. I thought that it was something that I was interested in and something that I would be able to earn some money from, to pay for the training.

After this session, I understood the significance that my role as a massage therapist could play in a person’s life. I saw this woman; ill, nervous and worried about how I would treat her, relax and embrace what I had to offer after a few small words of reassurance and a few minutes with my hands on her back. I knew that this work was more then what I had initially perceived it to be. I could make a difference to someone.

I saw her commitment to the work that we continued to do, even though it was sometimes uncomfortable for her. She believed that what I could offer her was helping her. In our last session, she was so sick that she simply asked if I could hold her, as she could no longer lie on my table… I held her for an hour as she wept, accepting my concern and care for her and allowing herself the vulnerability that does not come easily for most.

What was that relationship, I thought? How could it be that this woman who barely knew me, could find comfort and feel safe? The answer, I now know, was that my intention was to help her and that my heart was open to helping her and the power of touch translates all.

Since that time I have offered thousands of massages to hundreds of clients, some only once and some every week for over 15 years. Clients have come to me during pregnancies, deaths, marriages and divorces. I have seen clients get married, get pregnant (sometimes twice or three times), I have attended their births and I have heard their stories of parenthood. I have even massaged some of the babies! I have been one of the first people that some clients have called after a death in their family or after a tragedy in their lives. Clients have shared their stories with me, be it happy, sad, funny or fascinating.

After September 11th, I felt, as I massaged, that I was able to do “something” to help relieve some of the shock and fear that we all fell victim to.

Of course clients have come with injuries, with aches and pains and with the stresses of everyday life. Always with a smile and always saying how happy they were to see me.

Clients have come to be silent and to allow themselves a “retreat” to heal, relax or to just be pampered. They have sent their friends, family and loved ones to me and they have returned over and over, even after their shoes were taken from in front of my door or after luxurious spas have opened in the area. They have moved to a new office with me and rearranged their schedules time and again, as I was called to attend births with laboring women and as my job as a Dean at the Swedish Institute has required me to minimize my hours.

Clients have offered recommendations that have enriched my personal life and they allowed my dog Mookie to lick oil off of their feet. They have shown care and concern for me and asked me for my guidance in many aspects of their lives. They have trusted me, relied on me and asked me to be there for them, when they need me.

And so now, after 16 years, as my hands begin to tire, as the career that I never thought I would have has taken me to new heights, I would like to say THANK YOU, as I begin to bring my practice of massage to a close.

It is hard to say what it has meant for me, to be your massage therapist, it is hard to define the role that I feel I have played in the lives of so many. But as I say to the graduating students at my school, as they begin their careers in massage, “The one thing that no one ever told me when I sat in your seat, was that you are about to embark on a career that will introduce you to many people, some of whom will challenge you, fascinate you and help bring your own personal journey to new and exciting places. You will meet people that will make each and every day of your life interesting. And that makes for an empowering, enriching and truly worthwhile career”.

For me this has been a remarkable period in my life and it has been truly a pleasure to serve you.

I hope to see some of you in the next months ahead, as I plan to keep working until the end of 2009. At that point I hope to have a list of referrals to offer, as I hope you will all continue to take advantage of the many benefits that massage has to offer.

In peace,

Meg

Meg Darnell, LMT

Licensed Massage Therapist

Serving the Park Slope Community since 1993

www.parkslopemassagetherapy.com

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter" - MLK