Learning to Receive Is an Important Part of Taking Care of Yourself
There's a particular benefit of regular massage that I think deserves special attention, which is: receiving.
So many people are accustomed to giving.
We give to our families, our partners, our children, our friends, our coworkers, and our communities.
We take care of everyone else. We make sure everyone has what they need. We keep things moving.
But how often do we prioritize to receiving?
American culture has a real problem with under-receiving. We're often uncomfortable slowing down, asking for help, or allowing someone else to take care of us.
We can feel guilty spending time or money on ourselves, even when we're exhausted and desperately need a break.
This needs to change.
If you want to care for the people around you well, you need to care for yourself well.
Tend to your own garden. Your body is the garden in which all of your life grows.
When you're more rested, comfortable, and emotionally supported, you have more opportunities to show up in your relationships and your life in the ways you want to.
You don't need to walk around chronically exhausted, stressed, and carrying tension.
There is help available. There are people who have built their careers around helping others relax, let go, and recharge.
As a massage therapist I genuinely love creating these experiences for people.
Allowing yourself to receive that care isn't selfish — it’s doing your part of collective healing.
Make Your Health a Priority
The long-term value of massage therapy goes far beyond the immediate pleasure of a relaxing hour on the table.
It's about creating a consistent relationship with your body, recognizing your needs, and making time to care for yourself before you're completely depleted.
It's about supporting comfortable movement, reducing muscular tension, creating opportunities for relaxation, and making your well-being a priority.
You don't have to wait until you're in pain.
You don't have to wait until you're overwhelmed.
You don't have to earn the right to take care of yourself by first taking care of everybody else.
Whether you begin with one massage a month, twice-monthly appointments, or a different schedule that meets your needs, make room for yourself.
Your body carries you through every experience of your life. It deserves your attention, your appreciation, and your care.
A shift to receiving is a gift you give not only to yourself, but to everybody else in your world.
