Stress. We all have it to some extent, but sometimes living in state of high stress becomes our "normal" state of being.  We can become numb to the vigilance and not even realize how disconnected we are from our true state of being because we are so connected to our worries.  There are tons of ways to "manage" stress, hundreds of books with tips on what to do to lower it. But does it ever totally go away?

I recently found myself at one of those tipping points when you feel like the stress is making you cranky and you don't even want to be around yourself.  Thankfully I had a massage scheduled.  I was laying on the table and I was reminded about why I love what we do. As I laid there receiving the massage I could feel the parts of me that were relieved to be acknowledge.  There were the known areas that get my attention all the time. The sore shoulder, the tired feet, the stiff neck, but then there were the forgotten places like my knees, my elbows, my forehead.  With each area that my massage therapist focused their compassionate touch the more I reconnected with myself instead of my worries. I was able to breathe into the spaces in my body that were unknowingly longing for connection, and bring myself into the present moment.  But it wasn't just reconnecting with my physical body.  In these moments I could also feel myself drift into the expansive nature of relaxation. The space that feels like everything falls away, all of the worries and fears.  You can breathe deeper and you feel creative, alive and calm all rolled into one. 

This is my wish for you. To experience these deep moments of peace, where all of your stress falls away, and you reconnect to your own existence.  It is our desire for peace and connection that is behind all our pursuits, so I encourage you to make this state of being your new "normal" and schedule yourself some time to come in and enjoy some compassionate touch!