I just finished week #4 at the Cortiva Institute of massage therapy. I’m growing more and more confident with all the practice we are getting. This is a total immersion curriculum. One of the goals of the faculty is to teach us to remain healthy for a long and successful career. In addition to all of dem bones dem bones and dem muscles we are getting an education on personal care, stretching, diet, and exercise as well as proper body mechanics all part of a healthy, injury free career. More later. I welcome all your comments.

Below is the essay I submitted which got me into massage school here in Tuscon.  Since then I have been accepted and start July 12th!  I am very excited about it!

MASSAGE THERAPY Essay:

For me massage therapy began as something I would only take advantage of when I had physical issues myself. I was a runner. Along with running came pain: foot pain, leg pain, back pain. Eventually it became too painful for me to run. Although running was incredibly rewarding, with many personal accomplishments and strong friendships, it became evident that long distance running was no longer an option for me. During my time of recovery, massage therapy became something I depended on for relief and have continued to enjoy to this day.

No longer able to run, I sold my British MGB sports car, my toy, and bought a bicycle. I believe that change is an inevitable part of life and something we all either embrace or fear. Personally, I have been urgently looking for change on one hand and fearing it on the other. Recently I have experienced many changes in my life and this is the perfect time for me to make positive life decisions and start on a new path. Becoming a massage therapist is something new and challenging to be passionate about! After all, life is about creating yourself.

Over the years I have thought about health care in general frequently. I watched a friend deal with recovery from a shattered pelvis suffered in an auto accident. She was in traction for six weeks! During that time I was amazed at the care she received, from the volunteers and candy stripers to the nurses and doctor, who were compassionate and competent on all levels. I actually considered going into nursing as a career at that time.

Through the years I have become more and more interested in holistic health care options. This is especially true considering the cost of health care today and the side effects of many drugs. I have always thought of drugs as a last resort and have considered other choices first.

I recently attended the “Introduction to Massage Therapy” session. While I was receiving my massage, I laid in the semi-darkness listening to the talk and laughter of the other students. This was such positive reinforcement for our inexperienced but willing hands. Everyone was excited about the gift we are about to receive!

I’m excited about using the power of touch to help people live long, happy, productive, useful, healthy and hopefully pain-free lives, while enjoying these benefits for my family and myself. I want to live and work in a healthy environment. I already live in a very healthy environment. I love Tucson, I love the desert, and I love watching the evening light as the sun retreats from the day! Now, I am ready to embrace new opportunities for change.

MICHAEL PLEAS

The Guadalajara Grill! For the first time in all my travels I experienced table-side salsa! What a concept! For those of you who know me…I love salsa and the hotter the better! A young woman rolled up with a cart covered with all my favorite ingredients and asked me how hot I liked my salsa then proceeded to add fresh tomatoes, roasted chilis, garlic, onion and numerous spices to a oversized Molcajete and started to muddle them together creating an incredibly flavorful mixture! Paired with my green chili pork carnitas and fresh corn tortillas the combination was unbeatable.

I think I’m on a quest to find all the great Mexican food in Arizona. It seems I can’t pass one by without stopping. Well, maybe that is an exaggeration, but I’m enjoying the challenge. The latest find is Lupe’s in Oracle Junction on Hwy 77 about 20 miles north of Tucson. They have great green chili perfect smothered over a giant chicken burrito! If you’re ever in the neighborhood give me a call and I’ll drive!

Back road in the Rim Country near Payson AZ

I finally found a great Mexican Restaurant after many so-so experiences. Tucson’s Rosa’s Mexican Food. Just a hole-in-the-wall but great food. “Willie Nelson ate here” Good enough for me! My favorite was their chili rellenos smothered in green chili. I still have a list of more restaurants so the search continues but I’ll be back at Rosa’s soon.

Rim Country Arizona

They say…”You’re never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”…I’m here in Tucson having accepted a transfer to the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain, soon to be host of the PGA  Accenture Match Play Tournament  featuring the worlds top golfers. Catch us on the Golf Channel and CBS this weekend. I’m excited about my new position and look forward to exploring my new state. Next week I’m headed for a placed called Payson with a friend from work, Google it, I can’t tell you a whole lot about it, but I’ll be there! Photos to follow…(Thanks Paul)

I invite you to follow me as I embark onto this new journey.  We all feel at times like an envelope with no address.  This time is a little different for me for although the address of my journey is unclear, the promise of one resolving to a magical landscape is embraced with indefatigable enthusiasm.

My first comment was inspired by this column.

As January is purposely fitting – come with me – let’s begin again.