catling42: ([dean] and being caught in between)
This is where my thoughts were meandering the morning before I decided not to be stressed (still working on that, btw):

I'm feeling so frustrated lately. My body isn't cooperating. My moods are crap. My motivation is low. And that's with having my record-setting week last week, work wise -- 20 hours of massage, 14 clients. Massage therapy full time. And oh many did my arms hurt.

Lately I wonder if I should be trying to find other work. If I'd hate it. Yesterday, if maybe I could do both. In order to do 20 hours of massage, I need to be available for more than 30 because of time between and breaks and stuff. I wonder how much I should be trying to find other work, how much that undermines my biz. At the same time. I wonder if I shouldn't be putting all my efforts into getting ends to meet however I can, even if that means having fewer hours at my biz. But how can a biz be successful if I cut back? It's all so circular.

And there's the also the feeling of lack of free time, already pervasive with babysitting not even 10h/wk (though that's technically my obligation). I wonder if actual money were exchanged if that would feel less frustrating. Probably not, because the hours still suck and so does the communication. Also, some of that feeling of lack comes from never having a free evening to make plans with people.

And I'm at a weird point in my biz where I have too many clients to cut back a lot, but not enough to always fill my schedule. And then there's the piece where massage therapy full time doesn't seem to be enough to pay the bills and still have much fun. Or live the lifestyle I want, at least, or be comfortable when the support structures for low income are taken away, as is already happening.

I don't know if I have what it takes to basically start another biz, some sort of content creation internet based thing that could provide a more passive income with less physical, less 1-on-1 work, that I could do alongside massage. Maybe if I had an innovative idea, but I really don't. I guess in some ways, I do want a "regular" job, one with a more typical schedule, enough pay and maybe even benefits. It feels safer, anyhow. And has growth possibilities.

What is scariest is, I could get by on massage therapy full time if my body holds up, but there is absolutely no growth potential... can't work more hours, physically, and can't raise rates through the roof. *sigh*
catling42: (Default)
Tonight, just now, I decided to stop being stressed out. It was kind of amazing.

I spent a couple hours earlier this evening talking to Sarah about my various woes--my current career path seems to cap out at just-barely-making-it-if-I'm-busting-ass, thinking about moving in the fall when my lease is up and how expensive the housing market is around here, how many injuries I've had in the past 10 months and what that means.

(Seriously, in June I got hit in the eye, developed a retinal tuft from that, and then had vertigo for two weeks. In October I badly sprained my left ankle, and was diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome. In January I got a cortisone shot in my right foot for Morton's Neuroma. February was depression-tastic. This past weekend I threw out my back. Something wants me to slow the heck down.)

Anyway. And then I let the brain weasels have some time looking at job ads (earlier it was looking at apartments) on craigslist and sort of came to the conclusion that I should just be me and everything will eventually work out. Maybe I need to stop pushing so hard, and then I'll get hurt less. Maybe eventually I'll figure out what it is I need to be putting into the universe to get back what I need. But I do need to start blogging, in a more professional sense, not just (incredibly sporadic) journalling here.

And I thought, well, today hasn't been such a bad day, despite my back being stiff and sore. I went to bed late after sketching for a while. I slept in, and woke to kitty snuggles. I journalled a bit. Will came over and took care of heavy and/or tall things that I shouldn't be doing yet, and we had a snuggle and chat. I made a card for my four-year-old "nephew," which involved lots of cutting and gluing of colorful papers (oh how I wish we lived closer to those friends and those kids). The brain weasels took over for a while midday, but then Sarah came by and we had sushi for dinner and watched the fish and talked. Not bad at all. Maybe if I can balance all the Things What Need Doing with some of this stuff, everything can actually be okay.

Now I just have to figure out how to implement the No More Stressing campaign. Unfortunately, I still have Unresolved Issues around yoga. Maybe one day I can get back to that. I've seen a new therapist twice so far, and I'm going back on Tuesday. I can't decide yet if she'll actually be helpful for me. I am skeptical. But then, I am generally the most skeptical and defiant ever, so I'm giving her a chance.

Also, it just occurred to me that when I am not making things on a somewhat regular basis, my body freaks out and breaks. Huh. Interesting.

I suppose now I should start with actually going to bed. Both cats are curled up tails over noses. My sleepytime tea is gone, so I'm out of excuses.

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catling42

January 2016

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