What to do when my writing mind is blank. Empty. Nada. There’s NOTHING coming to mind to write about on a cold sunny day here in mid Michigan. Earlier in the morning, I was under the supple caring hands of my massage therapist who knows that I write a blog post every week and he asked me “what are you going to write about this week, Sue?” I responded “I have no clue”. Bryan laughed and quickly suggested that I could always put together an article describing all the wonderful conversations we have while he performs his magic on my tough joints and muscles. Most folks don’t chat much during a massage; I guess I’m an exception.

 Bryan is a very interesting young man, married with three daughters. He’s former military and enjoyed a past career as a personal trainer. He’s also an avid Civil War historian and has participated in reenactments of several battles along with being an extra in a movie about those years in our nation. Bryan knows world and political history, too, which impresses me immensely because my brain doesn’t hold onto details like his kind of mind. We try to keep our conversations “light” during my monthly massage appointment with him, but inevitably we spend at least 30 minutes trying to figure out and solve the angst we share from reading current news headlines or listening to media reports. Before you think all those conversations are the center of our connection with one another, I need to point out there’s so much more that we enjoy about each other. 

If I had a cheerleader, I think  it could be Bryan. I mean, every time I walk through the doors of the massage clinic, he’s waiting for me…to greet me with a big smile and warm hug. He’s been my therapist for over a year now and we hit it off immediately. Bryan knows that as a guy he’s in a minority giving massage to women and from my very first experience to this morning’s, he always thanks me for trusting him…he always describes what he needs to do and “get to” in order to bring release to a tight muscle….and he’s the only guy I don’t chastise for calling me ma’am about 15 times in the span of an hour. His integrity and level of respect is a breath of fresh air in a society where not many people even hold doors open for a stranger these days. When he talks about his wife and their three daughters, the love in his voice changes. His devotion, care, and concern for them is always reflected in how he talks about “my girls”….

Bryan and I have discussed a broad range of topics…God…the science of massage…the different wars our country has fought…the media…Covid…family…politics…living in a small town…being a positive person in hard times…we’ve pretty much covered it all. He has opened up and told me things about himself that otherwise  might be kept silent in his own memories but it’s apparent as much as I trust him, he is trusting me.

I guess it’s apparent that I took Bryan’s suggestion and wrote about our relationship! While it’s humbling to hear that he tells me EVERY Tuesday how happy he gets when he sees my name on the schedule, the feelings are mutual. I always look forward to my time with Bryan and not because of the work he does on my body but how he sincerely makes me feel valuable to him as a person and not only a client. I think that’s the kind of feeling most people crave when establishing a connection with a professional i.e. their doctor, dentist, stylist…..yup, Bryan makes me feel comfortable–important–valued–respected–and sees me as a source of knowledge, wisdom, trust, and encouragement. Little did I know that when I agreed to have “the new guy” perform my monthly massage that I’d be in a place of feeling lost if he’s not working the week I come in, which has happened two or three times this past year. Covid. Quarantines. His family vacation to Disney in January….he’s back! I’m back! And our “deep” conversations have resumed along with hitting those tight spots with some extra “deep” work of their own. 

I think everyone needs a Bryan. If you’re in the Fowlerville area, hit me up and I’ll make the connection. You can enjoy Bryan, too, except on Tuesday, mid month or so at 9 am. That’s our time….