It’s been too long: too long since I’ve greeted you at my office and asked what it’s like being you these days… too long since I’ve worked with your body… too long since we’ve scheduled your time to come back… too long. I miss you!

As much as I wish we could work together in person, I have decided not to reopen my massage therapy practice at this time. As I said in my open letter last week, I cannot confidently conclude, based on what we know (and don’t know) about COVID-19, that I can safely do my work right now. I write this to you with sadness and grief, even while I know that it’s the right decision.

Please know that I will let you know as soon as anything changes. 

I wonder how you are, what your days are like these days. I hope you have stayed healthy and well. And let’s not forget sane! I wonder how your body is feeling, where it hurts. I wonder how you are sleeping. I wonder how your mood is, and if you’re being friendly with your dear self. I wonder what’s been hard for you, what you miss, whom you miss, where you miss being or going…

That pretty much sums up the reason for this letter to you, except for also wanting to let you know that I am doing OK. Hanging in there, like I think we all are doing our best to do. There are even some ways in which this odd time has agreed with me. It’s good to notice those things, too: 

• My scrappy, oddball little garden gives me so much joy. I love watching things grow! Also, I think composting is sexy. I love “making dirt” from food waste.
• I’m writing a book. It’s a memoir called “Home(sick)” — it’s all about my journey from homesickness, eating disorder, and suicidal depression and anxiety to health and finding a home right inside my own, now dear-to-me, body. (Does that ring a bell? Yeah. It’s my own personal version of my business’ tagline: “At home in your body, at home in the world.”)
• The online drop-in meditation class that I’ve been teaching/facilitating every weekday since March 17. I offer the class for others, but boy has it been good for me as well. Maybe you’ll pop in one of these days! I guide you in tuning in and cultivating friendliness toward your own dear self (a.k.a. “Focusing”) and then we meditate, and then we have time for questions and reflection. Boom! 45 minutes. Every weekday.
• Good, as well as sometimes quite crappy, TV (Netflix, Prime and Hulu)!  I really liked Dead to Me (irreverent, dark, funny). Last Tango in Halifax (funny, heartfelt, smart, British.) Gentefied (Latinx community in LA). An excellent and moving documentary on PBS, College Behind Bars. And, I’m embarrassed to say, but hey, I’ve had lots of open evenings, okay? Married at First Sight. That’s right. Horribly addictive. (Mr. Heidi’s Table calls it, “OPP: Other People’s Problems.”) And, oh yeah, a much better, masterfully edited show about people getting together called Dating Around. What else? Oh yes! All the cooking and baking shows. All!
• Well my dear, I’m going to sign off for now. I’d love to hear from you, how you are, what you miss, what crappy TV shows you’re addicted to… you get the idea! Write a comment here, drop me an email, and if you are an in-person client of mine, please feel free to book yourself a 15-minute check-in Zoom call. (It’s $1 — only because my booking system requires me to charge more than $0 to register it as a service).*

Be so well, wear your mask when you go out, and stay safe! I send you the warmest hug.

Heidi

*Other remote services –Bodywork & Focusing sessions– are also available. Read more.

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