Today I saw my first client after a six week vacation. I was excited but not so nervous as I was meeting with someone that I already knew and liked very much.  He was running late and I could tell  right away that he had rushed to get to me. I gave him a big hug and whisked him towards the elevators as I couldn’t wait to get him to my room and to make him feel relaxed and at ease.

Quickly, we caught up like old friends and he gave me the update on his daughter and I told him a bit  about my vacation. It was really good to see him and especially to see him smiling and relaxed which he seemed to be already.

During the last half of our date, I gave him a massage focusing on his neck, shoulders, and hands. I remembered that was where he mainly carried his tension from our first session together and so we were able to move seamlessly from a sweet embrace, to the massage, to his most tense parts, without words. I made sure that I worked out some stubborn knots and wished that we could have more time together as I could have kept up with the rubbing him part for hours. There is not many things in life that I love more than giving a man a massage.

He left feeling relaxed and happy and I am also very happy-to be back to work.

Often I have to remind myself but yes, by definition, this is work. I love what I do and I feel blessed because of it. I know all too well that many, many people wake up everyday and go to a job, or do work, that they abhor. I am thankful to do something that I love, to be able to take six week vacations, and for the men who make it all possible.

I’m lucky.