In response............I can't say that I am making a fabulous living as an LMT, but I also can't say that I work at it extremely hard either. I can say I spent many thankless years as a grunt in electronic assembly, and I felt my soul was being slowly extracted from my body...........beginning my massage practice, I believe, literally saved my life.
I would continue to do massage even if I won the lottery tomorrow. It's been the one thing in my life that consistently gives me peace and satisfaction, and makes me feel like I have a purpose. I've had my ups and downs with it, the creepy perverts, slow times, financial struggles, minor injuries, a few clients here and there that are really really annoying.........
I've also had clients that individually rallied around me when I was diagnosed with cancer, doing everything from taking my outdoor potted plants home with them to water them for two weeks when I had emergency surgery, to bringing me home cooked meals and doing my massage laundry one week as a treat! My clients are, for the most part, really really nice people.
The kindnesses and the sweet gestures far outnumber the obnoxious few, and that has always been consistent. I have never done work that makes me laugh so much, and makes me care so much. I'm defiantely not a poster child for monetary sucess because I haven't mastered that yet.......but I definately like and enjoy what I do, and for me the flip side doesn't begin to compare.
For me..........taking that first step towards beginniing my massage career was a life changing journey, and I don't regret it in the least. It's the best thing I've ever done with my life.
Ouch, I'm so sorry it's been the opposite for you. I hope you can find a niche that brings you sucess and enjoyment. Life is too short and complicated to do work that you hate.
savannah