As the 20 year anniversary of my workplace approaches, I am taking a look back at the past two decades that have felt more like 10 years, tops.
In the summer of 2003 I was on maternity leave with my first child. I was due back to work in October but kept an eye on the market, as I had let my massage job at a chiropractic office go, before my leave, and was looking at the next move in my massage career. I saw a post for an upcoming position that sounded interesting but I was tentative because I was not really looking to return to work for another three months.
I sent in a resume and figured I’d just see…
When the spa owner got a hold of me to set up an interview I was a bit intimidated. She sounded serious, professional and confident; all things I supposed I was not. When I went in for the interview, the spa was still in construction mode. The interview was fast and more of a conversation, and I must have made a decent impression, because she hired me right away, and the best part of all was that the opening wasn’t scheduled until October 1st and that was exactly what I wanted!
When we opened, there were 3 therapists (one being the owner) and one front desk person, who was also a reflexologist. We had an acupuncturist and a woman who did facials shortly after, too. There were 3 front rooms, a foot bath station and a large open-space back area where yoga classes could be held.
When I think of all the changes over the years, the timelines blend together and staff that have come and gone, blur into a flurry of Who? What? When? Eventually we stopped the yoga classes in the back and renovated to have curtain tracks to create additional rooms.
Within a few years one of the other therapists had a baby, and I was pregnant with my second. The reflexologist went to massage school and began to work as a therapist. The woman who did facials introduced us to DMK and it’s been a mainstay ever since. More therapists came on. One of the original ones left. We renovated the curtain rooms into walled ones and began to fill out more space and more therapist schedules.
We did paper and pen bookings for many years and moved to online booking, (with much trepidation from the therapists) that ended up being a wonderful change. We tried numerous product lines and treatments; and menu items came and went. We added an infrared sauna (and are currently on our 4th or 5th because it’s always a popular service). We removed the foot bath station, added a front glass door and many tweaks and pivots over the years, to better suit client needs and accommodate more therapists.
Over the years I’ve become great friends with many therapists who have come and moved on; or front desk staff that have been wonderful (many of whom I am still in connection with over social media or in my real life!) I have travelled with, hiked with and shared deep relationships with many of these colleagues. I have watched my bosses children go from little kids to grown women with their own partners and children. My own kids have grown up with Inner Balance and both had the opportunity to have their first part time jobs at the spa. One of mine is out of the house and the other is getting close!
I have a great sense of pride in saying that I’ve been at the same job for 20 years. I also can hardly believe it. I used to be the youngest, and now I’m one of the oldest! I have seen some clients visit us since near opening, and many have been pregnant and now also have grown children; some were children who are now adults. It honestly doesn’t compute sometimes.
We currently have a team of people who are generally all long term and tight knit. We laugh and chat and sometimes have so much fun together. We have clients numbering in the thousands and many regulars who trust us with their care. We help each other set up or clean up and sometimes the best days feel like a well oiled machine. I haven’t really known any different and forget that this may not be how it is out there. Me, our acupuncturist and owner have seen all these years of change and growth; but many of the other long term therapists have seen my baby as a baby (if not a toddler) and gone on to also have their own kids. I’ve got to watch my boss (who hates being called the boss) become an empty nester, and a grandma and we have a relationship that borders on familial sometimes. She is my greatest mentor and we drive each other a little crazy at times.
Over 20 years (that felt like 10) so much has changed and yet somehow everything has stayed the same. I am so grateful for this life and the moment I took to check the paper (yes, the physical paper…it was 2003) want ads when I technically wasn’t looking. Some things are maybe meant to be.
Happy Anniversary! (I will accept gifts of China, Platinum or Emerald, as per custom)
Periscopecake 