A Very Important Update

  This is a difficult post to write, and it won't be easy for many of you to read, either. I have been stressing over it for some time, although I've had almost a year to fully prepare for the possibility that I may need to write it. 
  I think the best thing for me to do is to just put it out there simply and follow it with a full explanation: 
  I am going to be moving, and Evolve is going to be closing in October. 

   Now to explain what is happening and why.

  I've been pretty open about the fact that my fiance has been searching for a full-time position, and earlier this month, he landed one that is absolutely perfect for him and for us. It's in the Guilderland Central School District, which is a little west of Albany, and about 90 minutes away. 
  We talked about options. We discussed whether making our home somewhere halfway between would work, or if commuting would be possible. But it is quite clear that commuting from that distance is not feasible, and halfway between does not place us in an area I'd prefer (plus we would still each have a very long commute if we did that). 
  We've also been doing some family planning, with the desire for me to stay home with kids if that's something in the cards for us (which we hope it is). And we can't really make permanent decisions based off the location of my office if we know there's a chance I'd be giving it up soon anyway. We had to really look at our priorities, at the logistics, and at what we hope to accomplish in the future. We made the decision that a relocation would be the best move for us. Along with it, I intend to take a sabbatical from massage, possibly a permanent one. 
  This is not an easy decision, but it is one we are 100% confident in and fully at peace with. The hardest part about it is the feeling of letting my clients down.  
  Some of you have been with me since almost day 1- that was over 12 years ago. Many of you moved with me when I took the leap and started Evolve. And even those of you who are "new" (aka only met me after I opened Evolve) have still been with me for a long time. Over all this time you've become not only clients of mine, but also friends, for whom I care deeply.
​  Seriously- all of you are amazing people and I hope you all know how much you mean to me. 
  It's why I wanted everyone to know well in advance. So we could talk about it, prepare for it. I have a list of referrals I'm working on, and I'll do my best to try to refer each of you to an LMT that I think would best suit your needs. I want you all to continue massage therapy and continue taking care of yourselves. 

  Speaking of taking care of oneself- there's another aspect to this that I want to talk about. Because this decision isn't only about my fiance and his job. It's also very much about me. 
  Over the last year or so, it has become very clear to me that my massage career is winding down. Massage is a tough career path. There aren't many LMTs out there, because it is a difficult job to maintain. It's physically and emotionally demanding, especially when you own your own business. I tell new LMTs to be aware that in order to have a career in massage therapy you will always have to give a little bit more than you get in return, and that can end up draining you much more quickly than some other career paths.
  I preach knowing your limitations, I say it to my clients like a broken record, so it is something I am painfully aware are beginning to show for me. Physically, emotionally, mentally, I don't have much longer left as an LMT. I still have it- but I know for a fact that even if it weren't due to the job, or the move, or the family planning, we would be having this exact conversation in a year or two, and at that point it would be because I simply can't do it any more. And I don't want to wait until I am totally burned out to make this decision. I want to leave on high note, while I still  have the energy to give my clients my all until that last day.
  The average career span for a massage therapist is 7 years (seriously, that's it!). By the time my doors close on October 21st I will have made it over 12 1/2. I think that's pretty good.
   
  One last thing- to anyone I've seen over the last few days, I apologize for not telling you in person. I tried to, I really did. This past Saturday (5/28) was supposed to be the day I started telling everyone. But I totally chickened out, I just couldn't bring myself to drop bombshell news on all of you after your sessions. So I decided to keep it completely quiet until this email was sent out, figuring we could talk about it in person during your next appointment. 

  More info will come soon, for now if you have any questions I am a 100% open and honest book. 

  See you soon!

  Love, Sarah