Inspriation

I met someone today.  Her name is Sherri and she is a great conversationalist, she is pretty and she is very talented.  She is a massage therapist and specializes in pressure points to remove pain.  When I scheduled the apointment with Sherri she informed me that she had been in a car accident which severed her spine, relegating her to a wheel chair for the rest of my life.  At the time, I didn't really think about this revelation.  As she wheeled down the hall to her room, I heard the hand wheels squeeking and I wondered why she did not have a motorized chair.  I must admit that her phone voice isn't as friendly and welcoming as she is in person.  The name of her business is Mystical Mermaid.  Such an appropriate name for a business run by someone who can not use her legs.  Her room was welcoming, beautiful and had many exquisite mermaids.  As she massaged the knots out of my muscles we talked about a shared passion beading.  We talked about the fact that she wants to bead her own urn.  We talked about preparing ourselves for death.

I mentioned that I would like my Sister to see her next time she is in town as she experiences chronic neck pain and can not wear necklaces.  She asked if Laurie was injured in a car accident and I said yes.  She then described her injuries due to her car accident-- a severed spine accompanied by mistakes by doctors.  At that point in her life she could have made the choice to use her paralysis as an excuse.  She could have taken the many medications to manage pain.  Instead she learned a new skill to help her to manage her own pain and now uses that skill in her business.  She hasn't stopped there, she is taking classes to learn an ancient Chinese therapy.  

I left her office inspired by a woman who chose to live a full life in spite of her handicap.  She is a woman who is not bitter or angry.  She is very matter of fact about the accident that left her paralyzed.  She is inspring and damn good at what she does.