Image by Microgen, Adobe Stock

Here’s what to expect in the age of COVID.

Last week I joined five other massage therapists on a Zoom call about the new normal in the massage therapy world. We’ve been restricted since mid-March, meanwhile gathering best practices for the summer reopening. We discussed how our practice will change, and what will remain the same.

Here in Texas, on May 18 Governor Abbot issued an order under phase two of his reopen plan that allows licensed massage therapists and schools to reopen. This affected three of us Texans on the call. Two others from the UK are planning their reopen date for sometime in July. An Alaskan therapist joined the call from her car. She was on her way to work at a chiropractor’s office where she’s booked through June.

As people venture out after the lockdown, many are craving a massage

I know I could use one! But how safe do you feel about lying on your massage therapist’s table these days? Chances are...

Thank your body for doing thousands of things without you even having to think about it. 

You take a bite of a sandwich, and after chewing and swallowing, your job is done. The digestive system largely takes over from there. You bang your head on the edge of the pool, and after a couple of stitches and a bandage, your circulatory system comes to the rescue to heal the wound. Your brain and nervous system receive information via your eyes, ears, nose, and touch, alerting you to environmental dangers, as well as pleasurable opportunities. You fall asleep each night and your body grows, heals, rests, recuperates, and stores energy for you to get up and do life again the next day. All without much conscious intervention on your part.

The lymphatic system also functions with or without your help. But if you want to increase its immunity-building capabilities, you can actually do something about it. Like a bodybuilder works to define her muscles, your behavior actually facilitates a...

You just dropped an iron on your big toe.

After crumpling to your knees and spewing a curse word or two, you know what’s going to happen. Your toe will turn bright red, it’ll get very hot to the touch, it will be sore and puffy. You may not be able to move it for a while. These are all signs of inflammation, your body’s natural defenses coming to the rescue.

What you can’t see is the dilation of the blood vessels, which allow more blood to reach the tissue. This blood contains a gang of white blood cells rushing into the wounded tissue, ready to fight a battle against infection. Inflammatory mediators trigger immune system cells to pass out of the small blood vessels to prevent further tissue damage. Hormonal signals irritate nerves and cause pain. Inflammation, from the Latin “inflammare”( to burn), sounds an alarm to your entire body. If something hurts, you’re more likely to notice and protect that body part. 

Inflammation...

Years ago, I attended the wedding of a friend’s daughter.

Ten months later, my friend’s annual Christmas letter informed her readers that the newlyweds were no longer together. In less than a year, the marriage had ended.

I was curious what had happened. And who wouldn’t be? I had sat in a small town’s Knights of Columbus Hall with hundreds of strangers, and watched this close-knit family dance to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” new groom included.

But I would never get the skinny on the breakup. The author (a.k.a mother of the bride) wrote, “ I won’t go into details because it’s not my story to tell.” I’ve never forgotten that small phrase, and have used it myself ever since.

As a memoir writer, learning which tale is yours to tell is no small responsibility.

I received a blank book for my eleventh birthday, and I’ve been journaling ever since.

For your eyes only, journaling is different from article writing, and...

In the process of downsizing, you’re going to come face to face with half-finished projects and reminders of hopes that never came to pass.

This is especially difficult for creative people with hobbies like sewing, gardening, woodworking, electronic tinkering, and even reading, etc.

I don’t care how much appreciation you have in your enlightened heart, or how many times you thank objects that don’t spark joy. The downsizing process challenges you to peel the memory from the object.

When you hold in your hands a half-finished quilt top or a video game you haven’t beaten yet; or a component of robotic hardware that hasn’t been programmed; it’s hard to uncurl those fingers and let go.

Last year I found a simple syrup recipe of hatch green chilis and spices. After testing it, friends and family certified it “Awesome” and I saved it to my files.

Thinking I’d make up some gifts, I bought 12 bottles and seals from an eBay shop for the...

“Keep up the great work, Jen! If anyone needs a #copywriter THIS is your gal!”

~a tweet by Sandi Krakowski, my copywriting mentor

"Oh my gosh... I just received the revisions of my wimpy video scripts. I didn't realize they were that wimpy until I read what Jen McGahan did to tweak them. Answer to my prayers, not even kidding. SO GOOD, I want to attend my own workshop! Thank you, Jen! Can't wait to get the revised and NEW emails. Sleeping well tonight... ahhhh."

~Jami Amidon

"The virtual event was  HUGE success!! I had a goal of 5000 registrations, and we were 100 people short of 6000!! :D"

~Rosane Oliveira

"Your questions and suggestions have delightfully and insightfully stirred the pot of our offering, and the words, pieces, and structure are becoming clearer since talking with you."

~Carol Stotts

"Allow me to say THANK YOU! What a brilliant mind you have - I love it !!!!! You have presented the total perspective of the concept and I love what you...