Massage Therapy Journal Spring 2025

6 • Massage Therapy Journal

Letter from the

President

I Am Because We Are Greetings Friends! I must admit this is somewhat of a surreal

represented by the Masai warriors of Kenya. When greeting each other, they always ask: “And how are the children?” The traditional answer is: “All the children are well.” This response communicates that all is well only when the needs of all, especially the most vulnerable, are well tended. AMTA’s commitment to our members and community at large is a manifestation of our mission statement “To serve our members ...” and core values “We are a diverse, inclusive and nurturing community working with integrity, respect and dignity.” A litmus test I use for life decisions is the phrase “timing and purpose.” Both aspects have to be aligned with each other, in relation to current life conditions, my greater purpose and the prospect at hand. Time and again AMTA has met or exceeded the tests. The significance, responsibility and honor to serve as the 2025/2026 AMTA National President is in no way lost on me. Thank you for this tremendous opportunity. “A litmus test I use for life decisions is the phrase ‘timing and purpose.’ Both aspects have to be aligned with each other, in relation to current life conditions, my greater purpose and the prospect at hand. Time and again AMTA has met or exceeded the tests.”

ENGAGE WITH AMTA AMTA’S local chapters are a great place to start getting involved. Find yours at amtamassage.org/ chapters.

experience for me, writing this letter, as well as my new role as AMTA’s National President. Even though I’ve had a year as President-Elect to prepare and get used to the idea, I still get giddy at the realization. So much so, that on at least one occasion, I was dubbed the “Giddy-one.” At the start of my massage journey 28 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined my path would lead me here. Yet, as the poet Rumi once said: “As you walk out on the way, the way appears.” While unexpected, each turn on my AMTA path has brought great opportunities— opportunities for personal and professional growth, making strong connections and lifelong friends, and, most of all, leadership service. A Commitment to Excellence In January 2015, as the AMTA-Georgia Chapter President, I attended a Chapter Presidents meeting. During the meeting, Chapter Presidents took another oath in addition to that of our oath of office. It was an oath of excellence. A commitment to the AMTA community and to what became our AMTA Culture Initiative. In recognition of that oath, we received a special “commitment to excellence” pin. In the nine years since, I have had both my 20th and 25th AMTA membership anniversaries, served as AMTA National Director (three terms!), AMTA President-Elect and now AMTA President. Each milestone has come with commemorative pins. As appropriate, I wear them when attending AMTA events or otherwise representing AMTA. Among them, still worn and in many ways most meaningful, is the commitment to excellence pin. For me, the idea of committing to excellence brings to mind a cultural perspective

Cindy E. Farrar AMTA President

I am because we are.

amtamassage.org/mtj