Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

6 • Massage Therapy Journal

Letter from the

President

Savor the Joyful Moments

Dear Amazing AMTA member! As we begin to hunker down for the winter season (at least here in Pennsylvania!), I am filled with immense gratitude and joy. Serving as your AMTA President has been a tremendous time of leading, learning and lots of engagement within the massage community. Collaborating with stakeholders, talking with countless members, and working closely with AMTA staff and Board of Directors broadened my perspective, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. For this, I am truly thankful. When we work together for the “greater good” of our association, share knowledge generously and foster an environment where everyone feels included and celebrated …, we create tremendous opportunities for EVERYONE! This is the magical element of AMTA! The Not-So-Secrets of OUR Success The success of our association has always been, and continues to remain, a direct result of people like YOU, who are dedicated and incredibly loyal. Take a moment to delight in that while I share with you three important skills that helped shape—and continue to sustain—my massage career. 1. Showing UP. My journey of showing up started 20 years ago when I answered an email about an AMTA event. I’d just graduated from massage school, and while I had wonderful mentors, the truth was, I felt alone in this grand profession of ours. But attending that first AMTA Chapter meeting in Allentown, Pennsylvania, gave me my first connection to massage therapists in my area, and I truly felt like I’d found my home , my community . Then, I volunteered to be Chapter Secretary, and … I just kept showing up.

2. Self-Care. Self-care looks different for us all, right? For me, self-care comes from finding a work-life balance—as well as staying hydrated and making nutritious food, being in nature and practicing gratitude. Self-care is also connection . Connecting with other amazing AMTA members, massage therapists, and learning new skills. (Oh, the connections I’ve made this year!) 3. Savoring. What do I mean by savoring? I mean being aware and present for moments in your life that are important. Life is a collection of moments, some big, some small (like the stack of pancakes I sometimes like to enjoy at breakfast!), and each one holds the potential for contentment and joy. By developing the skill to savor, we can maximize those joyous moments. In other words, we can make those moments last! So, as my year as your AMTA President wanes, I want to remind you , remind us: • Let’s continue to show up—for ourselves, for our profession and for each other. • Let’s prioritize self-care, not just as a way to sustain our careers, but as a commitment to living fulfilling lives. • And above all, let’s savor both the big achievements and the small joys that come our way. Let’s commit to practicing kindness to others, to yourself and to the world. May your days be filled with wonder and your heart be light. It takes ALL of us! Kim Fun Fact: The current world record for longest massage chain included 1,600 people! Can you guess where this happened? (Also, with more than 105,000 members, AMTA could top this record by a mile! Who’s up for the challenge?).

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

Kim Kane Santos AMTA President

amtamassage.org/mtj