BootsnAll Travel Community

At the ripe age of 29, I figured out what I'd like to do for a job - I'd like to be a masseur/(for Americans - masseuse). Should I? I've always been told that I have a good touch for doing that - by friends and well, ex-gfs, and I enjoy doing it as well. Tho I'm not too sure I'd like to massage a hairy old fat guy, no offense!

My point tho is that it _feels_ like something I could be good at and that I enjoy, which is something I haven't felt about something ever that can be converted into something professionally. I've always breezed through life never doing any hard work towards something (I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and deep inside this is an expression of fear of failure), and since this is a thing I'm apparently naturally talented for, then can't go wrong with that, right?

OTOH it seems like a bit of a flimsy career? it's "portable" so I can do massage anywhere in the world, but I'm not sure if it's easy to build up a clientele or something. I come from a technical background and this is complete departure and the opposite of the type of things I've been interested in normally - computers, gadgets, everything a bit clinical. Dunno.

I guess I don't know if that's a real job, if I can make it (as it requires a bit of personal skills I may not have), if I'll be totally yucky about working with certain people, and even if there's a real benefit when doing massage - yeah sure its great for relaxation, but I've always been a bit skeptical of wether e.g. deep tissue massage does anything - again, in my computer business, I know exactly what kind of benefit I'm creating - not so with massage...etc,etc.

It's certainly a profession but don't they have different certification systems in different countries? Especially when oyu get into physical therapy and rehab related work. Medical massage is a standard part of many rehab programs for recovery after surgeries here. It supports the muscles that get sore during phsyical therapy, helps circulation, etc. There's all kinds of really specialized massages.

One of my friends is a social worker, and her company actually paid for a part of her massage certification program. It was relevant to her work (in an old folks community), so hurrah!

Yeah, it's a real job, and yeah, it's pretty easy to build up a clientele. Especially if you have worked or know people in relevant fields (i.e.: anyone who works with people or has to do stuff like stand up all day or sit in a cubicle all day---anyone).

And I suppose you get over the hairy old guy thing after awhile. Plus, portable careers are GOOD.