I am not sure who originated the saying “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”, but I agree. I haven’t worked the past 24 years – I’ve gotten to love people every day!
Hello! My name is Heide Metzger and I would like to share with you my personal journey to what has now become Massages For Charity International.
When I first became a massage therapist so many years ago, I was (and still am) so in love with the benefits of massage therapy that I wanted to massage the whole world!! Now, with therapists everywhere showing interest and becoming In-Home Massage Fundraising Specialists, the world can benefit by receiving “the reward of our faith.”
I have always believed that as massage therapists we have a responsibility to teach our clients and anyone we can about the fascinating human body that so many of us take for granted. (It is easier to teach clients since they are a captive audience lying face down on a table)
Learning throughout my career from clients as well has laid the foundation for Massages For Charity without either of us knowing it at the time. At one point I had 2 clients who are sisters that came 2-3 times a year with their 3 friends. They would make a day of it at the office – bringing their own cheese, fruit and croissants and ingredients to mix up mimosas for a Sunday brunch. One by one they would get a massage while the rest sat in the waiting room laughing and chatting and just enjoying each other’s company. The actual basics of How to Host a Massage For Charity party.
Another client had a brother with a spinal cord injury from a hockey accident as a teenager, who needed to raise money for a surgery. We donated a percentage of every massage for a month to him. (You can read about his triumphant and amazing story in his book with Wayne Mesmer “Don’t Blame The Game”)
Since my old athletic knee and back injuries had worsened from exhaustion, I needed to regain my own health. That was when I heard about Team In Training and figured I needed to be part of a team to help me move forward and train for something. I went to an informational meeting to find out more about one of their many fundraising runs. I will never forget the face on the poster if the little girl with leukemia, Jordan, on the poster that day. Her big blue eyes, bald head and huge smile were impossible to turn down. How can someone say no to putting in a little effort to train and raise some funds when you consider what this little one is going through just to stay alive? Of course I signed up immediately for the $5,000 commitment, and then panicked wondering how I would raise the money! IDEA! Do what you do best – massage! If you didn’t raise the money, it got charged on your credit card, so it was time to raise it. I asked friends and clients to host “parties” in their home (a variation of the MIMOSA SISTERS) and I gave anyone a half hour massage to each person who wrote a $50 check to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. $5,000 raised no problem.
My teammates also needed help raising funds, so they gathered their friends and we split the amount 50/50. Soon other people were asking if I would do parties for other charities and BOOM – MASSAGES FOR CHARITY was born!
About Heide Metzger
A sermon I once heard said that their version of Hebrews 6:12 says that “We should be diligent to go all the way through, that we might receive the reward of our faith.”
Being able to help as many people as possible through massage, teaching, motivational speaking, business marketing coach, and volunteer work has always been important to me. At one point I had 3 offices, and then closed 2 to accept a teaching position at a massage therapy school; and taught workshops and classes throughout my area. Even having 30 clients a week, I still wanted and prayed for more hours in a week to do more massages and “touch” more lives. The joy of sharing my knowledge and love for massage therapy is my passion!
There is so much learning from every experience, if we are willing to be open to the lessons. Having worked in different chiropractic offices and massage clinics, I had the opportunity to only have to show up and love people. Then being in practice myself, I learned the need to market. I have loved and learned from both.
My Dad, my hero, my buddy had a heart attack in August of 2004. He actually died and was revived 6-10 minutes later, leaving him severely brain injured. Being the positive thinker that I am, I thought this new chapter in Dad’s life was for us to find a way to reverse his brain injury and share great news with the world. So I left no stone unturned. If I wasn’t with a client I was at the hospital. If I wasn’t at either of those I was researching in front of the computer. This was my Dad who spent his entire life making my life easy and blessed and this was my chance to give back to him in any way possible. After caring for him in my home for a year, he chose to make his transition out of his earthly body and into his heavenly o ne on Christmas Eve Day 2005.
However, my body had begun to shut down due to lack of sleep, stress, poor nutrition, and depression. It was sheer exhaustion and adrenal fatigue. I do not recommend it! Remember that love of massage I told you about earlier? It was on hiatus. What do you do when you have lost the love of something you’ve loved for years? I’m not sure what you’d do, but I chose to pray.
THAT’S WHEN THE ADVENTURE REALLY BEGAN!!!
When in doubt about what to do next in your life, simply ask for guidance. THAT is the easy part! The hard part is waiting for the answer to reveal itself.
Hence, How Massages For Charity International came to life!
As for me, I have stepped out of the massage room and in front of the computer to spend the next 24 years mentoring up and coming therapists and doing my other love – marketing. Our mission is to build a community and bring back to society the knowledge that touch is a wonderful thing and we all have the right to feel relaxed, pampered, and to have time with our friends.
Remember the prayer I told you about? Well, I asked if I was supposed to stay in the field of massage therapy or go on to something else? My original prayer back in 1986 was how to “touch” as many lives as possible with so few days in the week? Now I see the potential for us all to work together to do just that. I am grateful that God gave me the opportunity to return to my heart and love of massage to see a bigger vision for the industry and our world.
All because we were “diligent to go all the way through” the journey!
As Always -
Be Blessed &
Thank You for Being a Blessing to Others!
Heide Metzger
Co-Founder
708-449-0849