WHAT ACUPUNCTURE HAS TO DO WITH FINDING A NEW HOME OFFICE
Dear Diary,
PART 1
I've had this pain in my left shoulder for over six month now and since I made a New Year's goal to exercise more frequently, I realized I would have to deal with the pain to get me motivated to sweat. I opted for seeing an acupuncturist.
After reading lots of reviews on Yelp, I found a nearby office in Los Angeles' Eagle Rock district. I booked the appointment immediately. While I have done acupuncture in the past (although, haven't been for over a decade), I knew what to expect, or did I? I went in to see the holistic practitioner, she touched my arm, and we were ready to go.
She began poking me with her slender needles and I jumped a little. The first few needles didn't hurt a bit, until she lifted up my shirt and poked a needle right in the center of my stomach, just above my belly button; I ached in agony. I began crying profusely. Was it the pain from the needle or was it something more? Was her attempt to help redistribute the chi in my body releasing more than just mere pain?
She removed the needle immediately. After applying the final needle to my wrist I laid still listening to the fountain flushing in the background. After 40 minutes I began to squirm. My back started to bother me, which resulted in my moving around a lot, which in turn caused more pain. I couldn't wait for the session to be over.
After I paid my bill I went home.
PART 2
Over the past several months I started to outgrow my current living quarters-- my staff had grown, we adopted another puppy, and with 1 bathroom in the house, I was finally ready for a change of atmosphere. After nearly three and a half years, I decided it was time to look for a larger home to accommodate my spreading wings. My husband was on board.
Annoyed while on the phone with a customer service representative, my husband was shoving his computer in front of my face desperately trying to get my attention. What he had found was beyond (and I mean WAY beyond) my expectations. It was a 3-story modern, eco-friendly, solar powered townhouse with 2 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms in my dream area of Eagle Rock, walking distance from my acupuncturist (should I decide to ever go back), a Cardio Barre studio nearby, sidewalks to walk my pups, and sunshine on every floor. I wanted to cry; I was SO happy. Had the swanky-boho office I had been manifesting since summer finally come to fruition? I was eager to find out.
We immediately scheduled a viewing for that evening. Already obsessed with the photos online and blueprint of the property, I saw my dream office on the top floor with a balcony where yoga would become a daily routine, I couldn't wait to apply-- I was sold. I couldn't wait to move in!
“My happy thoughts dancing around in my head were of designing each room with shag rugs, ethnic textiles, pops of color with Feng Shui simplicity plague my mind and I felt deep inside my soul that this was the place. ”
And then we waited. And waited. And waited. And I grew anxious. My happy thoughts dancing around in my head were of designing each room with shag rugs, ethnic textiles, pops of color with Feng Shui simplicity plague my mind and I felt deep inside my soul that this was the place. You know the feeling of when you meet the man you know you will marry, it truly was that powerful of a connection. I just KNEW this place was to be mine.
The weekend came and past. My excitement slowly deteriorating and quickly turning to worry; I couldn't wait another second to find out if the Eagle Rock modern home would ours. I grew pessimistic by the hour and the next morning I received a text from my husband that said, "They accepted an application they received before us and they're moving forward with that."
“My heart broke into a million pieces and the tears jerked from my eyes just like the needle that poked my belly just 4 days prior. I couldn’t believe it. How could I have been wrong when the vibration was so strong?”
My heart broke into a million pieces and the tears jerked from my eyes just like the needle that poked my belly just 4 days prior. I couldn't believe it. How could I have been wrong when the vibration was so strong? Was it really possible there was something better waiting for me?
As I went on with my day and shared my heartache with friends and colleagues, each one of them with brilliant advice and exercises to try to bring my desire to life, I decided to take action. One thing I did was write on a small piece of paper everything I wanted in my new home and office space. The list went like this:
Stainless steel appliances
Dishwasher
2 bathrooms (1 with a tub)
2+ bedrooms
1100+ square feet
Outside space, patio/yard
White walls
Nice Hardwood floors
Close to shopping, restaurants, etc..
Sunny and bright (lots of windows)
Washer and Dryer
Walk-in Closets
Dog Friendly
Sidewalks to walk the dogs
And then I lit the piece of paper on fire over the kitchen sink and I watched it burn. I returned to my computer, went to Craigslist for one last browse; I even went till the very end of all the listings which were about to drop off, and there the ad read:
2br/2.5ba - 1147ft² - New community near freeways and shopping! 1 month free rent!
I clicked it and there my list read before my eyes: stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors, washer/dryer, dog friendly, etc… I called them the next morning! The woman who answered the call was kind. She even asked me what my requirements are for my dream place to live! Instead of going over my long laundry list of what I wanted (the ad had already confirmed that was what they were offering), I told her what I really wanted was for the experience of getting a new place to be effortless. I went on to tell her about my heartbreak, she listened and told me the place would be mine if I wanted it; she's be happy to hold it for me.
The pain in my heart finally subsided, the fear that I wouldn't be 'first in line' dissipated, and finally a smile returned to my face.
With all the emotion convoluting my head over the past week, I had forgotten to check my shoulder to see if the acupuncture had produced any results. Firmly distracted by the visualization of home decor and luxe office design that were waiting my Pinterest boards, I moved my arm and the pain had gone, just like the pain in my heart.
Not only did my boho-swanky home office show up instantaneously after burned paper and too many tears, but the pain in my shoulder dulled and should it decide to return, my new home is now walking distance from my new acupuncturist in Eagle Rock. On Monday I plan to sign a lease to my new home office and I cannot wait to spread my wings and fly without any pain in my arm.
Wish me luck!
Angel
Photo Credit: Pinterest