regrets

Thanks, kitty, wasn't sure!

I've done many cleaning jobs. I did take my own 'Hoover' as it's an Oreck.
One house had the American system where you just plug the hose into the socket and all the dust went to a huge bag in the garage.
No one ever expected that I supply cleaning materials.

Never let what was or could have been spoil what is or could be.

Just been reading about this, ethel.
https://www.futurelearn.com/
I know you say you've done lots of courses, but this seems to be different. University courses, and they are free.

Elegran, Im still a reflexologist, I will never give that up. If I could afford a private practice then Id be in my 7th heaven. I trained in therapies while I worked as a market researcher, I went to evening classes. this is the love of my life. I also went to life drawing classes and the best body parts I like painting are portraits and feet. I love feet(not smelly ones mind). I just cant get anyone to have a therapy, those who can afford it go to a posh beauty salon and those who cant either don't have it or hope to get it done on the cheap, no one would pay me the going rate so I do it now for free. If I can help someone I will.

Ethelbags Is there a Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre near you? One of the therapies some of them offer is reflexology, I think on a basis that it is done at the Centre, but people pay the therapist directly. Some also have volunteer reflexologists who give their time free. If you could link up with a centre, you would have somewhere to do your work without the expense and effort of finding your own premises.

You can find out where your nearest centre is from their site at www.msntc.org.uk/therapies.php

I think that if its a charity you have to work voluntary, I used to work for a charity, am still registered as one of the volunteers but work commitments prevent me doing much at the minute.

The MS Therapy Centre in Edinburgh certainly has physios working independently in their centre and charging each patient. They also have had various therapists working there independently and charging for sessions. They are on the premises with the Centre, and work closely with them, but are self-employed. If you are looking for more reflexology work and have an mstc near you it would be worth asking whether they have a anyone there and if not is there an opening for you. But if you are not looking for more relexology that is not relevant.

I don't know of any rules about having to be a volunteer. Charity shops employ a lot of volunteers, but the manager/ess and the assistant manager/ess get paid. Of course, charities do like volunteers as they don't cost them anything.

Sorry, a bit late to this thread and its really got me thinking. Basically (and apologies for any apparent smugness) I don't have regrets BUT that's for a reason: at the age of 40 something bad happened to a family member. It was a great devastating shock. It ended up really shaking me into thinking about my life which I had been just pleasantly sleepwalking through. I made a conscious decision then that whenever I heard or felt myself saying "no" to anything or "I cant do that" or "I`m not the sort of person for that" or anything self deprecating, I would just say YES. I did that and scared myself silly at times but it meant I took up opportunities that I would otherwise definitely not have done. Irritatingly enough it all worked out well and my life really improved but it took a hellish event and a crystal clear conscious decision to make it happen. Non je ne regret rien! (so far anyway!)

Henetha what a wonderful post. I want to put that up on my wall. love

Philip Larkin seemed to understand the value of the ordinary in this poem to a new-born baby girl: I think of often!

'Tightly-folded bud,
I have wished you something
None of the others would:
Not the usual stuff
About being beautiful,
Or running off a spring
Of innocence and love —
They will all wish you that,
And should it prove possible,
Well, you’re a lucky girl.

But if it shouldn’t, then
May you be ordinary;
Have, like other women,
An average of talents:
Not ugly, not good-looking,
Nothing uncustomary
To pull you off your balance,
That, unworkable itself,
Stops all the rest from working.
In fact, may you be dull —
If that is what a skilled,
Vigilant, flexible,
Unemphasised, enthralled
Catching of happiness is called.,

Thank you, littleflo. So nice of you to comment.