Case study

My serendipitous trip to Bella Bella

The Universe provides us with many opportunities. The difficulty is recognizing one and then seizing it before it escapes. Fortunately I listened to my inner voice and signed up for the Trade Show promoted by the Ladysmith Chamber of Commerce, held the first weekend in February. The fees were rather costly, I agonized, so I shared a table with another small business all the while wondering what would happen.

Setting my chair up to provide 15 min for $15 chair acupressure/massage sessions, I looked around and realized that the location was somewhat less than ideal, although fundamentally there seemed to be no ideal “space.” Over the next two days during the 6 hours I sat or stood there, I talked to about 100 plus people. I despaired when only 4 people took me up on a chair session, 2 were “freebies” to other business people (promotionals). But then…

A First Nation’s couple walked by and stopped to talk about my advertisement to offer workshops to teach a basic “Neck/Shoulder Acupressure” chair massage. Kathy Brown was involved in organizing the first (hoping to be annual) Heiltsuk Women’s Self-Care Conference in Bella Bella and would I be interested in participating? Wow!

My first question was something to the effect of where exactly was Bella Bella (on the mainland or an Island? I always mixed up Bella Bella and Bella Coola, but no more). The second, when and how do I get there! (ok, that was 2 questions). Kathy also confirmed that Campbell Island is a reserve belonging to the Heiltsuk Tribe.

A month later I found myself on a float plane and then a while later on another bigger (30 – 40? seater) plane, destination Bella Bella (on Campbell Island) via Vancouver Airport with a pit stop in Port Hardy. Talk about a natural “high.” I never stopped giggling inside the whole way.

I arrived mid-Wednesday and left mid-Friday. Another presenter and I stayed at Connie’s B & B (5-star hostess, awesome cook!). The weather was bitter cold and it snowed, but the people warm and hospitable, making it easy to ignore the ugly West Coast climate outside.

The next two days are a bit of a blur of busy-ness. Wednesday afternoon saw me presenting a workshop to the amazing group of women who organized the Conference. Pressing points to relax much-stressed shoulders and backs proved to be at times painful yet helpful as the group released pent-up tension. Much needed laughter followed, as we grew to know each other. The only brief moment of dismay was when I got two-thirds through my presentation and invited people to find points on a partner, and no one moved. I’d already demonstrated a session on two people when another, who’d arrived more than half-way through the workshop, begged to have a session because she was in the middle of a horrible migraine headache. What to do?

After obtaining permission from the group, saying this was their practice time; Jane (not her real name) sat in the chair to have a session. I went through the neck/shoulder acupressure massage session we were taught at the Canadian Acupressure College (and practiced on staff at the Royal Jubilee Hospital). However, as Jane’s story unfolded a bit, only a bit due to the rather public circumstances, she said she’d had them continually since around 11 or 12 years of age. Nothing helped, or helped for long. I asked her some questions to be answered only in her head, looked up the pressure points for headache/migraine in the JSD Handbook, and proceeded from there with JSD points 22 + 44, and did both 11s at the same time. The pain abated, Jane said went from about a 7/8 to 2/3. People noticed that colour had come back into her face, previously she’d been white from pain. I mentioned that chronic situations sometimes needed more than one session (drink water, rest, etc) and left it at that.

Well, the next day I saw her at noon – what a difference. Jane was laughing and smiling, saying the pain had gotten worse again in the early night, but she’d woken up without a headache and still had none, which she saw as somewhat of a miracle.

During my visit to Bella Bella I was invited to attend a wonderful evening ceremony paying tribute to 19 Heiltsuk women, some passed on and some still contributing to life. The amazing strength of these women and their contributions to their families, friends, and community left me in awe. The women had been nominated by either a family member or friend. One of the most moving (and there were many of those moments) was a husband’s tribute to his wife of many years.

My prayer to the Universe is that another such opportunity be granted to me, for I will again jump at the opportunity to serve in whatever way I can. Jin Shin Do is certainly a key to open the door to serendipitous adventures.