New year, new you
Welcome 2021
The new year is a time for reflection, resolutions, and turning over a new leaf. I am sure many of us were really looking forward to leave 2020 behind to start fresh this new year. There has been a lot of isolation and social distancing which goes against our human nature. People are naturally social animals and we need, some more than others, to experience daily connection with our people and community.
Now, we are in the midst of Winter and our social needs might be a bit different. This seems like a great opportunity to connect with the hibernation mode many mammals are in right now. We feel the bed calling a little earlier, spend more time at home, the wise–semi-hibernation seems like a good idea, and dreams can be foreshadowing and inspiring. While Winter pulls us towards our darkest work and solitude, the need for connection remains. Our families and dear friends, our sweet communities, they still need us and we still need them. Please remember to keep in touch with the people you care for and love.
Recently, I took an online workshop, from Natasha Nirvana Olson in San Jose, about planning for the New Year. One of the things I enjoyed most was to find out about the wheel of Life image below, which considers all aspects of your life. That gave me an opportunity to review last year and to dream about what I want to see in the year ahead. For myself, for my family, for my business, and for my local and global community.
How was 2020 for me?
Last year, I lost the opportunity to keep practicing Watsu because of the current pandemic, though I also opened my own on-land massage practice. I miss offering Watsu so much. It’s one of those modalities that are healing for both receiver and giver. Being rather than doing. Offering support with deep listening and gentle and profound yet powerful bodywork.
That is the one of the Watsu principles that I apply to my Integrative Massage practice. I am really grateful that I have been able to keep practicing Massage and bodywork, for the first time on my own practice.
I spent a lot of time at home taking care of our garden and home (I am an avid fan an long-life learner of Permaculture), including being with my family, which was very healing, enlightening and challenging at times. Family and community means a lot to me, bearing in mind that I grew up in Spain, with a strong value in connection with other people.
I did more than usual Nature outings, which I loved. One of the reasons we moved to the PNW was the beauty that this region expresses. My family and I feel very strongly connected to the Earth in a spiritual way.
We have been able to keep the connection with our community of friends, within our pod and from the distance. Though, I wish I could hug many of them.
I reaffirmed both my passions to help people and families during the important transition of birth and the following months of childbearing, as well as to help people suffering from pain, either acute or chronic (that is why I started my PT career over 15 years ago in Spain).
We had a lot of support while receiving unemployment, and other help from family, friends and local organizations. We were able to survive economically a very challenging year, and I am very grateful.
For some months I neglected some of my self-caring practices due to the overwhelming feeling and anxiety of living through a pandemic, and this reaffirmed what are my needs for my daily, weekly and monthly practices.
And we ended our year getting infected from COVID-19, with mild symptoms and a complete recovery after two weeks. What an end of the year! If I have to take one thing I learned from last year, I’d say the understanding of how important it is to take care of oneself, in all levels.
How do I envision 2021?
I have lots of dreams for the new year.
I am looking forward to the time I can offer Watsu again and keep growing my new Massage practice. I am credentialing with Insurance Panels so I will be able to accept some health insurances soon. And I started a blog!
I am also transferring my Physical Therapy degree to the US. It might be a long and a bit tedious long process, and I am so excited to have it already started.
While we are planning to take really good care of our home, using Permaculture principles, we are still envisioning finally buying our first home withing the next two years.
And we are planning to get a puppy! We have been in a wait-list for an Aussiedoodle girl and we are getting ready for her to come home soon.
I am also excited for the possibility to have social distancing starting to get a bit looser so we can feel more connected to each other. It has been quite draining not to be able to connect in person with a lot of my friends.
I am deeply committed to myself and taking care of my body as a temple. I already started developing some practices that I have been wanting to do for so many months (i.e bike commuting three days a week).
I believe in Humanity’s ability to learn from everything is going on and to be able to transform at a global scale for the benefit of the Earth and all living beings that live on it.
What do you want to see in 2021 for yourself?
I would love to hear what are your dreams for the New Year. Please feel free to comment below. I would really love to keep connected and hear about you. 
Víctor Barreda Pazos
After years of working in different realms of healthcare as a Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist in Europe, I became a Watsu® Provider with the International School of Watsu® in Spain; then a Licensed Massage Therapist in Oregon in 2016 (License #22189), and a Watsu® Practitioner in 2018 with the WorldWide Aquatic Bodywork Association.
I practice a combination of Eastern and holistic modalities such as Shiatsu or Craniosacral therapy, and Western modalities of manual physical therapy, therapeutic massage and bodywork, both in the Water and on a massage table.
Una respuesta a “New Year, New You! Welcome 2021”
Thanks for sharing your journey and your 2020 experience Victor. It was a challenging year, indeed. It’s lovely to hear that, although you had to go through it, you had mild Covid symptoms and a full recovery!
Best to you in your new and refocused business helping others find health and wellness.