I've never been what people would call a girly girl. I never got into painting my nails because the polish chipped when I climbed trees. I liked collecting bugs more than braiding my hair. So when somebody gave me a gift certificate to a spa, I wondered why. I'm not the spa-going type. Spas? Manicures, facials, the color pink? I figure spas were designed for people with fancier tastes than my own.

I used to live in Tucson, Arizona where there are plenty of spas, from day spas to destination spas. All kinds of people go to them, from local folks to celebrities. People go to spas for all kinds of reasons — health and wellness, relaxation, and rejuvenation from the pressures of the world. But me, I'd just drive by and think, “Yep, there’s another spa,” and keep going. All those wonderful opportunities for spa-going right there in front of me, and I would never stop.

I suppose my main reason for not stopping was the expense. Spending money on a day of pampering myself isn't a priority, especially on a budget like mine. But actually, if I'm honest with myself, I can think of many occasions when I wasted my hard-earned cash instead of setting it aside for pampering. Picking up a fast-food lunch instead of making a sandwich, for example, or buying a paperback book instead of checking it out from the library. Things like that can add up quickly, up to the price of a whole grand day of massage, steam rooms, and mud baths.

My friend who gave me the gift certificate knew that I'd been through a rough time lately, so she gave me a coupon for the super-deluxe massage spa package. It took me a little while to loosen up, doing something new and strange, but before long I relaxed into it and really enjoyed that day of massage, aromatherapy, and body scrub. What bliss. After several hours in that haven for body, mind, and spirit, I emerged back into the world more relaxed and breathing easier, feeling freer and more refreshed.

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