mediation vs. kicking butt

Today my friend and I met a former therapist at the gym. She was in practice for 15 years but now teaches martial arts. We left the gym laughing because it was easier than crying. We wondered if being a therapist your whole life is a pipe dream. We joked at what our next career would be after the therapy world burned us out. Maybe beating the crap out of people in a socially normative way is a good choice. Unfortunately I have no skills in any form of martial arts, other than my own creation used in defense against older brothers.

After several years of being in practice I have some hilarious stories. I also have some heartbreaking ones. I've learned to softly navigate boyhood crushes. I'm accustomed to being the punching bag when they can't say those things to their parent. And on numerous occasions I have been immensely frustrated with the choices my clients make. Yet despite all that, I couldn't imagine any other career...