Nobody Warned Me Growth Comes With Choking Hazards

I got to sleep in today and was up just before 7. For me, that’s basically a vacation. I laid around until about 8:15, did my Glow Getter routine, recorded my morning vlog, and headed off to therapy.

My therapist and I had to laugh because apparently there are new people working the front desk. Last week they told me she wasn’t there. I knew better. I know people. Sure enough, she was there. Sometimes it pays to trust your instincts.

After therapy, I had to make a quick stop at home because when I tell you I had to use the bathroom, I mean it was an emergency situation. Of course, the second I walk into my building, I get stopped in the hallway. I’m trying to be polite and not rude, but internally I’m thinking, “Girl, I love you, but bye.” Some conversations can wait.

Once that crisis was handled, I headed to my hair appointment. Everything was going great until surprise road construction showed up out of nowhere and made me late. The funniest part? I was literally wearing my “Probably Late for Something” t-shirt. At this point, I feel like I manifested it. Nice work, Lynette.

After my appointment, I was walking out feeling pretty good about my fresh hair when all of a sudden I got that weird phantom feeling again. For a split second, it felt like there was a diamond ring on my left ring finger. I got all excited thinking about showing my new hair to my imaginary husband before remembering he doesn’t actually exist. This is the third time that’s happened. I don’t know what that’s about, but maybe it’s less about a ring and more about finally feeling safe and secure these days.

When I got home, I continued packing for the apartment move. I finally got my bookshelves done and broke down the cabinet that held all of my stones. The cabinet was already broken, so it was time. I packed everything up, hauled it out, and tossed it. Another little piece of the old chapter gone.

Then I finally got through to the payroll company and got everything set up and ready to go. Tomorrow Klara takes her first clients. I don’t think it’s fully sunk in yet that someone else is officially building alongside me. It feels exciting and a little surreal at the same time.

Later, I headed to the office for a 90-minute head spa treatment with a 30-minute massage at the end. When his service was over, he looked at me and said, “Tell whoever helped you fix it thank you. I felt so safe today I passed out and slept.” Then he asked how long he had been out. I told him about 30 minutes and said I’d pass along the message. He ended up leaving a bigger tip than usual.

Honestly, that comment stuck with me more than the tip did. Safe. That’s the word he used. Safe.

After work, I came home, started making dinner, did some dishes, and continued throwing out more junk. Somewhere during all of that, I managed to smoke up the entire apartment while cooking. Everything was completely under control until it absolutely wasn’t.

Then came the part where I almost died.

I’m sitting there eating dinner when suddenly I choke. Not the little cough-and-keep-going kind of choke. The real kind. I start coughing and choking and coughing some more. Right as this is happening, my son walks out of the apartment. I can’t talk. I can’t yell for him. I’m trying to breathe, my eyes are watering, my throat feels scratchy, and I’m genuinely scared because this has never happened to me before.

At one point I intentionally ran myself into the kitchen counter because I’m short and I knew it was the perfect height to help dislodge whatever was stuck. So there I am, choking, coughing, crying, snot running down my face, and repeatedly launching myself into my countertop trying to get food unstuck from my throat. It wasn’t exactly one of my finer moments, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Eventually Evan walked back in while I was still gasping for air. After what felt like forever, everything finally started settling down. I could breathe again, take a drink of water, blow my nose, and stop wondering if dinner was about to be the thing that took me out after surviving all the other nonsense life has thrown at me.

So now I’m sitting here writing tonight’s blog.

Tomorrow my first 1099 practitioner takes clients. My apartment is halfway packed. My hair looks cute. A client felt safe enough to fall asleep. I apparently have an imaginary husband somewhere. And for a brief moment this evening, a piece of food almost ended my entire career.

Just another normal day around here.

If your nervous system needs a place to exhale, I offer trauma-informed massage, head spa treatments, and advanced skincare at 888 Spa MN—where real life and real healing meet.