We had the good fortune of connecting with Christa Caputa and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christa, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Much like a pendulum, balance is not achieved and then ours forever. Much like self-actualization, or being an entrepreneur, doing something you are meant to do and also scraping out a living.

I never had balance. Particularly my generation being a little girl. I grew up with a very fiscally serious Dad. A financial planner, fiscal Republican (until that ideal tanked just like most parties). No separatism here.

My Mom was married at 17. She had no choices. They were made for her.

So I straddle those old ideas and the Bernie young people. Extremes. I see young women choosing men they deserve. They have self-esteem and less drive for “stuff”. Self-care is modeled and not decadent. Mindfulness and yoga are mainstream, all self-rejuvenating exercises. Meditation in the 90’s still meant the chanters at the airports.

So I watched my Mom go from doormat and martyrdom to get her needs met to a woman who declared she would be ok without my Dad. This was huge for a dependent wife.

However, I help people who are out of balance demand time for themselves to refuel. And yet, I am still a textbook caregiver.

Balance is a weekly commitment. I will book some refuel time and then fill it if a patient is in pain. For the first time, however, I took Memorial weekend and Labor Day weekend off. 3 day weekends both times. And It was glorious. I have worked Saturdays and Holidays since my retail days at 17.

So in summary, this has been a long, long process to even know what I need in order to do my best for my patients. It is an ongoing battle though. As an entrepreneur there is no PTO, holiday pay, mental health days nor insurance to cover counseling or alternative, preventative Medical treatments.

There is no graduation from life Lessons, just practice, reframe, and do better moving forward.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This is a huge question. I have always helped people. I was a Massage Therapist, an ESL Teacher, an Anatomy teacher and then an acupuncturist, a sports medicine focused practitioner. I have also treated Veterans and been involved with Veterans all of my life. Nothing I was privileged to do could have been without them.

Nothing has been easy. Many days are tough to face for some stretches. People are hurting and confused and scared. Holding space for others is wearing on us.

I have been re-examining my choice to keep going and I try on other positions in my head. But nothing feels as good as my job does. And I bring more care to my clinic than most other practitioners. I do not just ask your chief complaint, do my diagnostics, throw in needles and leave for 45 minutes. My patients feel heard and seen. They get my full attention when I am treating.

I have had an extraordinary life. I have followed the road less traveled. I have lived in Korea and Thailand teaching English. I trekked the Annapurnas, worked on a cruise ship, took part in a three day Moroccan Wedding, did the El Camino de Santiago and 5 Ayahuasca ceremonies with a real Peruvian shaman.

I have two Master’s degrees and a doctorate. I have raised more money for people I don’t know, than I have made working for myself.

There is no way I will look back and say “I wish I would have…”

The downside to my life’s adventures is that I have never made a good living. So that is my next vision. I will find a way to do what I am meant to do AND get to the Middle Class. (What’s left of it anyway.)

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The mountains all around! My favorite hikes for sure. Then incorporate some great Denver eateries. I think Breckenridge, Vail and Strawberry HotSprings are musts.

RMNP, Trail Ridge to Grand Lake is pretty awesome, too! A Lyons music festival would be a plus.

Depending on the time of year, I love getting an Airbnb in Fraser or Grandby and snowboarding for a couple of days (access to an outdoor hot tub of course.)

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Dad, hands down!! Although drilling the money stuff into us as a requirement to be enough, he also always encouraged our next attempt at life. His language was finance, $$, investing and high salaries so that was his way of showing us love. He was concerned we would be ok financially. Like when your Mom reminds you to take a jacket, even though you are 30 years old, She is saying “I love you.” Not just “Take a Jacket.”

Website: www.christaacupuncture.com

Instagram: ccacupuncturelongmont

Facebook: CCAcupuncture

Youtube: Christa Caputa

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