01/27/2026
Smyle's Roots
While going through some old papers I found these, which took me back to Smyle's first industry.
True story...When I was about 10 or 11 years old, my dream was to one day become a Lawyer maybe even a judge. In school, I learned about Thurgood Marshall, who was the first African American justice of the US Supreme Court. I thought to myself, I could do that too.
While researching how to become a lawyer, I found out I needed about 8-12 yrs of school after high school. Needless to say, I decided that becoming a lawyer was not for me.
Sometime after that, my cousin Greg taught me how to fry an egg and I fell in love with cooking. In 1999, when I was 15, with the help of my mom, Smyle's Caterers was born. After about 2 years of cooking for others, I decided not to pursue becoming an Executive Chef. Also, the hospitality classes were pretty boring.
I still had another career during this time as a Nursing Assistant but let's fast forward to 2012. My mother was enrolling at the Cleveland Institute of Medical Massage and asked me to take the course with her.
Reluctantly, I decided to give it a shot. I went to the Day classes and the Evening classes were for her.
Guess what!? I fell in love with Massage, a holistic way to assist the body in returning to its "natural symmetry of inner peace".
The Anatomy and Physiology class severely kicked my butt. But I had found my true passion. No giving up. In May of 2013, I graduated school. In August of 2013, I received my license. In December of 2013, Smyle's Touch was born.
My first job was providing chair massages for an Employee Holiday Luncheon at Baldwin Wallace University. There were six therapists including myself. We did about over 60 sessions in about 90 minutes.
Throughout the years, I've collaborated with DFAS (3 yrs), The Ronald McDonald House (5 yrs), Baldwin Wallace University (10 yrs), American Greetings (11+ yrs), and many others.
In 2022, I found a small studio in Mentor, OH to start building a physical practice. I still travel to clients and businesses on a weekly basis across Northeast Ohio and beyond.
Now it's 2026; 12+ years later, I still love what I do, assisting others in feeling better - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Remember your roots.
Reflect on your beginnings.
Realize how far you come and all that you've accomplished.
If you still love what you do, keep going!!
- Edmund (Alex)
