“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” -Zig Ziglar
Are you filled with optimism when you wake up in the morning? Do you grimace when you hear “just think positively and your life will be fantastic?” Have you given up hope and settled for less? Living in fuzzy grey versus rose coloured glasses?
As a practicing O.T. for the past 22 years, I still get inspired by my clients. I went into the O.T. profession to make a difference in people’s life by improving their quality of life.
The World Health Organization definition of health is:
“A resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.”
During my clinical occupational therapy training, I suggested a key extension to my client as she lost her ability to turn the ignition to her car. She was not so concerned as her husband drove her, and he had lots of time as he was only a mayor of a small town. She didn’t believe that this simple solution would be helpful but agreed to try the adaptive aid on the weekend. By Monday, she returned with all of her keys. She was able to drive her car independently.
Inspiring hope by doing.
All her life, she believed that she could not cook; she had a learning disability. Her mother tried in vain, and her teachers given up on her. I taught her how to make muffins for her children from a mix. She could make muffins independently on the second attempt. She felt so proud of herself that she still brags about this skill.
Inspiring hope by doing.
Professionals were preparing her on how her life with Multiple Sclerosis would be in the very near future. They showed her all of the adaptive equipment she would need such as a walker, wheelchair, and grab bars for the bathroom. With regular Feldenkrais® lessons and connecting with peer support, she learned how to be active with the occasional adaptive equipment.
Inspiring hope by doing.
I never quite know how much positive change a person will have and there are some people with whom I was unable to help. What I know for sure that believing hope is possible and making small positive changes daily do lead to beautiful destinations.
“Hope is not born on mountain tops, but in valleys when you’re looking to the heights and peaks that you’re yet to climb.”
-healthyplace.com