A Light Bulb Moment-Occupational Therapy

 

I wish I could remember the exact date that I saw occupational therapy (OT) in practice for the first time. Much like March 14th, the day I realized something was wrong physically with me, it was a day that changed my life. I believe it was in late July or early August.

Miss E. was in rehab at Litchfield Woods, in nearby Torrington, CT. I first went and watched her do her physical therapy. If I remember correctly they had her walking between a parallel bar to gain some endurance. Next came occupational therapy.

My first impression was, wow, this is a colorful room. I can actually still see it crystal clear in my minds eye. It was filled with light, had mats on the floor, some exercise machines, a bed, a bathroom and many other tools of the trade.

There was an OT sitting on a large inflatable ball doing therapy with an older gentleman. I was sitting on the sidelines in a chair with my mind spinning. Miss E. was working her upper arms with a hand bicycle machine. The goal was to bring up a smiley face on a computer screen by going the proper speed (I think). She needed encouragement for this as she would get distracted, however she loved a challenge and tried hard.

Meanwhile there was a man (older) sitting just a few yards in front of me. He had been given his therapy exercises and left to do them on his own. I'm sure he was familiar with what he was supposed to be doing. He either was not in the mood or something else was going on. He looked at me. I looked at him. I started doing the motions of the exercise with him. (It's just who I am). He started doing them with me. That was the moment I became an occupational therapist. Right in that moment I saw the power of the process, the connection, the meaning, and MY purpose.

No one in the room noticed what had happened, as in me helping to get this man to do his therapy. They were busy working with other people, but I knew and will always remember. When the OT had some time, I asked her about what it meant to be an OT. She told me how she loved her job and all the ways it helped people.

I literally, and I truly mean literally made up my mind to become an occupational therapist in that hour. My husband was away on a trip in Alaska. Most couples discuss important ideas and life changes like going back to school and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not me! I just jump right in. Okay, if I am going to be transparent I might as well be right here and now. My husband is really my not-husband. How about that for a description. That is how he will be referred to moving forward. My not-husband. What that means is he is everything a husband would be, but we are not married. We have been together now for over 28 years. So, I guess that IS one of the reasons I did not feel compelled to tell him about my plans. We live our own lives, but support one another in our ventures.

Have you ever done something like that? Made a big decision and not told your significant other about it first? Would you ever consider going back to school in your 50's?

Next week~ Anatomy and Physiology and applying to graduate school