Spring Break 2017

Anyone here in Michigan this week knows the weather is dreary. It's cold, it's dark and winter doesn't want to leave! Mid to late March we get 2-3 days of hope that our weather isn't full of completely depressing non-sense. Everyone who lives here has a glimmer of hope that because it was a mild winter we will not have snow on opening week of baseball. At least, that's my hope! Even with it's beautiful summer days along the shoreline, crisp beautiful falls and a high potential for white Christmas' - Michigan always let's me down February - May.

This week is prime time to go somewhere warm and escape the tail end of winter. Warm places are busy and expensive. My Facebook is full of happy people at beaches and amusement parks. I've had this week off without asking for 10 years now. Five years I have left and the other 5 years I have stayed home. I've realized this week of respite is all about perspective. It's not about the place I end up. It's about making the most of where I currently am with my overall journey.

2010 and 2012 are prefect examples of this. In 2010 I was towards finishing up an internship for the last portion of my graduate degree. That year I knew 6 months ahead of time I was going to be working every weekday I had off, January through August of 2010. Was I sick of snow, cold and dark! Yes, but I never once became sad about giving up prime time vacation week.  In 2012 I was searching to purchase my first home so that first week of April zipped by. I remember 2013 and 2016 being slightly different because of where I was at in my life. I was feeling a bit blue anyways. In 2013 and 2016 I vowed to never stay in Michigan during spring break week again. However, trips and time away have come up for later this year and unfortunately money doesn't grow on trees.

I am happy to report this year despite the crappiest weather imaginable I feel completely content! I have some personal goals brewing and bubbling up and I've been able to focus on them this week. This is exactly the spot I want to be right now and I have known this is what my spring break would be for a couple of months now.

I also fell way behind on household stuff during the month of March, so I have been playing catch up. I made sure to get out on my bike and in my yard during the 2 decent days this past weekend. I've also been catching up with a few of my favorite people this week which entails a trip up to my home away from home this next weekend.

Do you ever need a few days to catch up? Do you ever crave setting and following through with your own personal goals?

April is OT Month

Happy 100th Birthday Occupational Therapy!

100 years ago the founders of OT had a passion for rehabilitating soldiers who were wounded during The Great War. What started out has an idea to assist soldiers who were struggling with PTSD and had lost limbs be able to keep their hands and minds "occupied" and eventually work to earn money again has grown into a profession that changes the lives of many. The first pediatric OTs worked with children during the polio epidemic.

This is a profession that helped me learn how to hand write, tie a shoe, ride a bike and type on a key board for the first time. It has also given me the idea and foundation to always live life to it's absolute fullest. This means trying new things when I don't think it's possible and asking for help when I am certain things are going to be hard. I have instilled in me it's important to remain as independent as possible because of this profession. It's important for me to continue to use all the components and frame work of OT to stay organized by managing my time, resting and relaxing when appropriate and always realizing my whole body/mind will be effected when I make decisions.

This profession has also provided with me with a pay check and a secure job. It has introduced me to children who have inspired and taught me in so many ways. It has taught me patience and dedication and allows me to utilize my empathetic nature on a daily basis. I have been able to teach many children how to hand write, cut with scissors and tie shoes. I'm able to watch children live their lives to the fullest because of this profession.

Today, I will celebrated Occupational Therapy's milestone by having lunch at Olive Garden with my first OT! We discussed how my caseload at school is going and how much OT has changed in the school setting because education is rapidly changing, the effects vision therapy may have on me and how reasonable accommodations aren't necessary for me because I am consistently using tricks of the trade to independently take care of myself.

This is a really cool link celebrating 100 years of OT:
http://www.otcentennial.org/

Be sure to check out the uniforms OTs used to wear!

Money Management

Man, there's a lot to this life we all lead. We work a lot and supposedly earn money. Then we spend money. We can also apply for credit cards and loans with great ease. I hesitate to write about this because it can become very emotional. Everyone has their own personal opinion on money management which means money causes the most stress on individuals and intimate relationships. It effects all of us personally, socially and politically.

I'm not going to share my personal journey with money management however I will say where I lack in meal preparation, I make up for in financial planning. I've never been fearful or in trouble financially.  I plan to keep it that way.  

For the sake of all the friends and acquaintances I encounter I would love to say I am in the middle when it comes to financial  success. I'm not rich. But for the most part I feel safe. When I read articles and statistics I learn this is not the case for most people in our society.

With this I have a few questions for everyone. Does financial planning stress you out? If you get sick or hurt and loose incoming pay checks, is there a plan? Is there a plan for late adulthood when you may have to change jobs or not work at all?

These are just thoughts to ponder. Relax, breathe, smile and know that you are capable of a small plan. Look up ideas on the internet to earn money fast or start saving fast.

The goal is to avoid unnecessary stress and to handle the stress that is unavoidable. Find what works for you and your family!

Meal Prep

Since I have been thinking about complex ADLs and living life to it's fullest, I need to remember we all need to eat! Most people love to eat! I must admit, this is a weaker priority for me therefore I haven't really made food and eating a major part of living a well balanced life.

We are living in a time when certain groups of people view food as art. Other people are viewing food as our life line to living happier and longer than the generation before (which is a real thing, you can't argue these facts).  A smaller group of people can use food as healthy nutrients and art wrapped up into one. The media and our fast paced lives hinder both of these philosophies.  Once women started working outside of the home and technology increased we wanted food fast. I believe this is because we want everything fast and we want more of everything. Why would food be different? Like the groups of people mentioned above I would have to agree and over abundance of fast, fake food is really unfortunate, for all of us. It's just that I have struggled to value the effort to make a strong change. I'd like to hire a shopper and cook. Or, I can just rotate who's house I visit each night for dinner.

Foodies and health nuts would be a little disappointed in my food habits. I grocery shop when I am out of food for my cats and/or milk and cereal. However, when I do shop I make a conscious effort to buy 1-2 pre-made salads by Meijer's Market Fresh section along with salad dressing. I always buy pre-cut fruit and sometimes I pick up pre-cut veggie's (if I'm in the mood). I've found the right texture of yogurt for me that has more protein than sugar and I love cereal and eggs. About 1-2 times a month I cook a meal that has left overs. I like snacks. tortilla chips/cheese/salsa happens often.  This past week I bought hummus just to take a break from chips and salsa. Yogurt and raisin toast or popcorn also happens for dinner a lot if I've had a decent bigger lunch.

The weeks I don't grocery shop, my habits change. If I run out of fruit and yogurt why not pick up junk food at QD while passing through town? Why not pick up a fast food sandwich? However, I have my favorite places to buy a salad in the areas I live and work. I have decided not to tell myself I can't have certain things to eat. However, the weeks I eat out 3 times or more I muster up the strength to go to the grocery store. I kind of like that by nature I'm a snacker because I eat smaller portions.
As long as I am mindful about what the snacks are, I'll be semi healthy. In terms of food being an art, I'll bite and try these unique meals every so often. Life should be about adventure and more often than not, these meals are pretty tasty.

Friends of mine have tried the pre-measured meals and recipes that are delivered to their doors such as Blue Apron. My issue with this idea is I'm pretty terrible at cutting and chopping food especially when my day has been full of work duties, errands and chores.

Does this mean that individuals who are working full time jobs and managing a disability are naturally going to be more slack with healthy eating habits? Fast food or pre-made items are going to be more convenient for people who have used up all their time and energy for other components of life.  

I think we're all in a mini battle with what food our society has to offer. Some of us are more willing to attempt to plan and strive for a healthier lifestyle with what we put into our bodies. Unless we all have a personality where this is thought of as a hobby individuals with health issues aren't going to put the effort needed into meal preparation.

Household Management

In the past I have thought and written about hobbies (play/leisure) and work activities. These are all complex ADLs Occupational Therapists analyze specifically to assist individuals with disabilities/injuries with improving their independence in all areas of life.

There are so many different things that life has to offer in our society. Education that can last 13 (+) years, working to earn money (40-60 years). Household maintenance is also one component of life which consumes a major part of our lives. To some extent we all want a clean bathroom, clean sheets and need to rearrange furniture or the other items we buy for our home. What happens when a chronic or acute disability decreases the ability to complete these tasks? Are these tasks causing stress or taking away from an individual's family life or work productivity?  How does maintaining a household independently improve someone's self esteem?

There are varying levels of this complex ADL (which is true for any area OTs look at). Young adults are living with their parents longer or renting houses/apartments long after college with roommates for various different reasons. However, at some point many individuals in our society hope to own a home. Beyond cleaning and keeping a sanitary living space comes home repairs and maintenance of the physical structure. A certain amount of planning, organization as well as physical output is required to complete these types of tasks.

I have a sense of pride in owning my own home. I am happy I am able to make my own decisions and choices regarding my house.  My house represents a major level of comfort, security, success (I worked and waited for this home) and independence. My scent mark is all over this place - it's mine! I also realize I could have chosen an easier path.....remained a renter or paid the same amount for a condo overlooking a parking lot. Truthfully, for a single woman with a physical disability it would have been okay to shack up in my parents basement.  Which makes my pride and passion towards my home that much stronger. I chose the harder path and the work that goes along with it. I have learned about a lot of little mundane things that I never thought I'd care about like planting a lawn, staining a deck and purchasing a water softener.  Not to mention my personality and attention to detail doesn't quite add up to my physical capabilities when it comes to cleaning and sprucing things up. There are many other things I have learned about home ownership but these are the most bizarre. Having a home has taught me when you make a commitment there are a million little things that go wrong on a daily basis and everything seems like a series of small tasks which is viewed as hard work. But in the end it's important to look back and reflect on the bigger picture. The bigger picture gives us the positive components of a situation.

What does it mean to own a home to you? What if someone told you owning a home wasn't a good idea because of who you were?

Time Is On My Side?

Most people view time as something that is against them. We all wish we had more time with a loved one who left too soon, or more time in our youth when things were easier and innocent. All of these things seem to escape us too quickly. We all wish we had one more hour to get things accomplished or sleep.

The other night a rush of gratitude flushed over me. Time has been very good to me! I believe this is because I'm a slow mindful turtle allowing lots of "stimuli" into my mind, body, soul.

I have memories of college when I had to lock myself in a quiet room to study and memorize neuroanatomy and theories for several weeks at a time. As a 18-22 year old I thought visiting a sports bar at the end of every semester to celebrate was the extent of "setting my hair on fire!" Time, proved me wrong! I had lots of nights on the town after college that were incorporated with line dancing, piano

bars, tail gating and vacations on the beach.

Then I began to think about this some more. I remembered a specific semester while I was still at LCC. It was convenient for me to stop at my Grandma's in between a class and work at the movie theater in the evening on Thursday's. I would eat, nap and change into my work uniform and talk to my Grandma. Just the 2 of us. At the time she was still lucid enough to have a conversation with. She ended up making me homemade macaroni and cheese every week! Someone had mentioned to me how special these moments would be. They were - time was on my side! I thought about the time I have had with other family members the past few years and I know I will not regret the time I have been offered to be with them.

What have I missed thus far? Oh, yes....there are some obvious gaps to my American Dream story with the white picket fence. However, when I realized how these gaps have been filled, it's pretty darn cool! Everything ranging from trying new foods/beverages, meeting a wide range of acquaintances/friends and mini adventures that I never thought I'd try to signing an offer alone to purchase a hole in the ground for my future house.

And I have to add.....a white picket fence would look strange in my cute front yard. So, that probably means any other pieces that seem to be currently missing, just don't belong at this point in time.

I am aware that I currently have the time.........to do anything I desire. Which is an exciting thought to experience! As long as I clock in and out of work, pay my bills and check in on my parents and pets.......I get to choose where I go, where I spend my tiny bit of extra money. It's my job to make the most of it!

Time and the world awaits me!

The Top 10 Things I've Learned About Stress

1. Wasting time and energy on things not important to me make the physical symptoms of my disability worse. This is okay. It's my gauge to seek out the happier things in life.
2. It's an effort to avoid stress like the plague but also very well worth it!
3. Hard work and difficult times will occur however my resilience and ability to bounce back will increase as I learn to take care of my mind and body.
4. Taking care of my whole self can be done by practicing gratuity, maintaining a positive attitude and taking care of my body physically.
5. If I had to treat my energy like money, I would spend it much differently on a daily basis.
6. Effort and energy spent should have a positive end result.
7. If effort and energy is spent and I know there's going to be no satisfaction.....letting go is okay.
8. Letting go means to: Say no. Walk away. This is very hard for me. But it's also essential that I pick and choose what's important to me.
9.  To avoid negativity/depression - my passion and drive for something must be stronger than the physical effort I put forth.
10. I would really like the next phase of my career to focus on helping people with this.