Life lessons: The First of Many...It's the Little Things in Life

(Photo credit: Brit Brat)

"It's the little things in life..."

Life has a funny way of teaching you a lesson. 

Growing up my mother was fairly strict. Sleepovers were strictly something I saw on an episode of "Full House". Back then I gave my mom a tough time but today I understand her concerns. It is unsafe to send someone you love to a strangers home. It's easier to control the situation in your own home. Back then I didn't understand but today I can see her rationale. Unfortunately lessons like this are learned when it impacts you personally. 

Almost  20 years later and I get frustrated when my mother wants to know I've made it to the next destination safely. In my head it's a no brainer, I am okay but to my mother she is worried that something can happen, and she is correct about that. Something can happen and a month ago something did. In an instant my life changed and now I am struggling through this healing process and so is my mother. She just wants to see her baby girl be okay. Some days I remember  that but then there are days where I am learning how impatient I am. I just want to be well.  I would like to wake up knowing that I can go to work and continue the cycle of work but that wasn't the plan provided to me and in this there is a greater purpose. 

Luckily, I have a solid support system who continues to inspire me and support me day in and day out. Luckily I am blessed to open my heart to other blessings and re-evaluate my purpose and my role in the profession of occupational therapy. I did not choose this profession to pay bills. This profession chose me to support people who don't necessarily have a solid support system to have something to live for. Sometimes it's a good day when someone is able to wake up and sit up in bed to get dressed. I've been given the privilege to remind people about the little things. 

The little things in life give me hope. Giving a perfect stranger the support of a moment without judgment or even respecting someone regardless of shortcomings is the business I want to prosper in. I didn't choose OT to be rich or recognized; it chose me. OT chose me. OT chose me 6 years ago when I was a freshman in college and had no idea what it really was. Maybe this accident was always going to happen but I needed to be prepped for it. Maybe that can explain the purpose of my career. As a practicing therapist I have been given a new perspective on injury and the recovery process. 

To my detriment it takes me a long time to learn lessons. I need to live it sometimes to understand. Right now I am living it. The emotional rollercoaster I am living will make sense in the end. 

Some people gain experience on the job,I'm gaining experience by living and breathing my setback everyday. It isn't easy, but it's been said: "nothing in this world worth having is easy". I couldn't have said it any better my self. 

I'll leave you with this: Going through life and living life are not the same things. Sometimes we are just going through the motions just living day by day. Other times we live. When you give life to someone who feels hopeless...that in itself is a small token of living life with purpose. The best things in life are free. It costs nothing to be kind. The little things make life matter. On my good days I'm simply going through the motions on a bad day I'm reminded that my bad day is nothing compared to someone living with a spinal cord injury or muscular dystrophy. It is simply the little things that make my career amazing and it probably would have taken me years to learn that but I've learned that lesson now. It's the little things that...

1. Make me happy

2. Make life worth living

3. Motivate me to be a better person 

4. Make me a better therapist

5. Inspire me to want to change the world