Sunday, July 22, 2012

Lesson #4: Occupation = Meaning

June 18, 2012. 

Occupations have the meaning that the individual and the culture give to them. What for me can be an insignificant thing, for someone else can have a lot of value. I think this can better understood through this story a professor told us:

There was a mother that every single day had to bathe her daughter since, because of her condition, she couldn't do it herself. The OT was looking for alternatives so the girl could bathe independently and in that way alleviate the mother of one more responsibility.  But, the mother didn't want to stop bathing her daughter since for her that was the only moment of  special bonding and tranquility that they could spend together.

Since I started to understand this, I began to value more the activities that for me seem insignificant, but for others may mean their moment of peace, happiness,  release of stress or even give them life meaning. You can't be an Occupational Therapist if you don't value occupations! But, the best thing about it is that it doesn't only help you understand better you clients, it helps you understand better everyone around you :).


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