Blissful Ordinariness

The term "blissful ordinariness" completely encompasses what I believe makes OT so unique. Before beginning shadowing, I had never put much thought into the tiny details that go into a daily routine. It never occurred to me how important just the acts of dressing myself and brushing my hair in the morning were, and how different my life would be if I could not perform these "blissfuly ordinary" tasks independently. I think it's beautiful how such small details of everyday life play a role in shaping everyone into who they are. It's the "blissfully ordinary" tasks that allow a person to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. 

OT's look at and consider the small details of each client's everyday life, and develop an intervention plan based upon that client's specific needs and wants. I believe that this is what contributes to building a strong therapeutic relationship. One of the main aspects of building a strong therapeutic relationship is trust between the client and the practitioner. When observing underneath OT's, I realized that the most trust was established when the therapists would completely focus on the client and what was important to them, rather than what the therapist thought was important. No matter how "ordinary" the task was, the therapist realized how meaningful that task was for that client.

I think this topic applies to us OT students even more during this hectic time of transition. During my first two months on UTHSC's campus, I already developed my own "blissfuly ordinary" habits and routines that I did not even realize I had made until now. While I sit on my front porch in Louisiana with my dog, I can't help but be amazed by how much I already miss the routines that I had started in Memphis. Driving to class with my roommate in the morning, making the long walk from P Lot to the GEB, sitting in the same exact seat everyday class, listening to my teachers, joking around with my friends... all things that I didn't truly appreciate until I could no longer do them. While this situation is not necessarily ideal, it has definitely taught me to not overlook the small things in life. Just how I already miss my times in Memphis, I know in a couple of months when we are all back in class, I will be missing this current moment where I am sitting with my dog in Louisiana. Except now, I am taking in and appreciating every detail of this "blissfuly ordinary" moment.