Ode to OT MONTH (in a pandemic)
If you know me personally, you are aware that I have always been a bit of a fangirl for my chosen profession, Occupational Therapy (known to the cool kids as just OT). April is OT Month, which always makes us bring out the pom-poms and do a little bilaterally coordinated dance. Typically in April, I reflect on my chosen profession briefly and usually post some cursory shout out on social media of some fun fine motor activities for the population that has chosen me to serve--pediatrics. But this year, with the anniversary of the pandemic, I can’t help but be a little bit more philosophical in my reflection of occupational therapy, and the importance of its teachings to me both professionally and personally.
In graduate school, we learned how to perform comprehensive evaluations of individuals that included their “Performance Patterns.” In the OT profession, this is the phrase coined to define the roles, habits, rituals, and routines that essentially shape an individual’s occupations (and basically what has defined the very essence of who they are as a person). Performance patterns are defined by the OT Framework as a set of behaviors that are expected by society, shaped by culture, and may be further conceptualized and defined by the individual. In a nutshell (and without going full-blown flashcards on y’all), here’s the rundown: Our roles are who we are to others. Our habits are the behavioral patterns performed routinely and often automatically without much thought that help us function on a day-to-day basis. Our routines are the repetitive behaviors that give our lives structure and, when they are healthy, provide a sense of security and well-being. Our rituals are symbolic actions that strengthen our values and beliefs. Together, these four patterns of performance can either strengthen or hinder occupational performance (read: our ability to function as human beings) and the achievement of life balance.
Performance patterns can either strengthen or hinder functioning and the achievement of life balance. Said in another way, our roles, habits, routines, and rituals are our ‘make or break’, the backbone to function. And I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t know a single person who hasn’t had a dramatic shift in ALL FOUR OF THESE AREAS over the past year. It would be fascinating to study...if it wasn’t so heartbreaking.
The distinct value of occupational therapy has never been more abundantly clear to me that it has been recently, trudging the day-to-day as a mom, a wife, a medical professional, and a human person in the midst of a global pandemic. Like everyone else, my performance patterns have flexed and shifted and realigned so much that I now feel almost comfortable living in the Upside Down. This past year feels hard to so many of us--because it is. If we achieve life balance through our roles, habits, rituals, and routines, and all of those change drastically and suddenly (without our consent, dangit!), then our sense of well-being and security and all things warm fuzzy start to feel a little bit out of reach.
So what do I do with that? Hopefully, look for the silver lining. There is one...right? I’m choosing to believe so. With every shitstorm comes a learning experience, and what I hope to gain out of this experience of living through the past year with all of its altered roles, new habits, missed rituals, and evolving roles is more empathy and grace. More empathy for the disabled people I work with (who could, by the way, school us all in performance pattern changes and how to deal with them). More empathy for people I deal with on the day to day. And more grace for myself. So for OT MONTH 2021, this is my official shout out to my chosen profession that has recently given me an invaluable gift--a glimpse of perspective.
