Selfless

The more I work in the occupational therapy rehabilitation room, the more I get to see the struggle and pain behind each elderly person turn into joy because they are healing. Each day as we help them prepare for the outside world. With body  exercise techniques/mechanics they become stronger and more livelier as if they are living again for the first time. It is such a beautiful process to watch and observe, and it convicts me even more to continue doing what I'm doing. They are leaving such an impression on my life that I can't help but become more motivated to help the helpless. There are many times that I just feel like quitting because it is a very exhausting job. Many times, I also find myself wanting to do something for myself and live for myself. That's what I thought would make me hapy, but in reality, making an old woman laughing at a joke I made (Maxine Varon, 88 yrs old) or keeping an old man company (Raymond Foxgard 80), makes me even happier. No one can take away this simple pleasure, this simple interaction I have with them. I like to believe that I, too, have left an important mark on their life as they live and cherish the moments they have left. 

Aside from all that, as the therapist themselves teach me about various occupational therapy specialities, I see more and more on how intricate and detailed the body is. One therapist is a hand specialist, and to me it seemed like such a simple job, but Oh my goodness, the hand in itself has  millions of problems that need to be addressed properly. They must learn how to treat rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, and map out a plan to stop the fluid tissue from causing inflammation and deformity. There are so many diseases and problems that come with a single body part and how they are fully informed on the anatomy and process of the body just like doctors are. That is amazing to me... and something I did not realize till now.