Sometimes as a Recreation Therapist we find it hard (or at least I do) to treat ourselves. And I don't mean treat yourself to a cupcake or a cookie... I mean it's hard to treat ourselves as we would our clients.
We know all of the benefits of recreation and leisure. We know what we like to do; so the assessment part is done. We often even plan things for us to do. I am a huge culprit of saying these exact words "Oh that would be so fun! I want to do that!" and then I never do the thing.
It's very easy to let the "A" and "P" part of "APIE" happen naturally, but sometimes we forget to schedule in or force ourselves to do the "I" and "E" parts... We forget to implement and evaluate our recreational activities and practices.
So when I was offered the chance to join a Women's Blessing Circle with the Metis First Nations Group in my local area (No, I am not Metis, but I was invited). I was very nervous at first because I didn't know anyone except for the 'instructor'. I don't know anything about Metis culture or traditions; what was I going to do?
Well, let me tell you something. That was the most welcoming group of ladies and the most serene I have felt in a long time. We ate together, got to know each other as there were 2 of us newcomers.
We then all sat together in a circle and did a mindful meditation and smudging. I felt so one with myself.
I have been the one leading mindful meditations and body scanning practices, but I have never been the one fully engaged in one as a participant. I really got the opportunity to experience a therapeutic recreational activity through the eyes of a participant - without anticipating what was next.
After the meditation circle, we made healing blankets. We cut and weaved two large pieces of fabric together to make essentially a blanket with an internal pocket. In that pocket, we sprinkled traditional Metis herbs and dried plants.
It was overall a very healing and refueling night. Time flew by; the next thing I knew I had been there for over 3 hours and it was time to go home. I felt calm and reenergized.
Moral of the story is to take the time to enjoy the recreation and leisure activities. We overestimate how much we can handle before we hit burn out and we often don't practice what we preach.
So here I am, Preaching the word!! GO! Enjoy your leisure activities! They make so much difference! We know the benefits! We know the positive outcomes!! Go out there, and complete APIE from start to finish!
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