"Blissful Ordinariness"

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When describing occupational therapy to others, I always include a statement such as, "Occupational therapists help you do things that are often taken for granted-- things you don't realize you cherish until you can no longer do them." I think that the term "blissful ordinariness" relates to that same idea. The small, routine tasks we do every day string together to make us who we are. Being able to fully participate in and enjoy our ordinary, every day activities contributes to our sense of identity and purpose. Even when on a spectacular beach vacation, I almost always still long to get back to my "blissful ordinariness" by the end of the week.

One of the unique traits of occupational therapy is this: the OT cares about the client's "ordinary" life. In fact, it is the client's patterns of performance, routines, and rituals that drive and guide the intervention process. While the therapist must maintain a professional therapeutic relationship with the client, this caring reminds me of a close friendship. You wouldn't bore an acquaintance with details about what you love to make for breakfast every morning, or how gross and time-consuming it can be to clean your cat's litter box. Instead, you share those ordinary moments with your mom, your spouse, or your best friend.

Occupational therapy as a profession recognizes that these moments constitute our lives most of the time. Thus, any therapeutic intervention is aimed at getting the client physically, mentally, and socially prepared to independently complete these mundane tasks-- tasks that together combine to form our state of "blissful ordinariness"-- that we (maybe unknowingly) long to maintain.

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