Create

Create....being creative........guess for me that's A Place 2B ME!  Whether it is coloring, drawing, creating with pictures, puzzles etc, it makes me feel like I can be creative and create something that I feel good about.  Well, maybe when I am done, after making many mistakes along the way!  But for me, that continues to help me with the process.  Just taking time for me, thinking of how these ideas can help others, and creating  a chance to make connections with individuals and groups of neurodiverse  folks.  My hopes and dreams are that I can  help others which will allow them to find their creative side too!!  Wouldn't that be spectacular?  I sure think so!!  It makes me feel good when I share an idea and I get a response "Cool", and when the other person states "I can do more!"  (with a smile on their face) .  That shows continued interest and a feeling of acceptance from me to that individual.  Like we are helping the individual find their  " A Place 2B ME".  As a good friend of mine often replies when a task or skill is completed with satisfaction: "This warms her heart!"  When I am in the "zone" and helping others find their "zone", it warms my heart too and makes me really feel good. This increases my desire to do more.  So....onto more creating!!  

Many of the creations will be available  for purchase at upcoming craft fairs.  This is a great way to help and support those that are finding their creative space through A Place 2B ME.  

We are all a small piece of a very large puzzle and finding the way to fit together. It is an adventure  finding our individual comfortable A Place 2B ME space.

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Yes WE BELIEVE!!

We ALL need to believe!!  We need to believe in ourselves and in others to attain our goals now and in the future!

Well, Cleveland fans we now can really say we believed and it happened!!!

I was thinking how all of this relates to A Place 2B ME.  Hmmm...first, I think we all need a place to be "ME".  We need to find out who we are......and also work on who we are.  This is especially important for those who have been told throughout their lives who they are or what they should be.  They too want to find  their place 2B "ME".  When we then know who "the ME is"  it seems to be much easier to figure who "WE" are and how it can all fit together. 

I was thinking back to when I was in high school, and playing the trombone in the high school band.  That participation was so helpful for me.....to find 'ME".  I was able to try hard, excel at times, be recognized for my accomplishments, stand out as an individual but.....also be a part of a group and know what my role was.  If I tried to stand out at the wrong time....only thinking about my personal needs,  the group would not work as a whole but falter and not be what the director had intended it to be.  When the expectations were clear, whether by myself or within the group we all could feel good for what we had accomplished. Now look at the CAVS.....they had to know that they individually were exceptional but together they have brought the championship to the city of CLEVELAND.

So....what about how this relates to A Place 2B ME??   What my hopes and dreams are is that folks can find themselves through exploring many different strategies, supports, following a new path, stretching themselves in their abilities to find the "ME" that is in all of us, and just feel good about themselves!!  To be recognized and accepted for the "ME"that you are.  But......find even more, that you are more than that and can be  part of a group, an endeavor of your choosing and have a greater outlook for your future.

Trust in your abilities even when there is doubt.  Stay calm and focused, remember the path that was established.  Be in the moment, and savor that feeling when you have accomplished even the smallest feat!  That can be the beginning of greatness for anyone.  Whether it is a small accomplishment or on a larger scale like the CAVS, you/we can all feel proud of success. 

Doesn't that sound exciting and invigorating??  It does for me! I hoping it does for you too!!

So....stay focused.....stay calm......use the tools that you have been given and let's enjoy the experiences ahead.  Lily (my dog) says don't worry  we got this.....life is GOOD!

Using a strategy we call Brain Gym Hook Ups!  She finds this so natural.  Let's all find the natural tools that we have to help ourselves.  

Duct Tape Parade 6.18.16

Enjoyable time watching the Duct Tape Parade in Avon Ohio. What a beautiful summer day for watching a parade.  Sunscreen was a definite need for today.  Enjoyed waiting in the shade and then enjoyed the sunshine as we watched the parade.  Thomas, who is now 22 enjoyed himself.  He has made great strides in tolerating the loud noises that go with a parade.  Sirens etc.  It is ok to cover our ears to help with our own self-regulation. Hmmmm……Pam was getting lots of great ideas for future duct tape works of art for sure!!

Next week we will be enjoying the Chalk Walk in Oberlin.  Look for more information soon and hoping that we can have many folks join in the fun!!

First Friday Fun Night: Night of Discovery

          First Friday Fun Night:  An Evening of Discovery!

That is was for sure!  Small group, but we all learn from everyone.  We ALL have so much to share!

We started by just taking some time to just feel comfortable, and socialize as we felt compelled to do.  For some, it meant for others to help start the conversation, wait a bit after asking a question or starting a thought.  That is what I so want for many of the folks I come in contact with….The “PAUSE” or time to wait.  It is ok to say I need a moment.

It is ok to not have an answer right away.  Ideas, aspirations will come within your own time….not those imposed by others.  Wait……you can almost see the ideas being generated in those beautiful brains.  Wait…..don’t answer for them, they might just tell you NO, that’s not what I want or intended to say. 

To feel the relaxed atmosphere for those to just be themselves….we got to talk about finding the “ME”.  Who is that person, what are there choices and interests? By completing a leisure inventory, we found that many had desires and interests that would be so much fun to develop. 

With the expertise of those in attendance to support, nurture, nudge and encourage, I feel that we were able to accomplish what we set out to do!  We provided an opportunity for discovery.  This will continue to develop through continued leisure opportunities and participation.

Looking forward to our next few gatherings:

Join us as we meet up and watch the Duck Tape Festival parade Avon, OH June 18, 2016.  

The parade starts at Avon High School and continues to Veterans Memorial Park.

Oberlin Chalk Walk  Saturday June 25, 2016      10am – 4pm. 

A Place 2B ME will find a good space to share and create fun art with chalk on the sidewalk. We might even have an artist join us to help us be creative!!

For more information OR to let me know that you will be joining us for one of the events –

 Email:  pamdenzler.ot@gmail.com

Looking forward to some summer fun! 

How to Be a Part of the Game: Resilience

This week and the past few to be exact have been a work on the skill of resilience!  Right now I am enjoying sitting in the sunroom with a furry friend right by my side!  WOW….the comforts of unconditional love for sure.

I have NOT felt that as much this week.  When you are trying something new…..asking for other’s input……trying to please many different people…….well life can have its ups and downs for sure. When I was in the car today, listening to Pastor Rick Warren’s Daily Hope, I was struck by him using metaphors with board games.  He talked about the game of Candy Land…..but the one that really resonated with me was the game of Chutes and Ladders.  He went onto say that remember that you may be ahead of the game climbing the ladder, but in a quick moment without warning you land on a chute and move back.  You might even have to start again.

In the past few weeks and months, at school we have experienced loss, making all of us take pause and possibly take a step back, even a tumble down the chute.  In my attempt to start a new venture, I have had to take a few downward tumbles also.  I have to understand that everything is not going to go as planned, and even though I may take a couple steps forward, I also will experience taking several steps backwards.  I have always thought that you need to take steps back….give yourself time to reflect and then move forward again.  All with more knowledge and possibly a clearer vision for the near future.  Just because it isn’t all rosy, you don’t need to give up. That is easy to say now, but when you are in the middle of the sliding down the chute, it doesn’t seem to be accepting.  We need to be open to others ideas and suggestions, take pause in the moment to get a more concise plan of action and keep on truckin!  That’s showing resilience for sure.   Even in the midst of loss, failure, conflict and just crazy life, we can move forward even if it takes going back first to get there.

I need to keep working on resilience as I continue to develop A Place 2B ME. 

AWARENESS!

I was thinking the other day…..why do I enjoy wearing these shirts and why do I keep purchasing more?

Well……because of AWARENESS!

Awareness to others….. what I support…. who I support…. AND…….. When I wear my therapy shirt, it shows to others who I am.  It allows them to make a connection.

But I think maybe it really makes me feel good inside when I can connect with others with the thought that I am familiar with a particular topic, subject or idea.

A visual cue is a tool used with my students, allowing them to take in the information visually and alerts the student to “look, engage and make a connection”.   I am saying that this is what or who I believe in. An individual that I encounter may wish to have a conversation or discussion about the topic.  This has happened on MANY occasions when I wear these shirts like walking down the hallways, in the store, walking in the park to name a few.    It is a tool to identify with others.   Even when at school, we often ALL wear a particular shirt.  When we wear the shirt for our school, it shows that we are a cohesive group, working together and being a “family”.  It says WE belong here!

When we wear a shirt to support a particular cause, again many students are SO excited to see that we ALL have the same shirt. The saying on the shirt, or the color of the shirt will peak their interest and willingness to share their experiences.  Like when it is time for the Special Olympics.  Even if we all aren’t attending or participating, many of us purchase a shirt for that year, to support the students as part of our school community.  We ALL work together to support the individual athletes.   It is an identity, an excitement that we can share a similar bond and make a connection.  Even if the individual has limited speech, just the gesture of them looking at themselves, then to you, then they point to their shirt and then to yours……and then a SMILE!  We are similar!! How exciting!!

Or when I am at the store, wearing an awareness shirt and I am in line.  An individual in front of me, turns and starts a conversation……” I have a sibling with Autism…….and then it leads to further conversation that this sibling is a gifted artist, has a job, and is being successful!!  Wow!!!  Just because I have a particular shirt on that day.  It also allows me to engage in the conversation about what I do …..as a professional, as a parent of a child on the spectrum.  We have made a connection.  And during this encounter, I learn that I am familiar with the organization that the sibling is employed by!!  What a small world don’t you think??

Or, when I am at a restaurant, and a gentleman walks by the table, looks at my shirt and recalls students that he has had in his classroom with the particular disability.  He speaks highly of the supports that he was given, gives accolades to those that supported the particular student, and encourages others to keep supporting through positive affirmation of a job well done!!

~ALL BECAUSE I WORE AN AWARENESS SHIRT!!

Taking a Step Back

What do you see when you look at the picture?  Do you see the bright light?  The trees?  The blue sky …all of the above?? Do you see the details ….the  big picture….can you see both?  What a beautiful sight, what do we focus on?  ….the small details and we forget about the big picture, or we look at the big picture and forget about all the little details that make up this beautiful big picture.  

I think many of us look at daily activities, work tasks in the same way.  At times we are good at making those detailed lists, but except we forget about everything else that is going on in our life.  Or, we only think about the end result, and we forget about all of those tidbits of information, skills or tools that we need to get put this big picture put together.  

Can we do both……move in and out of this skill?  We need to understand that it is important to set goals, objectives and develop strategies.  But at the same time, be aware of the end goal – the big picture that we have in our mind.  And, can we feel comfortable about the process and take the time to engage in the strategies that support our abilities to move in and out from the near and far vision.  

When we set an intention or a goal, what do I do?  Well, first I try to be all detail oriented…..haha that is just not me.  I am the big pictures person.  Like the trees in the park, I often see the whole picture, I need help to focus on all of the details.  I try, really try.  I make lists, create nice forms and documents, but I just lack in the detailed success in the completion. This is often difficult for me.   I would rather doodle on the paper, write “outside the box”, or just “DO” through movement.  

But keeping the details is very important…..but it gets me STRESSED!!   There we go again…..talking about stress = taking that deep breath.  For me, that is so important……”just breathe!!”As I have reinforced with my students, is “Stop ……and THINK!”  Like when I am looking at the beauty in front of me in the park.  I see the big picture…..and then have to STOP and really look at the wonderful details in the beauty of nature that is right in front of me……Look at the details.  

When we work with students or clients…….especially in the medical field or at school……we have to constantly have goals……objectives…….and benchmarks!!!  Also, assessing and  evaluating.  At times I just want to stay STOP!!  I want the students for just a moment to be just that ……..a person, and let me let them evolve.  When I have the goal in mind…..I am thinking the BIG picture. I am thinking of how far we have come and how much farther we can go.  Maybe not just for the student/client….but stop and think about ALL those that are there to support that individual .    Is there more than we can do as professionals to help them?  But…..follow all of the rules at the same time??  

This is when I need to take a step back …..refocus in my big picture moments.  It is kind of like my barometer to help me see those details.  By focusing on the big I can see the little. And at the same time, putting all those little tidbits together help up get to the big picture.   Well……it makes sense to me!

So, let’s think about this all again. We are able to change our focus from small details, to the big picture……from close and then far…..up then down and all around.  Know that we all have strategies in our “toolboxes” that help guide our abilities.  For me, it continues to be Brain Gym, Rhythmic Movement, and now since I have taken classes for review, I added using more Therapeutic Listening again in my repertoire.

For those that might be interested in these strategies, please feel free to contact me.  I would like to have the opportunity to help you develop and expand YOUR toolbox!

Change

 Change was the word that I had chosen for 2016.  I had chosen this as my word with many thoughts in mind for this year.  Have been thinking about that word with a greater emphasis on the meaning of “change”.  What does it really mean to ME?  How does that fit into A Place 2B ME??  

I had written this in another blog post from earlier this year.  How true is this??  Well for me, I seem to build those walls.  

You are confined only by the walls that you build yourself ~ Unknown

~I find this is SO true.   Whether it’s change in healthy choices, being more organized, trying something new, taking that big first step or leap!…….

I am only confined by ME holding ME back.

As a Brain Gym Instructor, I have completed balances to help me focus my attention to the task at hand, completed Tapping to help support my well-being, used music and movement to help with supporting my sensory needs, and…… just taking some quiet time for myself.  All to help myself say YES to CHANGE.

So, each day I am going to start right where I am and move forward. I need to remember that I have many “tools” in my “toolbox of supports”.  Looking forward to continuing to work on CHANGE.~

So Pam……take a VERY BIG DEEP BREATH…….close your eyes and envision all the possibilities of CHANGE!

When I am working with clients or students…..I instruct them in strategies to support self-regulation.  This is a needed skill when we are experiencing change.

A simple but profound Brain Gym® technique used to help is Belly Breathing.

First notice how you are feeling…..rate it by giving it a number or just notice!

Then……Taking a deep breath…. Inhale through your nose…….allowing the air to fill your belly slowly for a count of 3 or 4, hold for a count of 3 or 4 and then exhale for a count of 3or 4 – first through your mouth through short pursed lip breathing.  Then try to breathe out just through your nose. Notice a difference for yourself with using different breathing strategies.  

This has helped me when I am experiencing change and need to focus on my body.  I have to work on slowing my body down to achieve my ability to self-regulate and allow change to occur.  

Now review that number or feeling that you recognized at the beginning of the exercise.  Is it the same?  Or has it changed?  Just notice and allow yourself to move forward with change!

~Change is constantly in motion moving us forward~

A focus on "ME" to focus on "WE"

“Caring, sharing, creating and relating are also activities of daily living”

Dr. Joan Rogers ~Occupational Therapist

“Everybody has a longing for belonging”  

Pastor Rick Warren

As a Place 2B ME is still a work in progress, I was struck by these quotes that I stumbled upon.  I want ALL to experience caring, sharing, creating and relating through the strategies, techniques, supports and activities that A Place 2B ME can provide.  And then a great purpose for doing is because as Rick Warren said….we all have a longing for belonging. 

 Of course there are many times and situations where I focus on the ME and want to be just ME……but without others I cannot achieve that goal!  I feel that with guidance, support, training we can all strive to be the “ME” that we want to be. As I have learned from so many people, I can strive to be a better ME than I was before……even just a few moments ago.  The “ME” needs to have confidence in my abilities and allow myself to be a caring, sharing, creative being and relate to others to help them move forward and enjoy life.  This is why I DO believe this is all part of the wonderful framework of activities of daily living that I get to help others achieve though the modalities that I feel honored to use as an Occupational Therapist.

~Please join me on this journey~

~Connected~

What is the definition of “connect” or “connected”?

These are just some of the definitions I found  at www.dictionary.com

To join, link or fasten together;unite or bind

To establish communication between; put in communication

I think this is a perfect word to reflect on today.  This past week has been very interesting, thought provoking and powerful.  Through the experience of many emotions, and allowing myself to expand and grow, I am feeling very connected with MANY individuals and am looking forward to developing more connections in the coming days….weeks and months ahead.  

Let me reflect on these definitions as they relate to my week.

Bringing together into contact…  I was able to share A Place 2B ME with so many at the Lorain County Special Needs Resource Day..  I was able to share experiences, ideas, hopes and dreams with many individuals searching for the same for their family member or individual that they have the privilege to work with..  By talking to parents and professionals, they want the ability to have the children experience fun, develop friendships, have the ability to develop dreams(work, play and leisure) , and the ability to develop connections with others of all abilities. They gave me inspiration to continue my journey.

Through sharing ideas like having a place for leisure and work development, we were able to connect with future plan ideas.  Occupation is a word that can be used many aspects of one’s life whether it is for work, trade or leisure.  Occupational Therapy slogan “Skills for the job of living”.  

I  was also privileged to help present at a conference on the use of Brain Gym® and Rhythmic Movement.  This allowed  me time to connect with folks that I had not seen for quite some time and make new connections with folks that I just met.  We all shared some common interests in the physical/occupational therapy world working with children.  By having time to learn, share and connect through learning about strategies and supports for our students we all grew as clinicians.   We came away with many new ideas, a renewed outlook on using these strategies and for me a new sense of many others out there sharing my same passions. Through all of this we were able to associate similar interests, needs, struggles etc.  Then by feeling more connected we can have a greater sense of relationship in many different ways.

This time spent with so many was very powerful to me.  Like using the Brain Gym® Lazy Eight movement……we  continue to cross that midline and the ability to improve balance, centering and coordination of my thought processes.   Being connected in many aspects of my life.  As I continue to move in a new directions, I need to remember to use these tools by helping me perceive and attend, relax, comprehend and just relax and explore my artistic side.