Let’s imagine a relatively average Canadian life played out in the span of a single day. The day begins at birth and progresses through grade school, graduation, college and beginning to work for a living by noon. By three pm a partner may be chosen and a family started. Career transitions and personal roles and responsibilities shift and settle by five o’clock. Around eight in the evening comes the recognition of how much has been accomplished as well an appreciation for the finite amount of time remaining. During this time the person may realize that some of the things that they said and wanted to be, do, and have in their life may not have come to fruition because of specific circumstances throughout this limited day. Priorities and focus can shift quickly from one minute to the next but one thing is for sure, time is certainly passing. By eight pm, this person has lived ¾ of their life. It is now clear that whatever gives this person meaning must determine how they spend their last precious four hours. By 11:59 pm, they have come to their final minute. These moments could be used thinking about regrets: how they could have guarded their time better and how they might have taken it for granted. Alternatively, this person might celebrate how they spent their hours, minutes, and seconds on what was important to them or how they did their best with the circumstances presented. The Afternoon Edition of Woosh is about focusing on what’s important to you in the amount of time still left in a day (or life.) If I am the person mentioned above, I feel blessed to be approaching noon: I am engaged to be married with the love of my life, I am continuing to grow as a professional and leader, I have been designated as a Master in Taekwondo, and I have created a company that allows others to use their talents, passions, and dreams to positively impact children, families, and schools. Do I know for sure that I still have half a day left in my life? No. What I do know is that I will be doing my absolute best to grow and focus on what’s important to me, as every hour, minute, and second is truly a gift. WOOSH!
Jonathan Rivero, BScOT, OT (C) CEO and Founder of Qi Creative
Woosh Vol 1.3
ANDREA FRAGOMENI BA, MSLP, R.SLP Speech Language Pathologist & Coach I come from a long line of afternoon nappers. Growing up, my family often spent weekend afternoons napping or having quiet time – whether we were trapped in the house due to a southern Manitoba snowstorm or camping in our little pop-up trailer at our favourite lake in Ontario, there was nothing better than the feeling of crawling into a cosy bed! Knowing that for the next few hours, I could spend the time all to myself – daydreaming, sleeping, or just simply reading a favourite book – was blissful! I have continued this tradition with my own little family and I am blessed to have a husband and a little boy who enjoy the afternoon siesta just as much as I do!
MELISSA MO BEd, BScOT Occupational Therapist & Coach My favourite thing to do on a sunny afternoon is to spend it outside. We play in the backyard, go for walks, and have picnics. If it’s rainy or cold I prefer to stay in and watch a comedy or romance movie with popcorn and candy. These movies usually end with me falling asleep. Afternoon naps can be very refreshing! Afternoons are also a great time for baking, cooking and shopping (my weakness!)
SAM PATHIRANA BScOT Occupational Therapist and Coach I am Sam, Sam I am. I am the Sammiest Sam, that I am. “Today you are You, that is truer than true.There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss
PAULA DEMAY BBA, MSW Student Certified Trauma Specialist & COO of Qi Creative How do you do? It’s now two o’clock in the afternoon. One yawn comes, followed by two and three. Now I am slowly falling asleep. “WAIT!” I start to debate... “To take off my shoes and have a snooze?” Or, “To change my state?” I will have to choose! So, off I go with a four, five, six, snapping my fingers and off to get my Twix!
HELEN HOANG BA, MScOT Occupational Therapist and Coach I am very grateful that I get to spend my afternoons in a different place each and every day. Depending on where my schedule takes me, I can be found at home, on the road, in a school, or my latest favourite memory: on a park bench overlooking a small lake and fountain in Camrose, AB. After a productive morning, and a busy afternoon to come, nothing beats relaxing in a quiet park, with the wind in my hair, birds chirping, and a fountain in the background. It’s almost impossible not to feel refreshed and reenergized! No matter where I am, remembering to take those small breaks during the day is key! And of course, can’t forget about eating lunch. I’m usually starving at 12 o’clock sharp!
BRONWEN BLACK BA, MScOT Occupational Therapist and Coach Afternoons used to be my sleepiest time of the day. In high school I was often woken up by my grade eleven math teacher after falling asleep in a pool of drool on my textbook. Nowadays, the afternoons are when I do my best work. I frequently drive through rural Alberta and I’m always super excited to collaborate with all the amazing families I work with. The difference? I really love what I do for work and it energizes me! Plus, I always have a plethora of crunchy, light snacks that I enjoy throughout the afternoon that keep me alert and prevent me from getting those post-lunch blues.
MICHAEL SCHWAKE BSc BEd Education Consultant and Coach Mike says hello to the afternoon, says goodbye to the morning sun. Says goodbye to the morning blahs, gets those great ideas, aha! Shaking off the morning boots that can keep you low til the break of noon. Yawn, need to avoid that afternoon snooze, after my belly is full of sandwich and soup. The day is long, dusk til dawn, plenty more things left to happen in my song. When’s dinner?
BRENNAN BLACK BA, BDES Student Communications Director & Designer The afternoon is as good a time as any for coffee. Woosh Vol 1.3
John Lennon once said: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” We are so focused on what we want, and where we are going, and even where we came from, that we let life pass us by. We spend our lives chasing magic moments. Moments that are often too few and far between; moments that will take our breath away, sweep us off our feet, give us memories that we will look back upon fondly for years to come. A vacation, a trip, a wedding, life is indeed full of these special moments. I can relate, as I got married this past March and it was one of the most incredible and beautiful moments in my life. It is in these moments of engagement that we are truly alive, and tuned in with all our senses, tuned in with our hearts and souls. We are totally present, and this is the reason we all look forward to them and cherish them. When we are utterly focused and completely engaged and aware of the moment, we feel truly free. This is the essence of being engaged in an occupation. People engage in any number of occupations, each person finding that zone in a unique way. This is what we believe as Occupational Therapists. The biggest lesson that I have learned throughout my life, something I aspire to practice every day (and in all honesty I fail more often than I succeed) is to acknowledge that these moments can happen at any time, and stop and smell the roses before they wither. The children I have been blessed to work with and learn from, are my greatest teachers. They have taught me that you can have a joyous moment while engaged in anything, at any moment, whether it be swimming at the pool, sitting by the fire, watching a leaf floating in the wind, even rolling around in the sand. Any moment in which you can be truly present, is a blessing. – Insert cliché about how the present is called the present, because it’s a gift. –
But it’s TRUE. We live in a world, that is always on the go, and it’s a given that people try to do a million things at once. There is just too much to do in a day! It’s no wonder distracted driving laws have been passed; I once saw a girl driving down the highway, talking on the phone, and painting her toe nails while steering with her knees. Seventyfive years ago, people would marvel at the fact that they were sitting in two tonnes of steel moving fifty kilometres an hour, and yet we are so unfazed by this and the incredible power in our hands, that we can’t even limit ourselves to doing only TWO things at once? Truth be told, I am as guilty as anyone. I listen to audio books, talk on my Bluetooth, and even munch on snacks while I am driving; I am no different. And I actually like driving! My favourite drives though are with my wife, on Sunday afternoons, when I can just sit, not care about where I am going, and enjoy being in the car. My truly magic moments are just walking in my neighbourhood, skating down the ice on a breakaway, having that first bite of a delicious meal. Now I can say that I have a variety of interests, but all the things I truly enjoy have one thing in common. When I am there, that is all I am thinking about, and in fact, that is what makes it such an amazing moment. But I pass over SO MANY more. Don’t we all? In the end, these ideas are not my own, but have been expressed by many before us. I leave you with some of their words. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein “Life’s a journey, not a destination.” - Aerosmith. “It is not length of life, but depth of life.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson “A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.” - Charles Darwin “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” - Oscar Wilde My friends, I wish you all the best of lives filled with many truly magic moments to come. In the words of the Buddha, “do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment,” and live your life to the fullest.
-SAM PATHIRANA Woosh Vol 1.3
La Siesta (or, nap, in Spanish) has long been regarded by the Spanish as a tradition – to eat lunch and then sleep for an hour or more – was not only a luxury, it was a necessity! The Spanish traditionally thought that la siesta was invented by the Catholic Saint San Isidro. However, it is said that siesta actually comes from the time of the Roman Empire – hora sexta, meaning sixth hour. Hora sexta was what the Romans referred to as the time between two and four pm – when they used to have lunch and sleep for some time. Whether la siesta is a Spanish tradition or comes from an earlier time, someone certainly had the right idea! Recent research from universities all over the world has confirmed that la siesta indeed has health benefits. Not only does it feel great, it has shown to improve long-term memory, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, lower stress levels, and increase productivity and creativity at home and at work. In order to benefit the most from a siesta, researchers say that the best time to nap is approximately eight hours after you wake, and to nap between 15 and 45 minutes (though some say that up to 90 minutes is equally beneficial).
So, I say go ahead and take regular siestas! Geniuses such as Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, and Thomas Edison, former U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, as well as Eleanor Roosevelt and Sir Winston Churchill, to name a few, were all said to be regular nappers. You never know what creative or brilliant ideas you may come up with after your afternoon siesta!
-ANDREA FRAGOMENI
Whether in an office work environment, on the road, or at home, most of us can relate to those mid-afternoon cravings. For myself, it usually corresponds to the time when I am making my commute back home, and nothing pairs a road trip better than a bag of chips! In the last month, in a quest to find a healthy alternative to satisfy my need for salty crunchy chips, I’ve discovered and learned to love…Kale Chips! When prepared correctly, it has the crisp of a potato chip, but far more nutritious. Experiment with different seasoned toppings and you’ve got an addictive snack at your hands.
INGREDIENTS 1 bunch kale – remove leaves from the stems and tear into bite-sized pieces. 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon seasoned salt (or another seasoning of your choice)
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a non-insulated cookie sheet with parchment paper. 2. Wash and thoroughly dry kale with a salad spinner. Drizzle kale with olive oil and sprinkle with seasoning salt. 3. Bake until the edges brown but are not burnt, 10 to 15 minutes. -HELEN HOANG Woosh Vol 1.3
In a perfect day, our body and mind would cycle like clockwork, enabling us to have energetic bursts that keep us alert enough to do tasks that require energy, and have calm moments that would help us to focus on thinking and learning tasks. We would always be striking the perfect balance between sleepy and restless in order to be our best at what we need to do in life. It might look something like this:
Many of us have created routines and strategies – sometimes unconsciously – that get us to that just-right place several times throughout the day, where we can balance our emotions and energy levels in order to meet challenges. Others may need to make a plan to stay on the self-regulation pathway, as it may not come as naturally, or we may have lost our way. Perhaps we have not thought about what activities help us to feel just right in order to feel and do our best. In keeping with the front cover’s idea of a sandwich, I propose this analogy: Make every day like you are making a well-planned and well-balanced sandwich. What are the components of this sandwich you ask? I have identified three main categories for myself: Veggies – Activities that help to bring your energy/emotional levels up! Meat – The tasks that you have to do in life where you need to be your best. Cheese – Activities that help to calm you or bring your energy/emotional levels down.
Set up your day so that the “meat” is always sandwiched between a planned activity that either increases (veggies) or decreases (cheese) your energy levels so that you can feel your best throughout the day.
For example: after lunch I get a little sleepy, so I plan a walk or some type of exercise to wake me up so that I feel ready to work, learn or hang out with my friends. If I know I am going to encounter something stressful or challenging in my day (such as a trip to the mall) I might have to plan a half hour afterwards when I can just sit and enjoy a coffee in a quiet coffee shop. I would not go from the mall to a crowded bus without some type of break! Sometimes even a few minutes of these “veggie” or “cheese” moments can make all the difference! I have seen this work for parents, kids, teenagers, teachers, therapists...I believe it can work for everyone! So, go ahead...create your own Self-Regulation Sandwich! Mmmmm! -BRONWEN BLACK Woosh Vol 1.3
I have often seen the media, parents, and caregivers try to avoid the use of clinical labels as a means of identifying various exceptionalities that help make up the narrative of our children’s lives. Whether it’s a quest for political correctness, not wanting labels to define us, or some other reason, there is a push back against labels. I am not making the case that labels are dead or moot; I’m simply stating the temperature of the room. Labels are part of our systems of definition; at some point a box will be checked, a name named. Sadly, this can lead to pigeonholing and even systematic abuse through the neglect of contextual values. I wholeheartedly believe in Qi Creative’s model of embracing and celebrating the individual as a means to help further develop their unique strengths, but there lays the rub of my complex relationship with labels; you can’t celebrate the individual without celebrating them warts and all. Let me revisit a story familiar to myself. A child whose development was being monitored by a neurologist, thanks to the fortuitous prebirth fusion of the front and back skull plates, was diagnosed at the age of three with severe ADHD. After preschool the child went through further testing at the suggestion of his school. While he had excelled in some areas, he struggled in others. He received ear tubes as a minor hearing correction. Tests completed at the Glenrose hospital revealed that the five-year-old functioned at the cognitive level of a ten-year-old. However, he tested much younger socially and was also diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, LD and Neuromotor deficits.
It was proposed that instead of putting the child ahead into a class appropriate to his tested level, a special-needs class that could cater to his needs may be more beneficial. His parents chose instead to seek out specialized services and placed him in a bilingual program that would suitably increase the challenge of school. He was enrolled in a motor development clinic Saturdays at the University of Alberta as well as other community programs. Unbeknownst to the child, his clinical labels had allowed his parents to seek out services that would best assist in the development of his personal strengths. The child’s peers, and in one case even a teacher, began to develop their own ignorant and derogatory labels. This caused him to question who and what he was in addition to suffering the difficulties that his exceptionalities brought. In the fifth grade the child was brought to the then-experimental Cognitive Re-regulation Program at the University of Alberta to help with his ADHD. There he learned what his labels were, and what they meant. Suddenly, everything made sense; both a sense of freedom and relief came over him and some clarity was brought to his confusion. The labels weren’t to blame. They weren’t an excuse. They were part of him but they were not anything that had to confine or restrain him. I know that sense of freedom and relief firsthand. The child in this story was myself. From this time on, I not only had the liberty of knowing my diagnoses, but this information gave me an effective means of combating stereotypes and negative connotations. I remember one time in my Jr. High school’s resource room confronting a fellow special needs student whom was a bit of a bully after he called me stupid for my inability to write legibly. I said “I’m not stupid, actually I have dysgraphia and dyslexia.” His response is one I will remember for the rest of my life, he ran off as though I had told him I had the newest strain of infectious disease. He told the resource teacher, whom I can imagine had quite the laugh; she penalized him for calling me stupid. Afterward, she asked me if I was alright, to which I contentedly responded “I’m fine.” She then told me, “Don’t worry, and we won’t tell him, but he has them too.” I rather smugly responded “I wouldn’t.” Woosh Vol 1.3
At this point my parents had raised me as part of a collaborative team, as a rather well-adjusted and certainly informed child; there was power in information. A little later on I was volunteering at a Saturday program for motor skills, one of the same programs I partook in as a child, and a child with Down Syndrome was on the receiving end of some peer name calling. Sadly, you can encounter bullying even in the most inclusive of settings. The great thing was, before I even had a chance to step in, he turned and said to his peer “No, I have Down Syndrome.” Not a dissimilar situation to my own, but it really provided some clarity for me to see it modelled by someone else. It wasn’t about the restraint of a name, or even using the label as a weapon. It was a method to encourage self advocacy, efficacy, and moving beyond perceptions. Very often in an effort to protect our children, we forget that we aren’t their only advocates. Labels end up being the first line of providing understanding so that they can develop their own identities, regardless of our respective toolsets. Labels have been an important factor in not only disability advocacy, but the battles for gender equality, racial equality, and many others. It’s a matter of embracing them positively, so they can be a tool for empowerment. Everything is sunny when the glass is always full, never empty. I am a man with ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, LDs, Neuromotor Deficits, Central Auditory Processing Difficulty, Aphasia, but I am also a man with two university degrees, one with double major in both Mathematical Sciences and Physics, the other in Education. I have a love of singing, dance, computers, volunteerism, teaching and being a behaviour coach. Funny thing is, that’s not even the whole story, nor has it all been written. Labels just let me tell you part of it in brief, so we can get to the good stuff: embracing my individuality and strengths. Something I am fortunately able to do thanks to the blood, sweat, and tears of those who taught me along the way: my friends, and my family. Especially my biggest advocate of all, my mom. Knowing is half the battle, labels are just a small part of it, so that we can move beyond them and embrace our success. -MICHAEL SCHWAKE
I have such a good support system with my Qi Creative team! They endeavour to make sure my son is learning, they help my family learn to be more independent with our situation, and they support me with my frustrations. It is very difficult having a child with severe autism. My son is a very happy thirteen- year-old young man. He enjoys spending time with his family and going into the community with his aide. My son has an
abundance of challenges to deal with. He has difficulties with leisure, toileting, hygiene, communication, aggression and sleep, to name a few. He needs constant supervision. My Qi team is wonderful in supporting me and helping me maintain a healthy and happy attitude. Of course, this is not always easy to do. The best thing is my Qi team is always there to listen and support me when I am ranting, raving and crying. We work together to solve the many issues that arise. It is nice to know I can count on them to help me when I am having difficulties figuring things out for myself. Thank you to my incredible team. - TANYA Woosh Vol 1.3
Here are some helpful hints to pick you up from that dreadful afternoon lull. 1. Take a whiff of some alerting aromas, such as citrus, rosemary, or peppermint! 2. Listen to quick tempo music! 3. Drink something cold and/or citrusy! 4. Eat something crunchy! 5. Get Cold! Wash your face, hands, or arms in icy water.
6. Play with a fidget, such as your key chain, textured item, or koosh ball 7. GET MOVING! 8. Dance! Wriggle! Jiggle! 9. Jump! 10. Go for a walk and get some fresh air! -HELEN HOANG
Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage. - Brene Brown -
ing
Dance like no one is watch
Take a risk
Say something silly
Shake things up Laug h unt il it hurts
Sing out loud lines
t he Color outside
Hug a friend Order dessert
Thank yourself for being you
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
-PAULA DEMAY Woosh Vol 1.3
1 cup salted buttery popcorn 1 cup caramel popcorn 1 cup M&M’s A handful of assorted gummies! Mix Ingredients and seriously enjoy!
- MELISSA MO
Email: Info@QiCreative.com Give us a call for more information: 780.554.8745 Join the conversation on Twitter: @QiCreativeInc Celebrate with us on Facebook: Facebook.com/QiCreative Learn more at: QiCreative.com
Š All Rights Reserved, Qi Creative 2012