Happy Interdependence Holiday

It has been said many times that we are more alike than different. As we enter into a holiday weekend, here’s a little reflection on the adage, “United we stand or divided we fall.”

When I was in OT school, the emphasis was on helping a person become more independent. While that is certainly necessary to be as self-sufficient as possible, especially with performing activities of daily living, what was not emphasized is that we are also interdependent creatures.

We are highly social. We need each other for survival. Frequently, current research continues to find that the primary factor that contributes to good health, being well, and preventing illness and disease, are social connections. Of course, other lifestyle choices and methods contribute, but social connections continues to rise to the surface.

We are not islands. This may be one of the reasons why anxiety is at an all-time high. We need each other. We need to be authentic to ourselves and with each other. We need to love and accept ourselves, and, you guessed it, love and accept others––for the “other” is us.

When we continue to “other” the other, we are literally hurting not only the other person, we hurt ourselves. Along, the way, we need to love and accept ourselves.

On the cusp of this holiday weekend, celebrating independence day, July 4th (here in the U.S.) from England, nearly 250 years ago, consider realizing that we need each other.

This is a holistic perspective that is carried within the heart of the Holistic OT Community. Quantum entanglement shows that we are all interconnected. Every word, thought, emotion, and deed impacts everyone––no matter your spiritual, religious or cultural affiliations––or how much distance you think you have from “others.”

May we go forward with care and respect for each other, truly at the core. When you are angry or disappointed with others, what may need healing inside of you? How can you give care to yourself and “others”?

Wishing you a restorative, healing, and joyful holiday weekend, engaging in your occupations that you most truly enjoy, spending time with those who bring you love and joy, or whatever you most need.

Please join me this coming week for our monthly Holistic OT Group Coaching to connect with like-minded OT practitioners as we continue to strengthen our individual and collective mind-body-spirt connection.

Peace and Love,

❤️ Emmy