“When did giving back become a chore and not a blessing.” – Unknown
Giving back. Doing things for others out of kind-heartedness. Unpretentious tasks that take no extensive effort on our part – just the consciousness to be able to do it. It’s something that can make another person feel so much better just being in your presence. These things, although free and almost seemingly natural, are not so common in the everyday hustle and bustle of working as a clinician – unless we strive to do it. To go out of our way to put in the little things to make someone else’s day better - that’s the reason we got into this profession, isn’t it? And, all of this “giving back” doesn’t necessailiy have to be something of monetary value. It can be as simple as an explanation. It can be as simple as giving reassurance to the patient in front of you. I’ll give you an example… 55 year old female comes in with history of 2 CVAs, uncontrolled high blood pressure, and a recent right total hip replacement. She came in for her evaluation over two months ago with tremendous right knee and hip pain, the inability to move her leg in any direction without a sharp increase in pain as well as the reliance of a cane to help her in walking. Anyways, she comes in with frustration basically painted on her forehead…. Now, as therapists we can do one of two things, brace ourselves for it and do our best to give our sympathy and be ready to explain all of our words that session, or two, get frustrated yourself and lose all potential effectiveness the session may still have. Tears immediately started the session so I buckled myself in. But by doing so, I sat back. The words coming out of her mouth helped to make everything a little more clear. She was frustrated, she had had two episodes of fainting this past weekend and was worried it had something to do with her history of strokes and although her walking had improved since we started together, she was still frustrated that she was walking with this “limp.” By letting the venting happen and not butting in, it allowed for those emotions to come and go. When I had my chance, I ended up explaining to her the little changes we had witnessed since we started working together – literally listing out to her so she could understand it and grasp the progressions she truly had achieved. She no longer having reliance on using her cane, she improved range of motion from barely tolerable to within normal limits, she was stronger, and she just had more confidence. And then, just an explanation of the basic principles and reasoning of why faintness can occur, just to ease her anxiousness in the moment. All of these built up emotions poured out on the floor in front of the two of us, but it was the simple explanation that acts as the mop to gather everything back into place. The moral of the story is explain. Explain all the reasoning going on inside your head so the patient has a better handle on what to expect. Bring the level of complicity down from strictly medical to basic wording and to metaphors. Both yourself as a clinician and your patient will be better for it. It must be explained that a culmination of these “little pictures” and small progressions then allow you to progress to the completion, or working towards, the ultimate goal or “the big picture”. Our role is to facilitate the transition from small to big picture. To take the impairments and turn them into functional implications. But, that doesn’t come without explanation and without time, and the patient needs to know this. Because without it, they are unable to buy into therapy, and if they don’t buy into what you’re doing, those outcomes are not going to be achieved. Remember, taking the time for the little things now, saves you a whole lot of time and effort in the future. As the old saying goes, “Don’t look for the moon – instead, look for the stair case. It will get you there one step at a time." Until next time, Mike
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"Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
We learn about this from a time before we can even remember. One of the biggest lessons preached by little league coaches, kindergarten teachers, and parents of young ones, is how to work together. We learned how to come together to achieve a goal before anyone taught us anything about the type of work we do today. And somehow, people forget those original principles. It is very easy to get lost in what it is that you need to do for yourself. After all, we've written in here about how you need to make yourself the most important part of your day. The essential part of this is finding balance. There is a big difference between being self-centered while doing for yourself, and being a self-advocate in order to bring out your fullest potential and help others. In the latter, everyone benefits. Most of the people reading this work with other people, not just by themselves. We were put in these work environments with other people for a reason. Most jobs are not done by just one person. It takes a team. And just like any athletic team, the job is not done if the resources aren't utilized. Teammates are resources, and in most of our cases, our teammates are our colleagues. It also goes beyond the shifts of a work day. Your family is your team. You are in teams in the many relationships you have with friends and loved ones. In all of those circumstances, what is the point of trying to prove yourself better than another on your own team? This question can be asked at work, at home, and in leisure. In every situation, the opposite should apply, where the people on these teams are working together to accomplish a goal. Whether that be working on a house project, helping people with their homework, figuring out a tough patient, or even just trying to figure out some differences. People who chose a dogmatic approach, in the presence of others who rely on them, will not do as well as the people who swallow their pride, and do what is best for the group. Give the people who you trust a chance, listen to what they say, and consider it. Don't use the time while someone else is talking to think about what you are going to say next. Listen to them and respond accordingly. Because chances are, if multiple people are trying to accomplish the same thing, they may all have something to contribute, and they should all be heard. That is what allows a team to succeed. Take care, Brian Simply put, if you show that you care, there will be a positive chain reaction. Sometimes, the best option is to simplify. In order to understand complex situations, we must simplify the issue at hand in order to see it clearly and be able to dissect an answer or solution.
Pain. A four letter word that has so much variability between patients, people, and clients. Stubbing a toe can be just as excruciating as a fractured leg to some people. But, on the opposite end of the spectrum, some can go through an intrusive and extensive amputation and show no effect of pain whatsoever. Often times, people fall variedly in the middle of these two, which seems consistent with most things in the general public. But if we take the above principle and simplify, we come up with a solution that at least assists in that initiation of recovery, of feeling better. The luxury of working in an out-patient hospital based setting is that I get to see a mix of people, of diagnoses, and a wide variety of personalities. Within my experiences, I’ve seen all sorts of landing spots of the spectrum of pain – some with an extremely high tolerance to pain, some with none whatsoever. Whatever the tolerance; however, people respond to attention. They respond to caring. The respond to their opinions and what they say as being heard and respected. Imagine walking into your doctor’s visit, your therapy appointment, or even your car’s oil change and the person in front of you ignored what you had to say, they brushed off what you had to say by not listening and just telling you their input, or were so preoccupied with other tasks, patients, pieces of paperwork, you wonder where their mind really is. Regardless of the example, you don't feel good leaving your meeting with that person. Now, factor pain into the equation. People living with all sorts of pain – acute, chronic, phantom, shooting, stabbing, achy, numbing. We need to step back and realize that the majority of the general population do not realize why they hurt. All they know is that their (insert body part) hurts and they want to know how to get it better. The first step to this is listening. The second step is reassuring them. The third step is balancing their input with yours. And lastly comes the expertise. Just like in baseball, you can’t hit a home run without first touching each of the three other bases. All three steps must be securely touched upon primarily in order to move into the expertise (the interventions) to feel better. Back to my original point – pain is felt differently by each of us. Everyone has a different response to certain treatments or therapies. So, the unfortunate reality, even if we exhaust our options the pain may not be able to fully resolve or even get to the level that they want it to be at, considering the physiological implications of the pain. But, by listening, reassuring the patient, and taking the time to explain to the patient that complex thinking going on in your head, it can HELP. Maybe not resolve, but help. And if we can send someone home feeling reassured, I can almost promise a change in pain levels for the better. It’s human nature to get caught up in the commotion, to assume people understand what we are thinking, and to gloss over the “complainers”; but, if we are able to use the little things in order to our advantage, everyone wins. And when everyone wins, the patient’s quality of life improves. And stories of improved quality of life for the patient allow for job satisfaction to improve. And to think all of this starts with us focusing in on the little things. Something that takes practice and conscious effort, but in the long term, has such a major impact on the lives of others - which at the end of the day, is the reason we are doing what we do. Until next time, Mike “I’m trying to do the best I can. I’m not concerned with tomorrow, but with what goes on today.”
The quote above is applicable to everyone. How many times do we find ourselves looking ahead to the future – a year down the line, next week, or tomorrow even? Working with the patient population that I am fortunate enough to be able to work with, I have learned through them how to take this approach on perspective. Yesterday, I was talking with my patient who suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury after a motor cycle accident back in June. Prior to this day, he was telling me all the traditions and things he enjoyed doing that he finds he is either unable to do or finds difficulty now after the injury - starting with simply the task of walking down the street. The injury happened at a specific moment of time and acts as a divider of that time segmenting life before and after injury. Now, this does not mean to imply that life cannot still be the best possible that you can make it, but in a realistic point of view, life has changed for this patient at that moment in time. So all of the subtleties he found in his routine that became monotonous or simply taken for granted, this patient was wishing to get those back in addition to the things he simply cannot do anymore because of the injury. So, as a provider, you learn from your patient – just like they learn from us, and realize that life can change in the blink of an eye, and it needs to be cherished and not just glossed over. With the ability to take a day by day approach, we are able to better understand our purpose that we try to bring forth each morning we wake up. We are less likely to forget the value that we give to others and have an increased chance at becoming, staying, and maintaining happiness throughout our days. Also, when we take this day by day approach, there should be no strings of “bad days” because each day, ideally, should be a clean slate. Cliche? Yes. True? Absolutely. When we have the ability to see each day as a gift, a new start, and a chance to better yourself when compared to yesterday, this formula leaves no room for continual bad days. So, I will leave you with the question of why. Why be negative? Why be mad? Why be distressed? Ever hear the fun fact that is takes more muscles to frown than smile? Our bodies instinctively find ways to conserve energy, so it is not coincidence that it takes less energy to smile – because it’s a state we should all have the luxury to be within. There is a time and a place for these negative, angry, or sad feelings, but these types of feelings should only be temporary. Because after all, we must be thankful for what we have today, in the present moment, because it could ALL be taken away tomorrow. And those things we take for granted on a daily basis, those little things that we’re able to do with relative ease, someone else is praying for each and every day. Remember that. Until next time, Mike What makes you thankful? It's a simple question with a lot of possible answers that we don't think about in a typical day. With a lot going on to make many people worried about losing what they are thankful for, it is a good time to think. Most people are used to getting caught up in their work day. Luckily, as PT's or other health care providers, we have those moments that make us thankful for our health. We encounter a variety of people with different stories, which can often make us thankful for our own situations. We may also come across those people who can't afford to come to therapy anymore, making us think a little more about how lucky we are. However amidst all of this, we still have those times when we need to catch ourselves. It is inevitable for many to have a moment when you might sound spoiled, or maybe complain about something that you really shouldn't even mention. It happens and it's natural. However if we take a minute to think, every day, about the reasons why we are lucky to have what we have, that might make you bite your tongue before you take it for granted. New York Yankees Catcher, Gary Sanchez, recently had a caption under an Instagram post of him with a smile on his face. It read "I smile, not just because of achievements and moments of triumph. I also smile amidst challenges and failures. Because I know a lot of people who would like to be where I am. So its a blessing to be able to have the chance to improve. To face hardships. To get better. Because at the end of the day, we should be grateful for both, the good AND the bad. Both serve to shape who we become." There are little things everywhere in this post. The little things like turning the light on in a room in your house while millions are left without power from these hurricanes. Being able to walk out of work behind your last patient who left in a wheelchair. Having the days that challenge you and make you a better person. Experiencing hardships in order to come out stronger and appreciate the better days. Take a minute and think about why you are thankful. Our health is a big part of what we take for granted. If you do have an extra 5 or 10 dollars even, think about what you are thankful for and consider this. Mike and I have a friend who's family could use it right now. This friend is also the kind of person who would do the same for someone else. Click the link below to learn more and as always, thanks for reading. https://www.gofundme.com/team-lacroix Take care, Brian With the right perspective, that old saying, you know, about learning something new every day, can be absolutely true. In the literal sense, you can actually take it upon yourself to delve into textbooks, online encyclopedias, or resources to find out new facts, methods, or ways of learning to enhance our knowledge. But, there’s also a simpler way to adjunct that type of learning, and it just so happens to be one of those little things that can bring your care and your character up to a whole new level. That little thing, is the act of listening.
Like we’ve said, and probably have beaten a dead horse about, is that we interact with tens if not hundreds of people per week. Being in the field of medicine, we are fortunate enough to have directed relationships, set appointment times that allow for these interactions to take their course. It is also a known fact that everyone is unique. Each person, whether they are a rocket scientist, athlete, IT rep, sales agent, entrepreneur, accountant, law enforcement, administrative assistant, in the field of medicine or a homemaker - they all have special talents, facts, or experiences to share. So, mixing these two statements above, directed interactions and each person being a unique form of experiences/facts/stories, how can we not learn something new every day? The answer to that lies in our willingness to connect with our patients in a deeper and more involved manner. Recently, I’ve checked into a new podcast, directed by a physical therapist Danny Matta, called “The PT Entrepreneur Podcast.” Self-explanatory by the title, but, each episode has new tid-bits that can be applied to life outside of just opening up a physical therapy clinic. In one of the episodes, Danny spoke of the point I am bringing to the table today, making sure we take advantage of the opportunity in front of us. He speaks about a client he was working with, who was big into finance, analytics, and overall business growth. Throughout a normal treatment session, Danny took advantage of hearing this patient out, listening to his advice on these topics rather than just staring off into space, counting reps for him, or checking his computer for when the next patient was coming in… I mean, he received knowledge that some people seek experts out for to pay – and he learned this information by just having a rapport with his patient in front of him. Long story short, if we listen, we learn. So, let’s make a goal to apply #thelittlethingsinpt to our daily lives inside and outside of the clinic to learn something new each day. We have so many interactions that are full of potential to learn more, to become a better and more well-rounded person. Whether it’s a new technique to try to help out shoulder impingement, the name of a tool to help with that do-it-yourself project you’ve been waiting to start at home, a recipe to try in the kitchen, or a new app to put on your phone to do more than just aimlessly scroll through Instagram, let’s make it our purpose each day to listen and to learn. Listen. A simple task that we must continue to get better at each day to absorb our surroundings, become more present in the moment, and within our power, do our best to learn something new E-V-E-R-Y-D-A-Y. Until next time, Mike Educate the whole person, through spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to others.
If you read the above sentence a few times, and consider all of the components that make up a very loaded statement, you can appreciate the value behind the humanics philosophy of Springfield College. In just about every program put on by the students, faculty, and staff members, Springfield College does the little things. The community is driven by the principles behind the idea of humanics. "Humanics, the age-old Greek ideal of the balanced individual. We believe, as did the ancient Greeks, that a person’s emotional, intellectual, and physical lives are interconnected. The Humanics philosophy calls for the education of the whole person—in spirit, mind, and body—for leadership in service to others. And, we represent this ideology with a triangle." As a physical therapist, this might as well be your mission statement as well. Education is a vital component, for both you as a professional, and for your level of patient education. The importance is evident, by treating your patients physically from a rehabilitation perspective, intellectually with your level of expertise, and spiritually as simply a good-hearted person. This is a special concept for Mike, myself, and the rest of the Springfield College community. Think about your own daily life and ask yourself if you complete the triangle. The spirit balances out the mind and the body. It is very important to fulfill your potential physically, emotionally, and intellectually. Three little aspects of your whole being that create the best version of yourself as an educated individual. Just another little reminder to do the little things in various ways. Take care, Brian In a good majority of our posts since we started #thelittlethingsinpt blog, an over-arching theme dances around perspective. And, for good reason as perspective is defined as “a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something” – and when it comes to our lives, how can we not make this a priority? Imagine yourself - you are drinking your favorite beverage – you lift it up and realized that you have about 6 of the 12 ounces left. How do you see it….?
Half empty? Or hall full? Cliche, yes. But it gets the point across. When we get into our particular routines, perspective can easily be forgotten in the midst of everything, especially when our days become busy. Running from appointment to appointment, making sure all the logistical paperwork is completed, and making sure you’re 100% present in the moment is difficult. When we are so routine with our days, the days seem to pass, one after another. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. When we finally take a second to step back, we hear ourselves asking, “Where has the time gone? How is it already August? The summer’s almost over?!” I mean, everyone can say they have either said it or have heard it this year alone. But in reality, the time goes just as quickly as every other month, week, day, hour and minute. It just seems to go faster because of the events that make our lives particularly busy at that current time. It is important to step back, more often than not, and see outside the borders of our day to day humdrum. I was on my way to work this morning and I was listening to WEEI when I was struck with inspiration. Sports radio being the inspiration behind a blog post? Who would’ve thought? But today is actually the Jimmy Fund radio-telethon, an annual event that helps raise money and awareness for childhood cancer. On it, a guest named Dr. Crompton, was speaking of the importance of stepping outside of the borders of your day to day routine. Referring this to a pediatric oncologist, you may be thinking, “How on Earth does this apply to me?” Well, simple. We all get caught up in our things. Dr. Crompton admits to getting caught up in his “doctor things”, us as physical therapists can get caught up in our “therapist things”, and any other profession can get caught up in their “(enter job title here) things”. We find meaning within our days when we look outside of these “things” that keep our days so busy. Thinking about how difficult it may be for a patient to do the simple things at their home, the ones that we take for granted, allows us to step back and be grateful we have the opportunity to help them. When we see the person in front of us for who they are - that paperwork, the schedule of the day, the plans later on, all should vanish from your mind. If we become present with the person in front of us, a patient, a co-worker, a friend, or a family member it becomes less about the big stuff, the stuff that keeps our mind so occupied, and more about the little things. Make an impact today, or this week. Be the reason behind someone’s smile. Realize that the battle you think is so difficult in fighting isn’t so bad as compared to what other people are fighting against. So, if we can gain perspective, step outside the borders of our “required duties”, and see the person in front of us in a present-time mindset, these issues that fill up our days and make the Monday through Friday seem monotonous at times, seemingly disappear. Trust me, it’s ALL about perspective. Until next time, Mike PS - big shout out to Brian, wishing him luck as he takes his McKenzie Certification Exam this weekend. Good luck, Bri! Inspiration struck me this week after reading a book written by Stuart Scott - for those of you unfamiliar with the world of ESPN, he was an iconic figure that brought inspiration through enthusiasm - something we can all take a lesson from in and of itself. Within his book, Every Day I Fight, Stuart Scott puts forth a memoir of his life and family, progression up the ladder through ESPN, and chronicles of his fight against cancer in which he unfortunately got outlasted by.
The particular excerpt that hit me was when he talks about the act of asking “Why me?” This is the part of the story in which he talks about his diagnosis of the cancer, how rare his form of appendiceal cancer was, and the moments that either define us or break us. I will quote the exact paragraph so you get an understanding of exactly why I was instantaneously inspired… “I haven’t allowed myself a single Why me? moment. Because, if I start asking Why me? as it relates to cancer, I’d have to start asking Why me? as it relates to all of my good fortune: Why was I blessed with Sydni and Taelor and such a great family? Once you start questioning the bad stuff that comes your way, you have to start questioning the good - and I wouldn’t trade the good for anything.” (Scott) Stuart Scott touches on a point here that the majority of the population does not even begin to comprehend. We live in a world that makes it so easy to take for granted so many things with little episodes of adversity, on the aggregate. We are blessed with so many wonderful people around us, so many educational opportunities, equal employment opportunities, having a roof over our heads, food to nourish us, and fortunate to be of age to be within the technological era. All of these things can so easily be overlooked and taken for granted because we are lucky enough to receive these beautiful gifts everyday. But, when something happens that is goes against all of these wonderful things, that is when we immediately hear people saying “Ugh, why me?!” Or “Man, I wish I could be just like him/her so I wouldn’t have to deal with this problem.” By questioning or shrugging off our problems to jealousy or anger, the good things in our lives are so easily forgotten. Although this post is about Stuart’s cancer diagnosis, and God rest his soul, everyone can relate to the overall message he was conveying. We must never question the things or events in our life that are negative without taking a step back first to be thankful for all of the good things we are blessed with. And as Stuart says, if he had to trade in all of his “good” to get rid of his “bad”, he wouldn’t. That is the type of person who is proud of who is his, loves his family, and loves his life - and a trait that is admirable. So the next time we want to complain about our job, have to roll out of bed earlier than what we would like, hit adversity within our family, or receive bad news - we must take it upon ourselves to step back and rather than asking Why me? , realize that everything happens for a reason and that whatever is meant to be shall be. Now, by no means am I saying that we should never have angry, remorseful, or sad feelings towards negative events - but rather, be able to see the good that lies outside of the bad. And, by not asking Why me?, we are applying #thelittlethingsinpt principles to our lives because having a positive outlook and perspective not only benefits ourselves, but the people around us - leading to a healthier self, healthier environment, and more fulfilling life. Until next time, Mike In honor of many recent graduates recently taking and passing the NPTE, I felt it was a good time to write about the value of blood sweat and tears.
A year of working as a physical therapist, and Mike's post from last week, has me reflecting on what has happened so far, in comparison to what it took to get here. In both periods of life (as a student and as a therapist) one important similarity comes to mind: hard work... In different ways, of course. While I may not be going to class and reading text books the way I used to, the learning hasn't stopped and neither has the effort. Now the focus is more on patient care, and how I can capitalize on that. I was talking to my boss the other day and he made a great remark "You're never too old to learn, and if you ever get to the point where you think you are, you should retire". I thought that was a great point, and it applies to more than just physical therapists. The wealth of knowledge available to us creates an opportunity, on a daily basis. The big things like taking continuing education courses and earning different professional qualifications are one thing. Going back to school to bring your career to the next level is another. But here lies another example of the little things present in your daily life if you look close enough. The opportunity to learn is everywhere. Sometimes it can be the difference between having an average conversation and diving into more detail by asking questions and actively listening. You'd be surprised by what you can learn from people when you least expect it, just by listening closer and inquiring more. Nevertheless, this post serves two purposes. One being to remind everyone to find opportunities to learn even when you might not have signed up for it. Additionally I'd like to congratulate all of those who recently passed the NPTE and are diving into a fulfilling physical therapy career. Let this be some inspiration to never stop learning in your career, through the big leaps of extraordinary accomplishments, and little learning opportunities of every day. May a good balance of hard work and fun carry you all the way until retirement, learning something new every day. And for those who aren't PT's, think about what stage of your career you are in right now. Are you satisfied? Is there more to accomplish? What opportunities do you have at this moment, and what is the first step in the right direction towards achievement? Take care, Brian This week, I spent some time reflecting back. Those of you that know me personally, know that I have a weird tendency to remember dates. So as I reached back, I brought back a few good memories from the previous three Julys. They are as follow, July 27, 2015 – I began my journey at Berkshire Medical Center, marking the true beginning of my clinical start to my career. Fast forward a year – July 26, 2016 – I found out I passed the NPTE, along with all of my other classmates (100% first-time pass-rate was the first ever within the DPT program at Springfield – shout-out Class of 2016!) Reaching further back - July 26, 2013 was the last day of the first semester of PT summer school. 4 years – I guess your parents aren’t lying when they tell you the older you get, the faster time seems to go!
I also reflected back on all of the opportunities that presented themselves to me having come and gone, while others I accepted full steam ahead. My over-arching message this week is short and sweet. No matter what kind of day you're having today, or the kind of week you have had, good or bad, be proud of where you came from. Know that even the worst weeks can be followed by the best ones. Remember the path you've taken to get here. Be conscious of your past and the time you’ve put in. Remember everyone in your life that has helped you get to where you are, supported you along the way, and that are so proud of you. Remember how lucky you are to have a job that millions of people would die to have. Be humble. Stay humble. And be “your” best, not necessarily “the” best. And know that even though not every day may be all good, there is some good in every day. Until next time, Mike Believe it or not, the inspiration for this post came outside of the physical therapy world. But, as we say within all of our blog posts, with the correct perspective, we can make each of our posts relatable to physical therapy, relatable to life, and relatable to each of our readers. The little things, no matter how or in what scenario they are used, can have an enormous impact in the lives of the people we interact with on a daily basis.A Verizon Wireless customer service agent -yes, this is where the inspiration comes from for this post. So, Judith, if you somehow come across #thelittlethingsinpt blog, thank you for being the inspiration behind this post. But, the most important piece of this story is that she didn’t mean to have this impact on me, she just did. By her genuine actions and her empathy towards a customer, she was able to have an impact. She didn’t ask for anything in return, didn’t require recognition on her part, or do it out of any other intention other than speaking to a customer and enlightening them (me) unintentionally.
It was a typical Tuesday afternoon after work, catching up on my after-work duties of making my phone calls of things I wanted to check off of my list. I had called Verizon multiple times in the past about an issue with the bill, blah blah blah…. you know, adulting. Regardless, and I’m a little embarrassed to say, but I may have been frustrated and took a little of it out on Judith, the customer service agent I mentioned above. Here’s what she told me. “Outside of being an agent here at Verizon, I am a person. Just like you, I am a person. When I clock out of here, I am now a customer – just a real life person that needs to be a customer somewhere else. And, my hope is that if I have a question about a product or service I’ve bought, the person behind the phone line or the counter can understand where I am coming from. Because, like I said I am just a person like you.” Immediately, I was taken back. Not that I had said anything offensive or that I was being rude. I was just frustrated by having to call multiple times, that my tone of voice may have been elevated than what it normally is. But, as soon as she told me this, I stopped. I thanked her right away and allowed her to go about her business in the computer system to see what she could do about the bill that my loud tone would do nothing other than just fluster her more-so. The ending of this story isn’t what matters. It’s Judith. It is her taking the time out of her service call, and making sure I understood that she wanted to treat me the same way as if she would want to be treated. She also brought to perspective that although we are so accustomed to talking to “robots” on the other side of the phone nowadays, that we must realize that these are people too. Just like our family members, our neighbors, our friends, and our patients. Outside of our days within the clinic, we are real people. If our loved one, family member or friends needed physical therapy, then we would hope that every ounce of effort and concern would be given to them from their physical therapist – so why should we let our guard down when dealing with our patients? From first thing in the morning, to our last patient on a Fridayafternoon, we must show, demonstrate, and explain our empathy or sympathy to the situation of our patient in front of us and make them feel like they are worthy and that we are giving them everything we have. We must strive to make the quiet impact, without trying too hard, in order to make a difference. And, by using the little things, like care, compassion, empathy, and applying our knowledge – we can make that difference. Like I’ve said a million times, we come across hundreds of new people each day – and each time we do so is an opportunity to make a difference and to leave a lasting impact. It could be something as small as a smile or handshake, or as something as large as explaining your purpose in order to shed light on your perspective so that it turns into a blog post of a person you inspired (shout out to Judith!) - If somehow you ever read this post. Until next time, Mike A little while back, Mike had a post titled "Little Reminders". This was a different type of blog post where he went through a checklist of "little things" as a quick self assessment of ways to capitalize on who you are and what opportunities you have to be the best version of yourself. This week I'm doing another alternative to the typical blog post.
I'd like to propose a challenge to the readers. Hold yourself accountable by following a few simple steps for 1 week. My challenge is, for each day between now and the next blog post (about a week), end your day by taking 2 minutes to reflect on the day, and write down 2 things: 1 "little thing" you were able to do for someone that you believe made a difference, and 1 "little thing" that someone else did that day. This may be something that someone did for you, or something that you witnessed someone do for another person. Look at what you wrote again and think about why they each made a difference. Set a reminder on your phone close to when you typically go to bed, because we all know how life can be. The extra reminder will help. My goal for this is to make you more aware of the little things in your life, and appreciate them in a short time of reflection at the end of the day. Try it for a week and see how you like it. My thoughts are that in doing so, you'll become more conscious of these little things outside of your reflection time, and start to appreciate them more in the moment. I also think it could help anyone look for more opportunities to do the little things, in order to bring out the best version of who you are. Before you start, go back and read that quick checklist that Mike posted a few weeks back. Just scroll down until you see the title "Little Reminders". This will give you a few good examples of what and how to look for the little things. Even if you aren't a physical therapist, twist the concepts to your own daily life. Remember, these little things can be anything from a handshake and eye contact, to a thank you... From a handwritten note with some kind words, to holding the door for someone. Any little act, gesture, or thing that makes a difference. Are you up for the challenge? let us know what you think if you decide to try it out. We'd love some feedback on how you utilize the little things in your everyday life. And also, thanks for reading. Take care, Brian A lot of things in this day in age are dictated by statistics, productivity, money, and numbers, so it’s paramount to take a step back at times and see life from a different perspective outside of quantity and comparisons. In a world that healthcare is becoming less about interaction and more about business, it is up to our generation to be able to break that trend. Maybe not sever it, but, take steps forward using the little things in order to ensure that our patients can see that we view them as a person, not as a body part or a number.
Day by day, we experience hundreds of interactions, whether it be at work, home, at a community event, or somewhere in between. Our Facebook friends, Twitter follows, and Instagram groupies somehow take precedent over our true friends by seeing how many likes, hits, or retweets we can get. We go each day into work, making presentations, seeing patients every half hour, being placed into colored categories based upon productivity – battling our co-workers to make sure that we stay on top. Sure, this can make for healthy competition, good for business, and good for experience. But, all of these numbers are temporary. They last for the day, the hour, the visit. Then our slate gets wiped clean and we start fresh the next day. But, we does not get wiped away is the impact, significance, and influence we had on others. If you make someone feel important, feel better, or feel special, they don’t forget that when they wake up the next day. Heck, they may still be talking about it next month. So, yes, it’s important to meet our quotas, because that’s how we make our living. But, when we step back and sit in our car before it's time to go home and we look back on our day, who can we say we changed? What impact did we have? Whose day or life was changed because they came in contact with you? Who were you able to inspire? I’ll leave you with this short quote by David Ortiz. Yes, a baseball player well-known for his impressive statistics – but, also known for the person he was off the field, the lives he inspired, community he changed, and story he told. He says, “You never know how much inspiration you can give to someone with a small gesture.” So, think about this post as you go about your day. Don’t see the day as the means to an end. To punch in the clock and punch out. See for those 8, 12, or 24 hours that comprise your shift, how many interactions you can create. And what portion of those interactions lead to an impact that you have on them, or they have on you. Use the little things to be a better person. Not the best person in the world, because when striving for perfection, you can fall short. Rather, strive for excellence, and be the best YOU, so that you carry on a legacy and persona bigger than numbers, statistics, and money. You carry on a legacy for the little things. Until next time, Mike For maybe the second time, I've been put in a situation where I have an idea in my head for a blog, and I open up my email to see a new post by Mike about the same topic. Good situation here. This gives us a chance to expand on each other, and it lets our readers get a double dose of a specific little thing. The purpose of this post is to talk about the most important part of your day: YOU.
I once heard someone talk about this idea of making yourself such a priority. "You are the most important part of your day" ~~ It's an interesting thought, and at first sight, it's a hard concept to accept. Especially for people in situations that cater to serving others. However in my opinion, after putting more thought into that statement, you can not serve anyone until you serve yourself first. I think I can speak for most people when I say that a majority of your day, be it your job, your role, or your passion, is spent doing something for somebody else. If you are a good physical therapist, this is true! Most of your day is spent critically thinking and applying the best intervention for your patient. Your patient should sign off on your treatment session with the idea that you put in effort with the intention of helping and understanding them. Replace the title of "PT" with any of your roles. If you are a good... <PT> <Parent> <Sibling> <Spouse> <Teacher> <Coach> <Captain> <etc.> ... You should always be filling your role with the intentions of helping the people you serve to the best of your ability. But what about you? There are some big things, such as staying physically healthy and treating yourself with respect. If you are treating patients and promoting a healthy lifestyle, you should practice what you preach. Try to eat right, exercise, and give yourself a good night sleep. You owe it to the body and the life that you were given. Take care of it and treat it thoughtfully. But don't forget to treat yourself at the same time. After all, you need to keep your mind right too. Go ahead and eat some junk food once in a while. Give yourself a day of relaxation here and there. It's just as important to balance that out. I think pretty much all of our posts talk about some aspect of fulfilling that responsibility by doing the little things for others. Most people, especially those that do a lot of service, can often lose sight of the person that should be served first. If you aren't taking time for yourself each day, then I think you can be doing a better job of displaying the best version of yourself. After all, you got your job because someone interviewed YOU. They looked at your resume, they talked to you, you answered questions, and your boss said "I want this person to work here". Everyone should remember that they deserve a little credit too; A little positive self talk every day, to remind yourself that you are here because you are you, not someone else. The people you serve need you. You need to treat yourself once in a while, you need to remember your roots, and you need to celebrate the reasons that you became who you are now by allowing those core values to be part of your definition. "Be yourself, everyone else is taken". You can do the little things for yourself each day as well. Even on the busiest of days, spend 10 minutes at some point of your day doing something you love to do. Go for a quick ride during your lunch hour with the windows down listening to music. Read a good book before you go to bed. Put on some mindless television to just relax and decompress. If you are still in school, take breaks from studying and take a walk, think about something completely other than what you need to study. Sometimes, just those 5-10 minutes of "me time" each day is all you need. You deserve it. Take care, Brian Sometimes we get so caught up with other people’s thoughts, business, opinions, and issues that we forget to take our own into consideration. Nowadays, it is very easy to allow opinions of other people be formed by standards other than our own because we hear so much background noise from a variety of outside sources. Also, a good majority of your day you can spend listening to other people’s aches, pains, worries, and complaints – that, again, we forget about our own. It is said that throughout the course of a typical 24 hour day, an average person has about 60,000 thoughts run through his or her mind. SIXTY THOUSAND! That equates to almost 42 thoughts per minute. “What’s for dinner?” “Why does this patient’s knee cave in when they take a step?” “Why does my back hurt?” “What visit is this patient on?” “What do I have going on this weekend?” “Don’t forget to stop at the grocery store to pick up the gallon of milk after work.” ……I could go on. But, I think you get the point.
We have all of these thoughts, opinions, issues, and words that fly through our mind at rapid speed that most of the time we find ourselves thinking back to the previous minute and saying, “Wait a minute. I forget what I was supposed to do, or go, or what I was thinking about.” Also, within these thoughts lie positive and negative words, phrases, comments, and problems. As a normal human being, it is impossible to approach each of the 60,000 thoughts per day with a positive perspective – because there’s a good majority of thoughts that we may not even be aware of within the moment, depending on how good we can multitask. Regardless, although we don’t have control over every thought, we do have complete conscious control to yield a positive perspective on the thoughts and our own self-talk that run through our heads slow enough that we can catch up to. Self-talk is a big component of this concept that I wanted to bring to the table today. The way we think in our conscious carries over into the way we present ourselves and how other people can view us in the real world. By not allowing the normal stressors beat us down; by not letting that person who honks 2 seconds after the green light has turned and flashes you the finger get the best of you; by having a patient tell you that what you’re saying is horse hockey, even though deep down you know they just don’t want to hear the truth; by making a mistake and just owning up to it without knocking yourself down. All of these things are very easy to get dragged down by, but within our conscious thoughts and attitudes, we have the power to rise up past them. Even more so in the current day, we see this in social media. We let the pictures, statuses, and updates of others interfere with our own perspective on life. I recently saw a quote that I grew fondly of, which reads, “Do not try to be the best ever today. Try to be the best you today, better than you were yesterday.” Striving for excellence is much different than striving for perfection. Allow yourself to reach for the stars and become excellent at what you do. But, do not hold yourself to the standards of perfection and being the best there ever was – that will only lead to let down. Be excellent, help others, care for others, and be remembered for that. No one will ever care that you were the best (fill in your title), but they will remember and care that you were a great person who happened to be great at what they did as well. Living by that, is living by the little things. Until next time, Mike For those of you who have been reading from the beginning, first of all, thank you. Secondly, you may remember me posting about my favorite book The Fred Factor by Mark Sanborn. I introduced it with a previous post and mentioned that you'd eventually be reading more about this. Well here it is.
One of the 4 principles of the Fred Factor is "Success is built upon strong relationships". True enough statement in itself. I'd like to quote a bit of that chapter: "Every day we interact with dozens of people. Often those interactions are fleeting and unmemorable. Freds, however, don't use people as a means to an end; they use relationships to build a foundation for success. They understand that all outcomes are created by and through interactions with others. They understand that strong relationships create loyalty and are the basis of partnerships and teamwork." Relationships are everywhere in our lives. Each of these relationships, no matter how big or small, have significant value. Think about how many people you come across every day. The guy at the coffee shop, the person at the front desk where you work, your waiter/waitress at your favorite restaurant, your significant other, your patients, and countless more. The one thing that can be consistent about each of these relationships is the values that you bring to the table, and the way you do the little things. Smile at the person making your coffee in the morning. Be friendly to the people you work with, no one wants to work with a grouch. Have some patience with your waitress who is having a busy night and doing her best to serve you. And simply love your significant other. Do the little things that make them (and you) happy. It doesn't take a grand act to show someone how much you care. In each of these situations, there are a few aspects of your own character that can stay the same. It takes just 3 little things to make the most out of each relationship, big or small: 1. Be yourself 2. Actively listen 3. Express honest interest I believe in keeping things simple, especially when life seems to get complicated. Hence the reason for this short little post. The same is true for relationships: keep it simple. When I think about the most significant relationships in my life, I think about the little things that those people do. Those parts mean the most to me. Of course you may not know your patients or your colleagues as well as you know your significant other or your siblings, but they are all a part of the relationship with the same person.. you. In each of those relationships, they all deserve the best version of yourself. No matter how many years, months, days, minutes, or seconds you have known a person, you can do the little things. You may find that in doing so, even those brand new, seemingly insignificant relationships can grow into something bigger. Take care, Brian As I sit down to write this post, I took a moment to think back and reflect. Today marks my one year milestone working at my first job out of physical therapy school. With that, it also brought to my attention that Brian and I have now surpassed the one year mark since the creation of our blog. And if that weren't enough, this post today marks our 50th in #thelittlethingsinpt blog. Fifty times Brian and I were able to share our thoughts, reflect on our own values and perspective, and also remind ourselves of how we should see and act on a daily basis all while sharing the message with our readers. Looking back on this past year within our blog, there have been many posts that have spanned over a variety of topics, but of course, the little things, persists to be the overarching ideology and basis behind out perspective. So, I encourage you to scroll through our blog, if you have a few minutes, and remind yourself of the ideas that we have conjugated over the past year.
Anyway, let’s move forward to that 50th post. Today, I want to talk about the process of things. The process of items within our day, within our careers, within our lives - not just seeing your end results, but enjoying the ride while you live it. A lot of people wish for the end of their work day so they can get to the couch to watch tv or to get to their leisure activity. A lot of people may hurry their career and look forward to seeing retirement at the end of 5 more years, 10 more years, and for some, I hope jokingly, wish for retirement and look towards the year 2055. Whichever perspective some may take, these people who look only towards the finish line, are missing the point of the process. By wishing away a minute, an hour, a day, a week, or a year, we in turn, are wishing away our life. Now, this is not to be morbid, but rather to see this as a point of perspective. I recently was intrigued by a song entitled “5 More Minutes” by country singer Scotty Mccreery. Aside from the catchy tune, he speaks of the events in life in which we wish for just 5 more minutes. Something as simple as asking your parents for 5 more minutes when we were young grade school kids playing with our friends outside before we went in for dinner. Or, 5 more minutes of being the athlete rather than being a graduate and becoming the spectator to the sport. And, he proceeds to go deeper, and sings about asking for those five more of those minutes to be spent with his grandfather before he passes to the angels above. I don’t mean to be blunt, or assume that we as a public wish away our lives. But, it does bring up the point of perspective of being able to take advantage of the day in front of you, and being aware of those 5 minutes that you have in front of you, rather than letting them pass and asking for them back. I see so many times people wishing away their work day, wishing away a patient who just doesn’t seem to understand. Heck, we all do at some point in time. But, if we become aware of these moments and these situations, we are better able to zone in on our feelings, to view our perspective from a current and present point of view, and utilize the little things to be able to have an impact on someone around us. Be that person in which others want to emulate. Be the person that makes another person walk away from you smiling because of something you did. Be that person that you strive to be. Be that person who recognizes the importance of the little things and the significant impact they can have on your day, your family’s and friend’s day, and the innocent elderly woman who can't understand why she loses her balance – her day too. Be that person. Until next time, Mike Going against the grain, to some degree, with this post. Mostly because of the unexpected inspiration for writing this. I listen to a podcast called Pardon My Take. This is a sports podcast by Barstool Sports. As I was listening this morning, I heard something on this podcast that fits in with what we preach, for the first time ever. Needless to say, they aren't typically talking about topics that go along with what we talk about here, but I still love it.
Today they interviewed Tom Crean, former head basketball coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, as part of their annual "Grit week". They opened with the question "What does grit mean to you?". Tom's answer sparked my interest with what is now one of my new favorite quotes... "Confidence comes from your perception of your own potential." Simple. He went on to say that grit is the ability to keep your confidence when your potential is not being met, or the result is not being met in a particular time in life or in a particular moment. Confidence is such a huge component of The Little Things. It isn't always easy to stick to what you believe in. Everyone, no matter what you do for a living, gets challenged throughout their career. There is always going to be resistance that you need to fight through. A typical day doesn't always present itself the way you envision it on the way to work. Think about the days when you have a full schedule, need to run to the bank during your lunch break, should stop at the store on the way home, and have an hour of paperwork to do when your last patient walks out the door. And the internet is down when you got to work that day. What do you do? Be gritty, and get it done. The only thing you have control over in the unexpected situations is your composure, and the best way to handle the curveballs thrown during those situations, is with confidence. You don't have to falter. There is a split second in time during the moment in which you are faced with a challenge. Big or small, this challenge creates a reaction in your mind. The moment I am talking about is not that initial thought that might make you sweat or feel nauseous. The moment I am talking about, is immediately after. The part you have control over. Your response. It is important to be realistic, for sure. But confidence allows you to handle each situation to the best of your ability, and that is all you have control over. So in this post, the take away is to simply keep your head up. When things get crazy, or days seem to be too busy or hectic to be composed, keep in mind the little things. Simplify. More often than not, we have more control over a given situation than we think. If you think about the little things you have control over, such as keeping your head up and saying "I'll be alright", then you're already better off. The difference that mindset makes is incredible, because a downward spiral is all that can come out of thinking "I'm screwed". So stay gritty, stay confident, and thanks for reading. Take care, Brian Ever get that feeling of….”Come on….just get to the point already.” Yeah, we’ve all said it, we’ve all been there, and you know what, sometimes, reading paragraphs is unappealing to the eyes. So, here’s to a new approach this week. A nice, simple way to take the little things into perspective. Take this as a checklist to help you make the most not only every work day, but every day you’re lucky enough to be able to live this life.
1. The patient is a person. Not a letter, a statistic, and certainly not a diagnosis. My biggest pet peeve is someone saying “My 1:30 knee is here.” Just think about being on the other side of that. I know for my sake, I would like to be called Mike and not by my knee. 2. Touch. Scientifically proven is the power of touch and the physiological and psychological benefits of hands on contact. Whether it be part of your treatment or just a handshake, the power of touch will always be there. 3. Don’t let your schedule run your day. You run your day and utilize a schedule. If someone is late, then so be it – don’t hold a grudge. If something uproots your day, find a way around it. Whether you’re a type A personality or B or Z, don’t let the SMALL stuff bring you down, conquer it with the little things. 4. Be in the moment and be aware of what’s truly important. At work, at home, at school. Be mindful of this – it can slip away without us realizing. 5. Don’t judge right away. No one has the right to do so. Give everyone a chance with a clean slate and until they dirty that slate, avoid negativity. 6. Every day appreciate where you came from. Remember your schooling, your teachers, your previous jobs, or previous experiences. Be grateful for everything that has made you into who you are today. It seriously takes less than 30 seconds to recall these things, so it’s a simple task that should be called upon every day. 7. Stick to your goals. Some deviation from perfection is expected, but don’t let your standards drop. Because remember, dreams are free but the hard work to get there is purchased separately. 8. Time is precious and time is money – but, face to face contact is priceless. Don’t absorb yourself to your computer just to save time and finish your note during your treatment. Allow yourself to be present and there for the patient. Let them KNOW you’re listening because they’ll know if you’re pretending. 9. See each person as their own story. If you are just meeting them, it is an unread story for you. Treat them in a way in which that principle applies and the little things will take over from there. 10. No matter what kind of day you’re having, stop and think if it’s truly a good or bad day. If nothing tragic or detrimental has happened, can we really call it a bad day? 11. Remember to be over-grateful. When a “Thank you” is needed, give it. Imagine if everything you did was never recognized. Don’t let a simple thank you go un-said. 12. Make sure your patients KNOW why they are with you. Don’t assume. Educate your patients about physical therapy and how our profession and how we individually can impact their lives. Don’t leave that up to the referring physician or their neighbor who had physical therapy last month. 13. Listen. Make sure you listen more than you speak. It’s amazing what you’ll learn and understand that way. 15. Learn. Learn from your patients, your co-workers, or yourself. Every patient and every scenario should be looked at as an opportunity to learn and not just another event in your day. 16. Educate. Be a person that people look to for advice or insight. Make use of your resources, read, or put it upon yourself to learn something new each day. Think of how much you’ll learn and be able to pass on in just a year with that mentality. 17. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Appreciate what you do each day. Realize the impact you have on others. Be confident about your business. It shouldn’t take missing out on something to realize what we have currently to appreciate it. And finally... 18. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS, remember the little things. Keep perspective in mind, put other’s before yourself, be compassionate and caring within appropriate means, and you’ll find yourself a better clinician and a better person for that. Until next time, Mike "Pupu Kine is a lifestyle rooted in nature and inspired by the power of the positive mind. Through emphasizing perspective and gratitude, our goal is to inspire others to live the Pupu Kine way."
Above is the mission statement of a great company based out of Hawaii called Pupu Kine. The slang term is defined as "an adjective that means small in size or significance". The founders of this group built this lifestyle based company on the principle that the small stuff should be overlooked with a focus on the positive aspects in life, for a better perspective. Let's not forget about a great point that Mike has mentioned in a previous post. There is a big difference between the little things and the small stuff. "The small stuff" are things that you shouldn't let get to you, as Pupu Kine preaches. We hear the cliche term all of the time "don't sweat the small stuff" yet somehow, we still allow that stuff to get under our skin. In my opinion, I think that is inevitable. But the best way to fight the small stuff is to remember the little things. Focus on the things you are grateful for, and the little parts of every day that make you truly happy. In a lot of situations, the small stuff and the little things are both present. What you chose to let shine through depends completely on perspective. Your kid has a meltdown at the grocery store while you are digging through your purse for your stop&shop card. Is that going to ruin your afternoon? Or do you walk away happy that the cashier gave you a hand and wished you a good day? How about at work, if your patient runs late, doesn't comply with their home exercise, vomit on your shoes, etc. All of these are not ideal, but do they need to carry a significant amount of weight on your attitude? Or can you shift your focus to the next opportunity, the "thank you" from the patient before, or the positive outcomes that you are hopefully getting with the majority of your patients. There are much bigger things to worry about in the world, and sometimes those things fall into the forefront of our lives. Most of the issues that people focus their energy on, when they aren't being mindful, are small. People exacerbate these small things into catastrophic aspects of their attention. Tragedy, illness, and the unavoidable hold a serious exception to this. Those are big things. But the small stuff don't need to carry that weight, and can in fact leave your mind as fast as they come in, with the right perspective. Incorporate the Pupu kine perspective into your mind in order to neglect the small stuff. Look for the little things that are equal in size, but will have the opposite effect on your appreciation. Doing this will allow you to have control, even in those little situations that matter most. For more information about the inspiration for this post, visit www.pupukine.com. Thanks as always for reading, and take care, ~Brian Every day we wake up, it’s hard to estimate the exact amount of interactions we will have during that day - well, because each day is different. Whatever the situation, however, there will always be some sort of interaction. As simple as a wave, or as in depth as a heart to heart conversation. No matter what these interactions equate to at the end of the day, it is all about the perspective we view these interactions that allows both parties to gain the most benefit. Because remember, the impact we can have on others may seem small to us, but the world to the them.
Switching gears...Imagine yourself as a kid – the thrill of receiving a gift from someone else. No matter what was underneath that wrapping paper, receiving a present from someone else was always a great feeling. As we grow old, with experience and with age, it seems as though that feeling, though still there at times, fades a little. More often than not, it is actually the reciprocal that gives us the most pleasure – giving the gift, rather than receiving. Realizing and remembering the feeling that had given you so much pleasure as a child of receiving something special now fuels the desire to pass along that feeling to another person in your life. This metaphor of gift giving can translate to our days as physical therapists, or whatever occupation we may hold - the gift of kindness. Although we give out the kindness, it is the satisfaction of making someone's day better that receive in return. It sounds incredibly cliché, sounds almost silly, but kindness is more important than anything else we can give to our patients or people around us. At the end of the day, people are most impacted by the people who helped them, who gave them their compassion and kindness of their heart. Each day, we are given the opportunity, whether it be one, two, or one hundred, to ignite and spread our kindness and compassion with others. Ever hear of “Pay it Forward”? Yes, this may be the principle of buying someone a coffee in line behind you with the anticipation of them paying it forward to buy the next person’s coffee in order to create a chain effect. But, paying it forward doesn’t necessarily have to have a monetary value to it. Paying it forward can be as simple as a smile, or a listening ear, or giving a person the attention they deserve rather than passing them off – which can initiate that same chain effect. What could potentially be a bad day for them, can be reversed with a simple interaction. And, ideally, can spread like wild fire in order to bring the best out of that person. So, as we look from an over-arching perspective – something as simple as kindness, can start off as your “gift” to another person, but, in the long-run, the satisfaction and happiness that this interaction has the potential of causing, actually gives you a gift back in return. That's the reason we chose this job anyways, right? To help people. To deal with people daily. To be compassionate. To return them to how they want/need to be. It’s a simple as that. Simple, but not necessarily easy. A positive perspective and outlook on an average day can switch that average day to a great day. If we go in to our days with the goal, ambition, and desire to help people and to give the little things to our patients, coworkers, friends, family, loved ones – you’ll be surprised at the end result. By treating others with the intention of keeping their best interest at stake, as you would your own loved ones, you, in return, end up getting more out of it than you even delivered. Until next time, Mike "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do, interfere with what I can do.”
Chances are, many of the people reading this have taken part in some act of community service. For many in the physical therapy profession, the two go hand in hand. The principles of servant leadership and what it takes to be a servant leader coincide with what it takes to be a good physical therapist. Putting others' needs first before your own, using problem solving to figure out how to serve the person in front of you, looking for opportunities to learn more in order to treat others better, etc. These are all examples of ways that physical therapists, community service members, and those who are both of those things, practice their passion. If you as a physical therapist haven't heard of an excellent way to provide a little extra service within the physical therapy field, you're in luck. The Physical Therapy Day of Service (PTDOS) was started 2 years ago, and since has gathered 8,000 volunteers from 42 countries. Participants can pledge to participate on the website, and then find a place to serve either on their own or through an ambassador in their community or organization. Then, you serve on the date of the PTDOS, or within that same week. It's a simple concept and plan, and it gives you the freedom to participate in an act of volunteering that interests you. I recently became involved in the PTDOS as a part of their global affairs committee. I am sure this won't be the last blog post about it. So far, I've learned about their background and how this whole idea came about. The founders have built this movement on 3 pillars. 1. Increase the quality and quantity of clinics 2. Empower clinicians 3. Catalyze servant leadership If we aren't doing more for the communities we belong to, we aren't doing our best job of existing in those communities. It doesn't take a major event to make change happen. It truly is, as we always say, the little things that make the biggest difference. How can you beat the smile on someone's face as they say thank you for your service? You can't put a price tag on that, and it's the most gratifying form of payment one could get for an honest act of volunteering in something that they are passionate about. I hope this post stirs a little inspiration to go volunteer somewhere. You never know what kind of opportunities can arise by joining a good group of people with similar interests, and simply doing the right thing. I know we all probably look ahead and think, "I'd rather save that weekend to do something fun" or "I don't have time for that". I feel the same way. But every once in a while, having your hand in something bigger than yourself gives you a feeling that nothing else can provide you. This year the PTDOS is on October 14th, 2017. I will be serving the other author of this blog, Mike, on the alter for his wedding day. So that doesn't count. But the nice thing is, the PTDOS is not a big commitment. Service can be done any time within a week of that date. If you ask me, Mike is being a little selfish getting married on the same day as the PT Day of Service. Don't tell him I said that. And one more thing. Don't just serve just for the sake of volunteering. Take some time, do a little research, and find something that speaks to you. Because if you are volunteering in an area that fuels your passion, it won't feel like volunteering. You'll want more, and the gratitude will be better than ever. Catalyze servant leadership for both the server, and the served. It is often difficult to tell which is which. We’ve all been there. In one way or another, we can trace back to a memory in which we achieved something that we’ve worked so hard to accomplish. In most cases, this “something” has led us to our career – finding our passion in something that we are able to then elaborate on again and again, year after year.
For sake of this topic, I’ll share my story. July 26, 2016. This day was the 6th day from when the results of the National Physical Therapy Examination boards were released. Mind you, it was an agonizing 6 days unless you kept your mind elsewhere. Six years of physical therapy school, countless hours of your summer spent studying for your boards, and now it came down to another 6. Those 6 days awaiting the results – either you pass or you fail. I remember coming home from Florida with my fiancé that day. We were driving home from the airport and I had received 3 or 4 texts from some of my good friends in PT school, Brian being one of them, all saying they had passed. But, for some reason, my score wasn’t posted. As the human brain naturally responds, anxiety set in. It wasn’t that I didn’t have confidence in myself – it was just that “What if I didn’t pass?” feeling that was eating at my insides. So, home we went, winding down the back roads of Western Massachusetts when I saw the screen on my phone light up. I was too wound up to do it myself, so I asked my co-pilot to do the honors… seconds passed… It was the dead of night, around midnight, so practically no one was on the road. I pulled over as I jerked the car to a full stop. I had done it. Emotion even set in. In something that took 6 years to achieve, 6 days to find out, and these 6 letters seemed to be one of the highest points of the first 24 years of my life… “PASSED”. I tell this story to get my point across. Reach back into your memory and find your story. We have all had one, if not multiple, of these events in our life that we can remember every detail because it seemed as though life has slowed for those moments in time. At times, we allow ourselves to turn on auto-pilot or just coast through our days. We complain about things that should not be complained about – because on the grand scheme of things – there are much bigger problems in the world to lay our concerns and worries on. People are fighting much bigger fights in the world and would give anything to have a career as wonderful as the ones, that at times, we take for granted. Even with the most enlightened perspective, it is impossible to see through that lens at all times. We have a difficult patient, a difficult day, or just a rut in the schedule that is not as “ideal” as we would like. But, these are the times that we must reach back into our memories, whether it be on the surface of our thoughts or deep down in the long-term memory bank – to revive the passion and motive behind doing what we do every single day. You worked way too hard to let yourself coast through a week of work, a day or work, or even just a treatment session. Rediscover that passion that you had when you held your diploma at the end of your 6 years. Rediscover that passion you had when you finalized your manuscript. Rediscover that passion that you had on your first day of work with butterflies in your stomach trying to impress everyone around you. Do not let yourself stray from the goals and ideas and dreams you had when they were at their peak. And, certainly, don’t let that day that you think is your highest peak – remain the highest peak forever. Make today the highest peak, and everyday forward. Realize how far you’ve come, be proud of how far you’ve come, and humble yourself each and every day to be a student of your own passion. Be the best physical therapist (or physician assistant, or police chief, or teacher, or waitress/waiter, or accountant, or fighter pilot, or whatever in the world it is that you do). Be the best. And, as always, remember the little things. Until next time, Mike When your actions or words still resonate with someone 4 years later, you know you've left a lasting impact on that person. That's how I'd imagine Kevin Ostrom felt when I reached out to him last week, telling him about how he motivated me to write this post. Kevin was a Springfield College student with Mike and I, and a part of a program called Pre-Camp. Pre-Camp is an orientation program that helps a select group of roughly 70 incoming freshmen becoming more comfortable, confident, and acquainted as they begin their Springfield College career. Mike and I were co-chairs in 2013, and Kevin applied to be a Pre-Camp leader.
When Kevin came in for his interview with Mike and myself, one of us asked a pretty standard question as he walked in the door; "Hey Kevin, how are you?" Kevin's response struck the both of us. "Best day of my life today". A simple response with quite a bit of power. If I remember correctly, we pointed out the originality of Kevin's answer. Kevin had his own personal reaction to a question that most people answer with somewhat of a mindless "Good, how are you?". He said that every day that he wakes up, is the best day of his life. It was a new perspective that he had gained when his father passed away. If he got out of bed that morning and had the opportunity to go about his day, that's the best day of his life. Talk about having a present and mindful attitude. This goes along with the mindset of loving the rain. Wake up every day and look out the window. Decide then, no matter what it looks like it's doing out there, that you are going to have a great day. You don't need any more of a reason other than the fact that you are able to look out there, get out of bed, and have a day. You might as well make it the best day of your life, because that day is the only one promised. Kevin brought this philosophy another step further by creating the "Be a Rare Bird" foundation, which helped him to raise money to run triathalons in honor of his father, as well as start a scholarship for a graduating senior from Barnstable, Massachussets. As you can see here, it's all about being motivated to make a big impact from the little things. Personally, I love the "Best day of your life today" philosophy. Why not decide that you are going to have the best day of your life today? You don't need to be doing anything monumental, in fact, the little things of each day can indeed make it the best day of your life. Just another reminder, another little thing, that I hope you can take something from. Mike and I love situations like this, when people unexpectedly inspire us. That little 6 word sentence Kevin dropped on us 4 years ago is still holding a lot of weight, and turning into something more. If you want to learn more about the Be a Rare Bird Foundation, visit the link below, or reach out to Kevin through social media for stickers, wristbands, or hats. Take care, ~ Brian https://beararebirdfoundation.wordpress.com/about-kevin-ostrom/https://beararebirdfoundation.wordpress.com/about-kevin-ostrom/ |
MiCHAEL McGowan, PT, DPT
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