Occupational Therapist Joke

Here's a cute joke I found about Occupational Therapists. I like it because it really illustrates the power of Occupational Therapy:

Q: How many Occupational Therapists does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: None. We’d teach the lightbulb to change itself.

Don't tell me this is not funny!!!! It's soooo OT-ish.

YOU RETARD!!!

I knew that phrase would get your attention. Those are BAD, BAD, BAD words. They are hurtful.

Calling someone retarded is intended to insult them. Thankfully, I don't use those words but I know plenty of people who do. So, shame on me for not correcting them!

Language choices influence how we think about others. The 'R-word,' as it is called, is hurtful and derogatory and it's time that people stop using it as an insult.

Originally, retarded had a REAL meaning which meant disabled or handicapped. But now people use it as an insult for clumsy, stupid or silly people. They often mean it jokingly but there's nothing funny about it as some people really ARE 'retarded'.

It's a painful word that stereotypes a group of people, whether they have an intellectual disability or not.

So, I'm encouraging you to use more accepting language from this point forward--like 'intellectual disability'. Or if someone is acting silly or stupid, just say they're acting silly or stupid. There's no need to label them with a term deemed offensive and derogatory.

There's a campaign to 'Spread the Word to End the Word.' You can find more info here and submit a pledge. I submitted my pledge to use more accepting language.

Please make the effort to change your language to be more inclusive and respectful.

I climbed 94 flights in 28 minutes

Sunday I climbed the annual Hussle up the Hancock sponsored by the Respiratory Health Association. I remember writing about this back in November, I think. Anyway, I climbed 94 flights!

I did not act very wisely in that I did not train for this event, I had a glass of white wine and an awesome Mexican dinner the night before and I went to bed VERY late. If you ever want to do stair climb challenges, don't follow my lead! Thankfully I got up okay and I finished successfully...

I enjoyed the climb, it was a lot of fun and there were LOTS of people (more than 4000 participants). Two people behind me 9 & 11 year old brothers climbing the 94 flights for the second time! One of my classmates climbed twice--once at 8.45am with her Mom for the half-climb (47 flights) and then again at 11am for the full climb! Amazing! There were also quite a few senior there climbing as well. This was encouraging as I plan to continue to participate in races in like this as I enjoy them.

Anyway, my time to the top was about 28 minutes, which is pretty good for someone who didn't train at all and stayed out late the night before. Also, the average time to climb 47 flights is about 12 minutes but once you get to floor 70, especially when you don't train, it's all mental from there and you slow down a bit.

Once I got to the top the view was AMAZING. You could see all of Chicago! No joke. Plus the feeling of accomplishment is exaggerated by the people calling your name and cheering and the balloons and the medal you get and the crowd. It's overwhelming!

I climb again at the end of this month for the American Lung Assoc--95 flights! This time I'm training, going to bed early and eating at a reasonable hour.