Be Kind to Yourself 

Created by Beth Calverley in collaboration with staff at the Oxford Centre for Enablement
 

 I’m going to ask you a lot of nosy questions. A smile and a nod.

They put their trust in us, so we have to get permission.

What’s important to you? Sometimes it’s cooking, 

sometimes it’s not specific. I just want to get back to being how I was!

 

In the wood workshop, we set up the saw and it’s over to them.

When you’re ready... We steady the saw of frustration, 

make it occupational – what would that look like to you?

 

When patients put pressure on, take risks, 

make comments about how they were before,

we say: be kind to yourself. Getting started is often hardest.

 

A hand to steady them at first, but once they’re in flow, 

their confidence grows. You can hear it in their voice, 

see it on their face. Pain, fatigue, joy. Emotions are often non-verbal.

 

Occupational Therapy is any activity in your life.

Even for everyday tasks, there are complex processes happening.

Every day is different. It’s not always what we planned.

 

We respond to the patient’s changing wishes, their internal 

and external worlds. Ramps and rails within their spirit.

When one patient came to see me, he wasn’t going out.

 

He started catching the train again, going to concerts with his wife.

It isn’t always about getting back to before, but adjusting to now,

transferring from hoist to quad stick, getting out of bed.

 

Sometimes I feel I haven’t done anything,

just been present while a patient’s done it. But they say, you have!

It’s not rocket science, but it’s complex.

 

We spend our days pressing keypads to open doors, 

adjusting wheelchairs, writing records.

We carry a lot: laptops, assessments, supports, distress,

 

taking on problems hour after hour. 

On the flip side, it helps us realise how lucky we are.

Really living life. Empowering others to live theirs too – 

 

not going back, but towards the new. What’s important to you?

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