Activity Pathways

Impactful leadership. Care strategies infused with activities

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Anchors Across the Life Span

Posted on: December 27, 2016


Activities, leisure, recreation, hobbies in life appear simple, perhaps small, however digging deeper, one finds a rich inner world.  These interests define us, show our multi layered dimensions, and speak volumes even when we are not speaking. Revealed are color preferences, competitive or collaborative nature, knowledge base, rhythm, sense of humor, curiosity, vulnerability. And this is only the short list!  Plato said “you can learn more about a person in a hour of play than in a year of conversation.”

I LOVE it when someone joins a game activity and states “I play to win.”

Clearly proclaiming, game ON! ” Play BIG or go home. BAM!

While others join the game to socialize and collaborate.

Again, individuality matters.

Activities provide opportunities to learn, flip on the mind/ body recall and sensory system.  Don’t forget activities are available during every season of life and must NOT stop.  JAMA of Psychiatry released an article linking leisure time and depression showing that “…being physically active three times a week reduces the odds of being depressed by approximately 16%.” 

I hope that you find that as motivational as I do. 

So what about an anchor? Consider its function.  Weight, stability, guidance.

It also keeps a craft from drifting due to wind or current, can be temporary or permanent and vary in design and weight. My favorite activity anchor is power walking, during any season here in Pennsylvania. It resets my switch and I am ready for the winds of life and wherever they may blow.

I believe that activities across the lifespan become our human anchors and for that matter, lifelines.   

Until we meet again, stay brilliant!

Nancy Richards

Founder, CEO Activity Pathways

Your mentor for impactful leadership &

creating meaningful connections through the power of activities.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Activity Profession, Life Span Tagged With: activities, curiosity, humor, individuality, life span, vulnerability

A shot of professional inspiration

Posted on: December 27, 2016

A shot of professional inspiration during a “gray” season.

Gray is a popular interior design color these days. It “works nicely” with a lot of complimentary colors however when it is the dominant color, it can dull the senses. Much like, too much of anything can produce imbalance, overwhelm or even keep one “stuck” in a certain situation.

I love living in southeastern PA where we experience, embrace and celebrate four diverse seasons. I can navigate multiple cold winter days in the teens when they are balanced by bright skies. That sun, ever potent provider of vitamin D and brain stimulator which releases endorphins, keeps me in balance. Being honest here, this is the fourth day of either light rain or gray skies. It is feeling heavy about now and I am pulling happy strategies out of my proverbial “life tool bag.” Wearing a bright peachy orange tee shirt, neon green socks, cornflower blue printed scarf and my happiness pendant, a gift from a precious friend 😉 Brilliant music by Bruno Mars, Earth Wind and Fire and Stevie Wonder blaring and the drapes in the office are wide open, allowing every bit of light to bathe my work space. Thinking about a dear lovie who does all of the above plus turns up the space heater in her office for that complete body wrapping element and uses a Key West screen saver image to soothe her eyes.  PLUS uses that location as her weather update, even though in reality she too lives in southeastern PA and is sharing the same gray spot lingering in our current zone. Now, that is creative!

Our workplaces can become gray, clouded, and heavy and our professional motivation takes a dive. I witness this in the MEPAP class when students are struggling to survive in harsh work environments, strewn with pressure, judgement and healthcare trying to operate at warp speed.

I ran into a colleague, an accomplished leader, Activity Director Certified and caring heart who has committed fifteen years of service. She shared privately that she is down, dismayed by the negative work culture and the pressures it brings. Scarce support from corporate, pressure to “perform” for upcoming survey, working short across the building with very little positive, nurturing provided. How can one serve others when individual vessels have been depleted?

I see this across the long term living spectrum. Great educated, heart centered souls, committed to serving elders stretched beyond human capacity.

Respectfully, corporate “there is more to life than increasing its speed.”

In that moment I encouraged her not to lose heart, that her contribution is important and that collectively we, as a profession, must uplift and nourish one another.

I encourage you to call a colleague, use a life line and ask for help in the moment. Then, when you are nourished be available for some else.

We are a small but MIGHTY profession, on a mission.

We CAN and WILL keep rising to honor every person served and honor the WHOLE person.

Activities are the glue that holds organizations together. Don’t lose your mission or resolve. We’ve got this. We’ve got one another.

Until we meet again, stay brilliant!

Nancy Richards Founder, CEO Activity Pathways

Your mentor for impactful leadership & creating meaningful connections through the power of activities

Filed Under: Activity Profession Tagged With: activity profession, finding inspiration, long term living, negative work culture

Embracing the Whole Person Model for Activities

Posted on: May 20, 2015

Social, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual are the dimensions of each person. Dimensions are not dependent on gender, race, culture or class with each person searching for life satisfaction and what has meaning to them specifically. This whole person model is embraced by Activity Pathways. Understanding the unique features of each person and providing a well-balanced day, through activities, validating a person’s existence while promoting wellness. The Activity Profession classifies activities related to the identified needs of an individual and then creates targeted approaches/activities to fill those needs.

The Activity Pathways logo represents each domain (listed above) in the symbol of a leaf and each leaf is interconnected and this means that factors influencing one domain will often affect other domains. Our mission is to educate the public about the power of activities and how they create a bridge connecting, soul to soul.

logo

Filed Under: Activity Profession, Family Care Partners

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Recent Posts

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215-872-1657
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