Start 2021 Off on the Right Foot (but then switch feet)

Julia Grover-Barrey OTR/L
Founder of In-Tuned®

I am not a regular, nor habitual blogger. My aim isn’t to be constantly writing and posting as a matter of routine. I share, because I love what I do, and I believe in the brain’s ability to change. I have personally experienced not being “stuck” with the brain I was born with, and through my work I have observed this to be true for countless others.

So maybe I am not the most consistent when it comes to blogging, but I am consistent in sharing what I know to be helpful to those walking a similar path. The path to optimal occupational performance and joy (can’t have enough of it) for our students, clients, children, grandchildren and ourselves.

People doing the supporting need to be on their own path…striving for self-awareness, self-regulation and self-directedness to experience joy and be of use.

My suggestion for starting 2021 off right is to invest time and energy into promoting your own brain changing habits and routines. Not only will you personally benefit, but so will those you seek to serve. 

I wish you a successful, brain-changing year.

Julia

PS: Whoops, I’m not done. Here’s some really useful inside information to help with the right foot thing.

I want to share one of the first foundational habits and routines I discovered as a teenager, which changed my brain and sent me on the path I continue to follow.

Reciprocal Motion (with added resistance…mechanical, not emotional resistance):

I grew up hating school (long story about all of the whys). When I was 15 years old I routinely ditched school and forged my mother’s handwriting to provide fake excuses (I was in a full body cast was my favorite). Although I must admit I did a few illegal substances during those days of hooking off what I spent most of my time doing was: cross country skiing.

My mother went to work, I grabbed my skis instead of my book bag and headed for the woods instead of the school bus.

The reciprocal work of arms, legs, breath and balance did more for my ability to stay emotionally regulated and process sensory information than sitting in Mr. Edget’s English lit. class…or taking the Valium I was prescribed years earlier.

My slight leaning towards juvenile delinquency saved me. The benefits I experienced that winter by choosing to ski improved my ability to pay attention, hear what the teachers were actually saying and not be so preoccupied with my body as I sat in class.

I live in Arizona now, there is no snow, but I do continue to start my day with reciprocal exercises of some kind. I try to start each day off on the R foot, but then switch to the left…and so on and so on and so on.