Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Don't date an Occupational Therapist (OT)



This is a take off of “Don’t date a girl who travels” and “Don’t date a girl who reads”. I recommend reading one of those first because this will make more sense. 
Obviously there are guy OT’s too, but I wrote this in the same style as the other articles.
DISCLAIMER: I am not an Occupational Therapist yet, so this is written simply from what I know so far.
Alternate titles for this could be "Don't date an OT with an Occupational Science background" or "Don't date an OT from Saint Louis University".

Don’t date an OT because she won’t be impressed with your fancy clothes and cool car. She wants to know what you do. What you care about. She won’t be easily wooed by sweet nothings and empty conversations. She'll see past your clever one-liners and coy smiles. She craves intimacy and substance. She won't be so easily caught because she has found a better reason to fly. 

Don’t date an OT because she’ll talk to everyone she meets for far too long. People on the bus, people next to her on the airplane, people in the waiting room. She’ll spend too much time trying to explain what Occupational Therapy is and what it means to her. She wants to get to know everyone's story. Small talk isn’t her thing and she isn’t afraid to ask important questions that require thoughtful answers. She’ll patiently wait for a response and won’t rush people along even if she's in a hurry. There's always time to listen.

Don’t date an OT because she isn’t afraid to cause a scene. She’ll get in an argument over person first language, or using the “r” word. She’s sweet but she’s strong. She’s an advocate. She’s not easily tamed. She’ll point out places that aren’t accessible for people with disabilities. She might even tell the restaurant owner that the bathrooms couldn’t be accessed for someone in a wheelchair while you’re out at dinner. It might make you feel uncomfortable but she doesn’t care. She’ll tell you if you’re being disrespectful or judgmental because she understands that people are so complex. There are contexts, situations, and angles that we cannot see and do not understand from a simple glance.

Don’t date an OT because she knows how fragile life is and how quickly you can lose something. She knows that disability is a minority group that anyone can join and in an instant your life can change. So she won’t want to hear about how mad you are about your phone breaking or your other frivolous complaints. She knows what is important in life. She has seen people who have lost it all and still have so much to give. She knows that the poorest people in the world are those who only have money. She sees past the materialistic world.

Don’t date an OT because she won’t make room for someone who isn’t as passionate as her. She has so much enthusiasm for her career, for her clients, for her work and if you don’t have something equally as fulfilling you’ll feel left out. She loves what she does and she’ll work too hard. She has fire in her belly that propels her forward in a dizzying tornado of energy. She's a hurricane with a fiercely beating heart who never stops to rest. She won't wait for you. She doesn't wait around for love because she's found it in her career.

Don't date an OT because there is never an easy answer to give her. She knows that "life is not a problem to be solved but a reality to be experienced". She knows things can't be quantified. She knows that the simple answer is usually not the right answer. She knows that life is so complex and it'll frustrate you to hear her explain theories and explanations about transactionalism and the holistic approach. You can't feed her an easy response. She looks for intelligent conversations and debates that might end in confusion with no clear answer in sight.

Don’t date an OT because she will see the good in everything. So much so it might get annoying. She’s optimistic about change and has faith that everyone has the potential to achieve what they want from life. She knows that even though the world is a broken place, it is so beautiful and full of promise. She truly believes she will make the world a better place. 



53 comments:

  1. This is one of the BEST articles I have ever read. I am a recent graduate preparing to take my NBCOT exam and this article has once again reinforced my decision to pursue such an amazing career. The words written here perfectly depict my personality, my passions, and my way of living and thinking. It is so inspiring and encouraging that there are others out there with the same viewpoints and lifestyle who are just trying to impact lives through OT. Thank you so much for sharing, it was truly a joy to read this article first thing this morning to remind and encourage me while studying today.

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    1. Thank you for this comment! It has made my day :) I'm so glad that you related to it and it had a positive impact on you. Hope you do well on the NBCOT exam and in your career it sounds like you will be a wonderful OT.

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    2. I couldn't have said so better myself. Rachel, I'm a recent grad of Wash U OT and like CatKo16, I'm in the midst of studying for NBCOT as well. You have embodied the spirit of an OT, and we all manifest that spirit differently, and you nailed it! Kudos! Likewise, you lit a new fire of inspiration in me to get pumped up for the exam. I dedicate the next 2.5 weeks of studying to you! :)

      St. Louis is an incredible place full of inspiring OTs. I wish you the best! Thanks for your entry!

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    3. Nicely Written! Welcome to our profession!

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    4. I'm an occupational therapist AND a returned Peace Corps volunteer, so you can imagine how deep understanding of humanity and not falling for superficial stuff applies to me. Watch out world!

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  2. Wow! You hit the nail on the head! Very insightful and accurate.

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  3. This is obviously written by and about new Occupational Therapists. I've been one for 39 years and do see some of myself in this description. But time and reality have tempered the intensity. I still have passion about my job but also know my limitations and those of others. OT is a fantastic profession but leave your job at work and save some passion for yourself and your own life. After all, when the day is done or you approach retirement, you must have saved something for yourself and those who rely on you :-)

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    1. I also am not as passionate after so many years as an OT, but the person I married knows all the things I am passionate about and chose to live with me, in spite of or because of those passions. His passion for people with severe mental and physical disability brought us together, and we are still together. Rachel's blog is really well thought out and insightful, and I appreciate her efforts. It will be interesting for her to look back on this after her first 25 years as an OT. Isn't it great that we can still be an OT after all these years of work and service!

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    2. I love it. After nearly 25 years as an OT I still find many points in this article that ring my spirit to a tee!

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    3. I love it. After nearly 25 years as an OT I still find many points in this article that ring my spirit to a tee!

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    4. As time goes on, after 22 years of practice, this resonates even more for me. Between my love for my kids and my work, I don't have space for a serious relationship-- and I feel completely fulfilled :)

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  4. Wonderful article! After a hectic week, it has made me smile and realise why I love my job so much!

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  5. Well written article, and luckily for me these are the qualities I look for. I have been graced with my wife who is an editoria exceptional OT. She is very passionate, smart, and dedicated to perusing her dreams. Personally I think these are qualities most men should look for in woman!

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    1. I also don't know why my phone wanted to insert "editoria" into my sentence, please ignore the typos and you'll understand the gist of what I'm saying. Have a great day everyone and again great article!

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  6. I am an OT student at UTMB and you hit the nail on the head! This is me to a "T"

    Thank you for reminding me that I'm a perfect fit for this field, even though my fast paced program is pretty challenging.

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  7. Thank you for posting this. I am an Occupational Therapy student and I fully accept the reason I am single now! :)

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  8. I FREAKING LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in my third year of occupational therapy and everything my boyfriend (physical therapist) "loves" about me was mentioned here, very nicely done!

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  9. I've been an OT for over 20 years. I have been married that whole time since I married my husband one year before graduating. 5 years later, my husband graduated from OT school. This article is STILL me.

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  10. Thanks for posting this, it really reaffirms me that my decision is absolutely right - OT is gonna be my next and last stop for career change just cos i love transforming people's lives!

    Bless u x

    Elaine

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  11. Nicely put!!! I should add to this as even in my own FB post I started to ramble and rave.

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  12. Great article! My friend, you have pinpointed everything an OT has. I think though, that these qualities are the things people love from OTs as well :D

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  13. Many of us OT's in Finland couldn't agree more! :)

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  14. So......how about a second inclusive pronoun there?

    Thanks,

    Canadian Male OT

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    1. Agree with that one!

      UK Male OT

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    2. Yes please!!

      Especially with a section dedicated to sensitivity to language.

      South African Male OT

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  15. wow! i couldnt help but smile while reading this :) i can see me in this article :)

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  16. Thank you. After reading this article I realised that, although I haven't practiced my profession for three years, I still am passionate about it's values and beliefs. I have realised that once an OT always an OT applies. I am consequently pursuing a return to the profession... watch this space...
    Thank you again

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  17. Very analytical article!
    After all, we still see so many wise guys in the world who choose to get married and stay married with their occupational therapist wife. There are always good qualities and downsides in a person regardless of his or her career, right? In my opinion, the writer decided to stop dating the girl not because she is an OT, but simply because her character or nature doesn't suit your needs. If the girlfriend was an accountant or a nurse, for example, the writer could have easily composed a similar article by plugging in his personal perspectives.

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  18. Love it!!! I am in my final year as an OT Student in New Zealand and this just sums up me to a T! And my husband agrees! Thanks for the article, it is now being shared with all the NZ ot's and students!

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  19. Many thanks for the exciting blog posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you are a brilliant writer.  I actually added your blog to my favorites and will look forward for more updates. Great Job, Keep it up...if you want more information something like visit pain management denver get more details.

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  20. I love it! haha, just shared it with some friends who I'm sure will relate!

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  21. It is truly a great and helpful piece of nice information.
    I am satisfied that you simply shared this useful information with us.
    Please stay us informed like this. Thanks for sharing. I know something information, to know you can click here….McAllen physical therapy

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  22. Very cool...but why does the OT have to be a 'she'???? :-D

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  23. what about patience, i just asked to go out with a special girl for 107 times til know and i am really enjoying it,

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  24. What's the "r" word? I'm an OT with 10 years experience, but I'm in the dark about that :)

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  25. Wow! This is how I am! My hubby can attest to this! Hahaha 😂 #team_OT I love #OT

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  26. All those reasons are why I married an OT, then left my career to open a clinic with her.

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  27. Don't date an OT because: She'll talk endlessly about herself. She'll spout all sorts of pseudo-scientific cod psychology. She'll try to convince you her field of practice is highly intellectual rather than simply technical. She'll comment on your 'praxis difficulties' (even thought she can't throw a ball herself). She'll complain about medical and psychology salaries. She'll always have some half-baked 'special new thing' she's doing , usually involving colourful bits of paper. She'll take over all available space with the aforementioned colourful bits of paper. She'll go off it at the mere mention of the phrase 'basket cases'.

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  28. Interesting sentence structure here.
    I am very neutral about the profession, but I love to read and hear about how passonate people can make any job a dream career.

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  29. Interesting sentence structure here.
    I am very neutral about the profession, but I love to read and hear about how passonate people can make any job a dream career.

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  30. I am an OT Tech and I can relate to this as well. Great article, thank you

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  31. Reading the article and your comments, I'm sooooooo happy that so many of you live in the world and think the same! And once again is proven, that you are never alone in this world, by the way you think! :)

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  34. As a man, my experience is different. While O.T. might be great for most women, many aspects are less than desirable for a man. I agree: O.T. have “big heart”. They show openness and respect for human being. Dating them is great: my wife is an O.T.
    But, being a man O.T., people just stop seeing you as a man. Physicians, especially men, tend to be condescending. Female co-workers really think you are one of theirs, a kind of “new sister” and they will share with you just as if you were a female. Somehow, as the time goes on, you will gradually feel emasculated, devaluated and unable to point out what is wrong with you.
    I have quit O.T. many years ago and remember that it took many years to erase the feeling of being inferior and stupid. Maybe some type of men can be satisfied with their job. I am not sure. If you are a man and have masculinity sensitivities, you may soon or later encounter serious psychological issues. It was my case. I never succeed feeling good about myself being an O.T.. They call that “Gender role conflict”. It can be devastating. Younger men may not be as sensitive to inner conflict as gender role are more flexible nowadays.
    If you are intellectually gifted, O.T. won’t satisfy your hungry mind, unless you become a researcher. And you will have to manage “low status” feelings. Yes, O.T. have a lower status than physical therapist or speech therapist. I don’t need to mention physicians. It seems that women can tolerate better than men low status, at least female O.T..
    Dating an O.T.? Sure, but choose one that is deeply happy to help others human beings to overcome their limitations or disabilities, and somebody that doesn’t care about status and money and prestige.

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  36. I like this article. Concise descriptions of who we are.

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