Cheryl Hall, OT
Author and Illustrator, Occupational Therapy Toolkit
Who loved The Oprah Winfrey Show? I have never been so devoted to another day time show in my life. Thank goodness I had a VCR, so I could tape each episode while I was at work (yes, I am showing my age)! Oprah’s topics were always so relatable and many times they inspired you to change something or to take action.
One episode focused on thanking a person in your life that you were most grateful to have met. Now I am truly blessed with a strong family – including mom, dad, siblings and husband; great friends, as well as wonderful patients, peers and mentors who all influenced the course of my life and career. But after watching this episode of Oprah, I knew I had to thank Terri Isaac, my advisor in the Early Childhood Development program at Santa Rosa Junior College.
I was enrolled at Santa Rosa with along-term goal of becoming a teacher. Terri was a wonderful instructor and a leader in the department and a constant in and out of the classroom. As I approached the middle of my second year, she met with me about my plan to transfer to a four year college. Terri had a good friend who was an occupational therapist and understood the profession. After talking about her friend and OT, she told me that I too had the talent, creativity and empathy to be a great OT. As they say the rest is history. I never hesitated or looked back; that weekend I applied to at San Jose State University’s Occupational Therapy Program.
My quest to thank Terri was complicated by the fact that I had relocated to the East Coast and this was a little before social media was an option. So, I picked up the phone and called Santa Rosa Junior College. After endless transfers, I talked to someone that knew Terri had retired but more importantly knew her daughterstill worked at the college. I sat down that day and handwrote a letter to Terri thanking her for influencing my path in life and giving her some highlights of my wonderful career. Off the letter went to Terri’s daughter at the college. It was more than a year later when I received a letter back. Her daughter had delivered my letter to Terri, but just weeks prior to her passing. She conveyed that her mom remembered me,appreciated my thanks and was touched by my contact after all those years later.
Who has helped you at a time of crisis or at a crossroads? Have you ever said thank you? Never underestimate the impact of a simple thank you. My nephew relayed a similar experience to me a couple of weeks ago. Out of high school for several years, he saw his computer tech teacher from his senior year. He walked across the parking lot and told the teacher how much of a difference he had made in his life and his senior year. The teacher grinned from ear-to-ear and told my nephew that his simple thank you had officially made his day, week maybe even his year. The teacher had been having a rough semester with students that he didn’t seem to be able to reach. He had even contemplated leaving the profession, but my nephew’s simple, impromptu thank you in a parking lot had given him a much needed lift.
As Thanksgiving approaches here in the United States I ask you to make two commitments:
First, think of thosepeople who have steered your life with a suggestion, a conversation or a kind word. Make a commitment today to reach out to thank them during this season of Thanksgiving.
Second, pay it forward by encouraging others. Take time to really talk to those in your life that need someone to listen or need a sounding board for their ideas. I try to pay it forward by always responding to OT students who reach out to me for help or advice.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
