Living Life to It's Fullest: Paraskiing-----an inspiration!

This week I am enjoying my first vacation since I started my job as Director of Rehabilitation Services for MD Anderson Cancer Center in January of 2011. I am the Director of a 90 FTE Department of occupational and physical therapy staff and while I absolutely love it, I needed the break! Managing a multi-million dollar enterprise can be a bit taxing now and then!

I am at Whistler/Blackcomb mountain in British Columbia in Canada this week skiing. I am a decent skier, a solid "blue" (for non skiers the trails are marked green for easiest, blue for harder, black diamond for hardest and double black diamond for "insane") but I take my spills now and then. I am currently nursing a big bruise on my right side from a fall I took on a very easy stretch of almost flat trail because I looked backwards and crossed my skis!

Yesterday I saw two paraskiers on the mountain and was totally inspired watching them navigate a pretty tough slope! I ski because I like the challenge and I LOVE being outside on a beautiful winter day in the snow and in nature. This week has been a challenging one because I am aging like all of us are, and Whistler/Blackcomb is the biggest mountain I have ever skied. Watching these skiers yesterday was a reminder that we all face challenges, some more difficult than others, but with perseverance and some creativity, we can continue to do the things we love to do as we age or face other physical challenges.

Helping people live life to the fullest is back the basics of why I became an occupational therapist. It has been my passion for over 26 years.

I am back to my vacation now, two more days of glorious skiing, but wanted to share yesterday's inspiration!

I am running to be the next Vice-President of AOTA because of my passion for the profession and because I want to work with you to promote our glorious profession and to help meet society's occupational needs by helping all live life to the fullest.

I would appreciate your vote!