I won't worry my life awayyyyyy

This past week we participated in multiple icebreaker activities. One in which was the DREADED activity by most. It was the week where we were forced to SING in front of the class for a grade. Most classes have to take tests, not therapeutic recreation majors!
Personally, I sang Jason Mraz's, "The Remedy." I chose this song because it is about Jason Mraz's friend who had Cancer. The lyrics are very relate-able and practical for TR and even ChildLife. I posted the lyrics below for reference :) but I just think it is a great "you got the poison, i've got the remedy." Honestly though, I learned that "the remedy is the experience." I thoroughly enjoyed the experience I had in this class. The idea of singing in front of the class was not an issue nor a concern for me. Hence, I had been in choir every since I was little. However, it's been quite some time and this time proved to be a little bit more difficult. Initially it was just starting the song, knowing no one had done anything like it yet. The insecurity made me a little hesitant but I still made it through the chorus the best I could. I believe there is much to say about allowing oneself to open up and sing. Both personally and professionally it is a form of self expression and stress relief. I know first hand, the feeling and effect of empowerment it has the ability to create. It made me realize about myself that if i can do THIS, than "I wont worry my life awayyy" because .... I can do ANYTHING.

I think the way that I strove for excellence was in the song I chose and the reasons why I chose it. I never like to do things half-heartedly. I picked a song that I was passionate about and that meant something symbolically. It was a little piece of me and my passion that I wanted to share with the class.

Well I saw fireworks from the freeway
And behind closed eyes I cannot make them go away
'Cause you were born on the fourth of july, freedom ring
Now something on the surface it stinks
I said something on the surface
Really kind of makes me nervous
Who says that you deserve this
And what kind of god would serve this?
We will cure this dirty old disease
Well if you gots the poison, I've gots the remedy


The remedy is the experience,
It is a dangerous liaison
I say the comedy, is that it's serious.
This is a strange enough new play on words
I said that tragedy is how you're gonna spend,
The rest of your nights with the light on
So shine the light on all of your friends
When it all amounts to nothing in the end.

I won't worry my life away. [2x]

Well, I heard two men talking on the radio
In a cross fire kind of new reality show
Uncovering the ways to plan the next big attack
Where they were counting down the ways to stab
The brother in the be right back after this
The unavoidable kiss, with the minty fresh
Death breath sure to outlast this catastrophe
Dance with me,
'Cause if you gots the poison,
I've gots the remedy

The remedy is the experience,
This is a dangerous liaison
I say the comedy, is that it's serious.
This is a strange enough new play on words
I said the tragedy is how you're gonna spend,
The rest of your nights with the light on
So shine the light on all of your friends
When it all amounts to nothing in the end.

I won't worry my life away. [2x]

When I fall in love,
I take my time
There's no need to hurry when I'm making up my mind
You can turn off the sun,
but I'm still gonna shine and I'll tell you why...

Because

The remedy is the experience,
This is a dangerous liaison
I say the comedy, is that it's serious.
This is a strange enough new play on words
I said the tragedy is how you're gonna spend,
The rest of your nights with the light on
So shine the light on all of your friends
When it all amounts to nothing in the end.

I won't worry my life away...

Lose Yourself in the Music :)

This week was an a great session of music therapy that incorporated, singing, dancing, rhythm, and instruments. We got to learn everyone's name and got comfortable with each other with the help of music therapy intertwined with ice breaker activities. We utilized all types of instruments including, our voices, shakers, clackers, clinkers and drums. Specifically we learned how to play the Jamba drum! To end a successful session, we danced to online "Just Dance" videos.
First of all, I learned a new way to learn peoples names by creating the circles and forcing everyone to hear and repeat the names and how simply adding a gesture adds another sense to help speed the pace of memorability of the names!
I learned that drumming is a great tool for group unity and togetherness. It requires listening to one another as well as yourself. It allows one to really get lost in the beat due to the loudness and the rhythm patterns that can be created.
I learned that you can alter the rules to adapt to skill level. Through my TR/OT perspective, I found drumming to be a very dynamic activity that can be utilized for different settings and populations and needs of a client. Whether it be a "call and response" activity for memory improvement for development or rehabilitation or an outlet for behavior/mental/emotional issues.
I found out that I am somewhat of a follower as brought to my attention by the guest speaker. She would stop drumming only to find that we would stop as well. I realized that it took listening to others and confidence in myself to continue the rhythm patterns as well as change the rhythm if I wanted to. Most of all, I learned that I really enjoy playing the drums!!
In retrospect, I was very proud of myself and my performance in the music therapy session. I believe I really put myself out there and that really enjoyed myself. I felt myself put forth the effort and actually gain the immediate benefits. At one point, I knew I probably looked silly by singing out loud and drumming but when we combined a beat and my favorite music. I just lost it :)) I was belting out lyrics with my voice and my hands and quite literally, losing myself in the music.

Innovative ideas.

I can honestly say this class is why every other major is jealous of us. This past week we participated in fun and engaging activities. The I like activities was a cliche but efficient way to get to know more about people. I enjoyed the “Silent Film Acting-vitie.” It was a fun and silly way to break the ice and put everyone at an even playing feeling without communication. Playing tag with our partners was a way to get active and get comfortable as well as creatively separate the classes. For example, my favorite activity of the day where we were split into groups and asked to make a positive spin on a negative statement. This took thinking outside of the box as well as a postive attitude :) To me, there’s never enough to say about creativity and how much spice it adds to activities.

All of these great activities went straight into my “bag of tricks” as successful handydandy icebreakers. Having a bag of tricks such as this is priceless to have in this field and countless situations. It’s something that is always in constant development for my own personal and professional life.

I found that I thrived once we stepped away from the desks :) and that I am easily outgoing as one of those students was very comfortable with the class from the moment we all got together.

To strive for excellence, I think I just allowed myself to be open to new ideas, activities and people. I have made it a point to myself to really try and see if I can get the most out of this class. I’ve will strive not to ever just walk through the activities but to truly engage and actively think how they can be used and manipulated with different populations and settings.