"Blissful Ordinariness"

   Many people who are considered "able bodied" and "able minded" often take for granted the ease with which they go about their everyday tasks, such as, brushing their teeth, taking a shower, driving to work, etc.. For other people who may have a disability, these often considered "mindless" tasks can be a huge challenge that interrupts the flow of their daily routine. This brings us to the idea of "blissful ordinariness". This involves moving through one's day with little to no barriers and really not giving much thought into the tasks that make up one's everyday routine; in a sense someone's everyday life is rather ordinary. Not everyone experiences  "blissful ordinariness" in their everyday life due to an array of reasons and this is where occupational therapists can help.
   Occupational therapists emphasize the importance of the therapeutic relationship between themselves and the client. This means that the occupational therapist works on developing a relationship with the client that allows the OT to better understand the client as a whole rather than just for their disability, which is considered a holistic approach. Having this relationship helps build trust and understanding with the client which can help build "blissful ordinariness", because by understanding the client and their life you can better decipher what things are important for a client to be able to help them achieve a more cohesive routine to their day. No two people's daily demands are the same nor are their values; by taking a holistic approach occupational therapists are able to individualize treatment to help each individual client find and achieve their version of "blissful ordinariness".