Flo believes that self-worth can be defined by how we value ourselves ~ how we see ourselves. She believes that we come into the world pure! And, then we are exposed to the captivating word, "NO!" From an adults perspective, no can mean a lot of things. No can mean danger, no, that's not the right way to do it, and it can be said for a myriad of other reasons. Yet, to a child, this simple word can chip away at his/her self-worth. Young ears and hearts only hear that they are doing something wrong.
I learned that occupational therapists perform from their hearts on a daily basis! They are already primed to empower their clients to get back into life. When the OT students at SUNY Orange, took on producing, casting, creating the costumes and rehearsing, little did they know that the overall goal is similar to their daily mission: everyone who saw the production was "CHANGED" for the better — there was the universal feeling that love heals!
I feel like a KID AGAIN! It's the kind of joy where you dance around the house, in this case, to my own songs! LOL! The schedule in New York is growing as we speak. There are radio interviews, (Thank you Tara), cocktail parties, the Occupational Therapist, NY, Expo, and extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime events to attend! One of the highlights is being there for Lauren Manning's key note speech. She is the 9/11 survivor and author who will share, "about physical and spiritual transformation, how in the face of tragedy, I reinvented my life." And, then on Sunday, after a whirlwind of activities, The Luckiest Penny Musical will premier in New York...
When asked about his definition of self-worth, Drew said, "No one can define you, because they aren't you! What you believe about yourself grows with you, or dies with you!"
Donna is an Occupational Therapist, who works with people who have Alzheimer's, cognitive challenges, illnesses, injury, and those who are in need of rehabilitation in order to go home and resume a normal life. As she spoke about self-worth, I had an AH-HA moment! The kind we've all seen and experienced on OPRAH! According to Donna, children develop self-worth from external sources. "Kids are always talking about how many friends they have, their clothes, and things money can or can not buy. What everyone in their universe thinks about them, is how they see themselves," Donna said.
I just got done talking with Flo Hannes, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chair OTA Program, Director, Center for Assistive & Rehabilitative Technology, SUNY Orange. I'm not sure who is more excited, Flo or me! We started out by deciding to produce The Luckiest Penny Musical, during the 2011 SUNY Orange EXPO & NYS OT Conference. Now, it is taking on a life of its own!
Peggy Mustelier, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, shared that we are all born with an unformed sense of self. When our parents and relatives coo to us, hold us close and give us love, we say, "WOW! The world smiles at me! The world recognizes me! This is the way that self-esteem forms. This is when we first learn, I AM!"
Fredda Psaltis, believes that every child is a one-of-a-kind, brilliant, faceted gem. When asked what she would tell children about their worth, she said, "You have a special gift to give the world; a present that can only be opened by you! NO ONE ELSE CAN TAKE YOUR PLACE!"
I wish my dad had shared his explanation on why friends are like roads, when I was a little girl. It would have saved me a lot of grief. Yet, it is never too late to learn an invaluable lesson! This is an allegory that may help clarify the meaning of friendships, for both you and your children...
The other thing her parents did, when Joanne had a perceived failure, was to ask, "What did you learn from this experience?" Then they would make themselves available to listen to and then discuss her answers. "On the contrary, today's parents are busy breeding winners, staying connected to their virtual family on the web, and don't have time to have a real conversation with their kids," Joanne said.
I was floating on air when I left the movie, because it occurred to me that The Luckiest Penny is like the movie Moneyball! The mission of The Luckiest Penny is two fold: to celebrate our differences and realize our worth. As members of humanity, we all need to focus on what children CAN DO! Not, what they can't do. This takes a shift in perception, time, and a willingness to build bridges of understanding!
"These well-meaning friends would tell me that I'm too sensitive, too naive, and too too! I've spent too much time fighting against my true nature. I now believe that life always has a master plan. Mine was to saturate me in knowing what it feels like to be left behind. Being vulnerable gave me the most valuable lesson of all! When we don't understand something. . .we fear it!"
I've always known that The Luckiest Penny can plant seeds of change. We need to address self-worth and how to believe in oneself while children are still young! There is a lot of talk about bullies. Yet, I think that when our kids know how valuable they are, they'll be able to stand up for themselves!
