Keeping up with the K-haos
“It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.’ – Jerry Seinfeld
Did I just age myself?
World news or news happening in the community can be found anywhere and everywhere. On the television, Google’s main page, through a friend. It is nearly impossible to avoid. Kind of like how it’s impossible to avoid second’s at Grandma’s house.
Personally, I dodge the News whenever I can (celebrity gossip is an exception). At the age of 30, I should probably be more aware of politics and events, but I enjoy the naïve, peaceful world I live in.
The real reason I turn a blind eye to the News is because the majority of it, if not all of it, is filled with heartbreak, tragedy and hatred. That does not sound like how I want to start, end or spend my day.
Especially during the past three years. I didn’t touch a News outlet from the recommended 6 feet away.
However, the reason the majority of “news-worthy” headlines are about cruelty, devastation and hardships is because they’re the exception. If journalists were to cover all of the kindness and beauty in the world, they would no longer be kind from the lack of sleep.
Reality shows rarely air lighthearted moments because that’s not different. People want to see the Kardashian sisters slap one another, not hug.
TMZ doesn’t write about the kindness of celebrities because that’s not different. People want to know what mean girl, Hailey Bieber did now, not that Selena forgave her.
CTV doesn’t report on good Samaritans because that’s not different. People are more drawn to “Karen” in a café, not “helpful Henry”.
I will say, on the rare occasion, News does involve some feel good stories and on the rare occasion, I dress myself accurately…
In En-Cant-Know Spanish, I didn’t communicate properly. Today, I interrupted myself while communicating.
I’ve said it before and I’ll loudly say it again – I love taking recreation therapy students! Selfishly, there are so many personal benefits: it challenges one’s own practice, expands skills and knowledge and (after the internship) develops new friendships. It also helps you check yourself and not always in terms of work ethic…
(Most) students admire the preceptor, observe their every move, absorb their every word and in my case, find me hilarious.
Therefore, sometimes students feel like little shadows. A Peter Pan shadow mind you, that can detach at times but rarely.
This adds to the pressure, but I’ve always told myself to try my best, be professional but also be myself. Now doesn’t that sound like a Sesame Street episode?
However, sometimes I feel I am a bit too honest with my students. Maybe I should take a page out of the Kardashian’s book and stretch, not my bum, but the truth every so often.
As previously mentioned, during my last stint of preceptorship, I managed two students at the same time. Every morning we would meet me in my office to go over the day’s plan (and it gave me sufficient time to finish my coffee).
I found this time nerve racking because I would be sitting behind my desk with them on the other side looking into my soul, taking in every mispronounced word I said.
In such a situation where I feel like I’m talking at someone, I often find myself playing with my jewelry. The can include either the necklace around my neck or the rings on my fingers. Is this an anxious behaviour or a way to show off my manicure? We’ll never know.
One morning while talking away, I touched my collarbone to retrieve my necklace and felt an unexpected piece of fabric. It didn’t take long for me to realize that instead of feeling my necklace, I was feeling the tag of my shirt.
Upon reflection, I should have nonchalantly tucked the tag back into my shirt and continued talking.
However, in true Rachelle fashion (get it? Fashion?), I abruptly stopped what I was saying and announced to the room, “it appears I put my shirt on backwards this morning like the organized person that I am.”
The students gasped, I’m sure pretending they hadn’t already noticed and my office erupted with laughter.
I completed my instructions and then went and freshened up.
My next student begins in May and I have a feeling her time with me will result in some other news-worthy blog posts.
