After college I joined the Tandy Crafts Corporation. At first, I managed a furniture store in a mall. After a year, I was promoted to area manager and was “in charge” of several stores through the South East. Being an area manager was fun. I got to travel party and live by mall hours. BUT I was not happy. There was that inner voice that said “this is not you.” I argued with myself for about three years and then one Sunday morning I was reading the want ads in the Birmingham newspaper.
Activities Director Position
Responsible for planning and organizing individual and group activities to meet the needs of nursing home residents.
I was intrigued and so I picked up the phone and called the nursing home. I talked to one of the nurses who told me that the position was lame. All the activity director did all day was play with the residents.
Um….
I called back and set up an interview. I went into the administrator’s office and without any experience or knowledge of activities SOLD myself to her for the position. I began educating myself in the area of recreation therapy. I took classes, I read books, I listened to audio cassettes, I talked to people….and in the end I found that the job was not “lame” at all but rather a gift. Healing Play creates WELLNESS.
When we take time to play we reduce stress, increase our joy hormones, increase immunity, reduce pain (both mental and physical), increase stamina, delay Alzheimer’s, increase self-esteem and connect with others. The gifts of play are undeniable.
To learn more about healing play please visit my web site at http://www.kimbalivesay.com/
