As OT Week 2025 has arrived (27 October – 2 November), I find myself reflecting on what this profession really means to me — not only as an occupational therapist but also as a stroke survivor of 20 years. This year’s theme, “Occupational Therapy in Action,” feels especially especially important. It captures the essence of what OT is all about — creativity, problem-solving, adaptation, compassion, and the power to reinvent lives with meaning and purpose.
Two decades ago, I experienced a life-changing event that redefined how I saw the world and myself. As a young person suddenly navigating life with disability, I came face-to-face with the reality that occupation, the everyday things that give life meaning can be so healing (both physically and emotionally).
In those early days of recovery, I was not just a patient; I was a person striving to rebuild my shattered identity, my existing roles, and previous passions. I struggled to do this and just wanted the ‘old em’ to return. But through meaningful occupation and integrating that into my life, I was able to reinvent myself. Meaning became my medicine, it still is to do this day.
Occupational therapy helped me rediscover my independence, confidence, and sense of self. It taught me that recovery isn’t just about regaining movement or skills; it’s about living purposefully Thanks to weaving meaning into my day, I can perform better in everything I do. What’s more I can sustain my ability to participate.
I’ve come to see my dual perspective, both as a recipient and provider of OT, is such a valuable perspective which I hope can only strengthen the profession. It reminds me daily that this profession is not just something I do, but something I live.
OT has given me a foundation for understanding the importance of meaning, Meaning in work, in relationships, in self-expression, and in my community. It has taught me that every person has value, no matter their circumstances, and that our role as OTs is to help uncover and nurture that value through creative and compassionate action.
During OT Week 2025, as we celebrate the incredible diversity and impact of occupational therapy around the world, I want to say a massive thank you. Thank you to my colleagues who put “Occupational Therapy in Action” every single day, in hospitals, homes, schools, and communities. Thank you to the clients and families who let us walk alongside them on their journeys. And thank you to this amazing profession for giving me not only a career but a lifelong sense of purpose and gratitude.
Here’s to another year of doing what we do best, empowering people to live with meaning, participation, and hope.