Musings: Drums, Vacations, and Whirling

The Sims 4, "dangerously tired."

Today's blog is based on an assignment for my Fieldwork Level II (Occupational Therapy) where we reflect on our experiences after a group therapy involving a drum session!

Do something you love to do.
Today, I popped into my streaming community and played The Sims 4.  Because my current Fieldwork rotation has its OT and OTAs exploring interoception, I was doing a bit of "content research" to explore how The Sims can indirectly foster a community conversation about interoception. Wait, how?

The history and principle behind The Sims fascinates me. Will Wright, creator of Sim City, originally played with the idea of developing a house-building simulator before realizing that the product wouldn't be successful enough.  Upon researching architectural design books such as Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language, Wright began designing his game based on Alexander's theory that, "the value of architecture could be measured by the happiness of the people who live in it."  Wright continued to refine his ideas of architectural needs and wants for a simulated person.

Jot down what you experience at a sensory level.
It was a multi-factorial experience which engaged my visio-perceptual awareness of the key lights, monitors, nearby objects, and any environmental distractions; tactile response to the chair, keyboard, desk, and mouse; proprioceptive and vestibular input from my seating and body placement (requiring frequent stretch/movement breaks); auditory perception as I adjust audio levels for the stream stream (input for game audio and my microphone; output for game audio, my voice, and an alert system to let me know what people are following or donating $$); and I loved the taste of those frequent water sip. Mmmm! My eighth sense (interoception) alerted me that I was thirsty, needed bathroom breaks, felt stiff from sitting, and that it was time to quit for lunch.

Do something you'd like to try.
I will sleep in without self-criticism for going beyond the 7-9 “sacred” rule.

Jot down what you imagine the sensory experience would be like.
I hypothesize that freely sleeping will either alleviate daytime fatigue or throw off my sleep schedule.

What is the #1 place you want to go on vacation?  Who would you go with?  What would it be like?
I’d like to seek solitude at an ashram (spiritual hermitage) in India to recalibrate myself.

What's your favorite vacation experience?

Okuma Beach, Okinawa

Did you ever go to summer camp?  If yes, what was it like?  If not, what did you do during the summer?
Nope! I was a kid who just wanted to play under the hot, sub-tropical sun. There were plenty of events always taking place. Plus.... Okuma Beach!  Salt air scent, a breeze from the China Sea, sandy textures all about, and damn were there some excellent ice cream shops and restaurants on the island.

Wrap-up about a Group Drumming Session.
I spoke in brief in class about whirling dervishes or Sufi whirling, a spiritually-purposed form of active meditation which may be accompanied by music and chanting. Much of this occurs throughout many regions of the world (Egypt, Turkey, India, etc.). The video I wish to share is a modernized qawwali (Sufi Islamic devotional singing most popularized parts of Pakistan and India), something I often listen to when I'm seeking higher refuge from my internalized struggles: