I am interested in the occupational therapist
who is willing to be seen
before they feel ready.
The one who shares the idea
while it’s still forming.
While it’s still fragile.
I am interested in the therapist
who submits the abstract
and receives the rejection –
and does not let that be the end of
the story.
The one who risks being
misunderstood,
misquoted,
misread –
and still chooses to show up.
I am interested in the occupational therapist
who will stand in rooms of authority
and hold the line
when dignity is on the table.
Who will not trade a person’s humanity
for compliance.
I am interested in the therapist
who starts the podcast
while their voice still trembles.
Who builds the business
before the clients come.
Who shares the draft
before it’s polished,
before it’s peer reviewed,
before it’s “perfect”.
I am interested in the therapist
who enters a new practice area
and feels the tremor of uncertainty –
wondering if they know enough –
and still walks through the door.
Who walks into their first team meeting
heart beating a little faster,
rehearsing what they’re about to say,
questioning whether it will sound intelligent –
and presents anyway.
I am interested in the occupational therapist
who says, “I don’t know,”
when everyone else is posturing
certainty.
Who is willing to learn out loud.
Who asks the question
they worry will sound obvious –
and lets curiosity
be louder than pride.
I am interested in the occupational therapist
who hovers over “post”
and feels their stomach tighten.
Who records their first reel
and hears every flaw in their voice.
Who rewrites the caption twenty times,
wondering who it might offend,
how it will be interpreted,
how it will be received –
and still presses post
knowing it may not land perfectly.
I am interested in the occupational therapist
who shares their ideas and
reflections before they are fully formed.
Who launches the course
even when no one signs up on day
one, day two, or day thirty.
Who builds the offering
before the audience arrives.
I am interested in the therapist
who is the least experienced person in the room
and chooses to contribute anyway.
Who asks the question.
Who offers the perspective.
Who risks being wrong.
Because showing up before
certainty arrives is part of
becoming.
I am interested in the therapist
who thinks,
Who am I to start a podcast?
Who am I to write a book?
Who am I to create new ideas and
challenge the status quo?
And refuses to let that question
become their ceiling.
Because they know
the world does not need polished certainty.
They know nothing changes
until someone is willing to go first.
It needs people willing to try.
Willing to risk being wrong.
Willing to speak before they are fluent.
Willing to build before they are
established.
So, my dear occupational therapist,
Let it be imperfect.
Let it be misunderstood.
Let it be the beginning.
The work improves in public.
Not in your drafts folder.
And maybe –
you never become ready.
You become brave.
