What's easy for you?
Posted on May 14th, 2008
by 
tinkonthebrink
tinkonthebrink
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for May 14, 2008:
I really just wanted to second Bridget's answer, but then I thought about it for awhile while I made tea and then a green smoothie which was delicious, by the way, and I think ease defines a big part of who I am. Not that I don't try hard or work hard or tackle difficult things, but in a weird way that comes easily to me too. I enjoy puzzles and challenges and when I don't enjoy them I don't usually bother with them. I learn things easily, I remember easily (and I have this theory that a whole lot of what passes for intelligence is having a good memory), and I'm very curious, so it's easy for me to take on new things. I have had an unbelievable number of very different jobs, all demanding in different ways, most with a steep learning curve, and I wouldn't have bothered if it wasn't easy for me to do that. It wouldn't seem like it to most people looking in at my life, but I do tend to take the path of least resistance - for me.
I work with people with develpmental disabilities and nothing comes easily for them. Once something is figured out it is very very difficult to get that idea changed, even if it doesn't really work - it was too hard-won to be let go. What seems like stubbornness is really just self-preservation and most of my job has been reassuring and encouraging and coaxing and sometimes tricking people into trying out new behaviors and ideas. But one little girl I work with is very bright and has autism. Some things come very easily to her, and like me, she tends to take the path of least resistance. The things that don't come easily she doesn't let in. She is much harder to coax and trick and she is lots of fun. She is the interesting puzzle in my current job. Since I've been off work and other people have been filling in with her, they have found her difficult to work with but she comes easily to me...although she has occassionally hit me and for whole days will be more or less uncooperative, it's all part of the bigger puzzle which I enjoy a lot, and I adore her, so what seems like me working very hard is really just me doing what's easy and fun for me to do.
Sometimes I wonder if obstacles appear because I'm supposed to fight past them to learn some lesson, but then I usually go, nah, I'm not having enough fun, and I think I learn the most when I'm having fun and playing and when it's easy. I'm not a fan of suffering. Well, unless it's easy.
I work with people with develpmental disabilities and nothing comes easily for them. Once something is figured out it is very very difficult to get that idea changed, even if it doesn't really work - it was too hard-won to be let go. What seems like stubbornness is really just self-preservation and most of my job has been reassuring and encouraging and coaxing and sometimes tricking people into trying out new behaviors and ideas. But one little girl I work with is very bright and has autism. Some things come very easily to her, and like me, she tends to take the path of least resistance. The things that don't come easily she doesn't let in. She is much harder to coax and trick and she is lots of fun. She is the interesting puzzle in my current job. Since I've been off work and other people have been filling in with her, they have found her difficult to work with but she comes easily to me...although she has occassionally hit me and for whole days will be more or less uncooperative, it's all part of the bigger puzzle which I enjoy a lot, and I adore her, so what seems like me working very hard is really just me doing what's easy and fun for me to do.
Sometimes I wonder if obstacles appear because I'm supposed to fight past them to learn some lesson, but then I usually go, nah, I'm not having enough fun, and I think I learn the most when I'm having fun and playing and when it's easy. I'm not a fan of suffering. Well, unless it's easy.
Access: Public
ease
September 2008 
I think that when you know where people are you can start from there and then moving them on an increment becomes quite easy to do and especially frictionless if you are fuelled by a sense of interest and enjoyment as opposed to mere professionalism.
The first play theorist, Karl Groos, said that “Play is a preparation for life”. Seen in this way, it would be hard to differentiate between work and play.
My life is my occupation, too. Warmly, Jon x
I have to say that discovery makes things easier for me. I have been on the board of directors for Autisitic Services here in Buffalo for about 18 years. This morning I sat and listened to the goings on of the Special Review Committee. In that meeting all the discussions are directed on the incidents that occur daily in the lives of the individuals and caretakers in this special world of disabilty. I left less disabled myself. The meeting shed some light on many topics that I was never aware of.