Happiness is the path
There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path (Budha)
I am always happy when there is happiness in Rory’s week. He worked on projects with the other blokes during two sessions at New Plymouth Men’s Shed guided by Phill and Peter. On Monday he had a swim at the beach with Support Carer Caleb, who also happens to be a lifeguard. When Rory takes off the external components of his cochlear implants he is deaf. Caleb said it was weird talking to Rory while they were swimming. He repeated himself and spoke louder but then remembered Rory couldn’t hear. It is a strange sensation. We forget at home as well, often in the early morning when Rory gets out of bed and when he goes for a shower. On Tuesday Rory had a 30 minute massage using his voucher from Secret Santa. He found it very relaxing. The benefits of massage to people with disabilities include; stress relief, mitigation of pain, improved range of motion and improved self-image. Compassionate touch helps relieve isolation and loneliness, and can improve quality of life. Massage may also reduce the effects of depression and brighten a person’s experience. I had a chat to Rory afterwards about how it didn’t have to be a one off experience. He can go regularly if it makes him feel good. Today he hung out with Support Carer Jo. They visited the Sunflower Meadow Taranaki where 60,000 sunflowers are blooming over 1ha. You can walk amongst them and pick some to take away. After a delicious lunch at Tawa Glen cafe Rory caught up with Oliver and Brodie, two of his friends from Te Awhinatia. It made him happy to hang out with them again. Jo and Rory cooked up a storm so Sean, Colt and I have come home to Shepherd’s pie and Lolly cake. It is much appreciated after our 19km walk along the Moki track in North Eastern Taranaki. Colt was the Dragonfly whisperer today. He found a Bush giant dragonfly Kapokapowai, and a Blue damselfly Kekewai landed on the tip of his finger when he stopped to admire it. Colt said it gave him a ‘high five’.