Journey

Sean and I have never had to think about what our life’s purpose is.  It is inherent within us.  We are both dedicated to protecting and restoring the native flora and fauna of Aotearoa New Zealand.  We feel in place out in the wild.  Coupled with our passion for the environment is dedication to our family.  Last week we attended the Good Life Series Taranaki with Rory.  We reviewed the assumptions ‘normal’ people make about people with impairments.  The next step was to start exploring Rory’s role in the community and the purpose of his life.  I know Rory better than anyone and I struggled to articulate what his life’s purpose is, the reasons he get up in the morning.  Purpose can guide life decisions, offer a sense of direction and create meaning. For some people, purpose is connected to work, for others their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends. Purpose is unique for everyone and can change throughout life in response to priorities and fluctuations of your own experiences.  Questions that come up when you reflect upon your life purpose are: Who am I?  Where do I belong?  When do I feel fulfilled?  Sean created a poster expressing Rory’s initial thoughts and feelings about his purpose. 

One of the places Rory belongs is the NP Mens Shed.  He enjoys working with his hands, building, repairing and restoring items made of timber.  He also thrives in the company of the men who attend.  At the Good Life workshop Rory enjoyed catching up with his friend Oliver from Inglewood High School.  They talked continuously and it brought home how close friendship is missing from Rory’s life.  I made a mental note to explore how we support connection to occur more often.  One Sunday Rory hung out with Jo.  They walked in Pukekura Park, did some cooking, and took the opportunity to catch up with Oliver again.  Sean, Colt and I slipped away for a tramp in North Taranaki.  I was blown away by the beautiful mossy hillocks in the forest topped with old hard beech trees. 

Rory currently has a cold.  We are giving him extra hydrocortisone to help his body fight the virus and give him energy.  As usual we are keeping a close eye on him in case anything serious develops.