Nice to meet you. I am T ot_life.

To you who are reading this note.
Thank you to those who have been reading since my first article, and to those who have come here for the first time today.
Having written a few articles, you might be starting to wonder, "Who is this person?"
Today, please let me talk a little bit about myself.

The reason I chose the job of an OT

From the beginning, I had a desire to be involved in the world of medicine and welfare.
"I want to be involved in people's lives," "I want to support their individuality."
Those thoughts overlapped with the profession of an occupational therapist.
Looking back now, I feel that those "vague thoughts" were actually very close to the essence of the OT profession.

The path I have walked

As an OT, I started at a hospital in the physical disability and geriatric fields, and currently, I work in the community field—in home-visit rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation settings.
From the hospital to the community.
Through that transition, I have gradually come to understand more deeply the meaning of "being involved in a place of living."

In the hospital, I often see the process of "recovery" up close, and in the community, I often experience the "closing of a life" up close.
From the patients and families I have met in various fields, I have received more than just techniques and knowledge.

Clinical practice continues to give me the question, "What does it mean for a person to live?"

And, as I walked my own path as an OT, there were times when I had no choice but to stop.

That experience has made me who I am today.
And because I have that experience, I feel I cannot write about this field as if it were someone else's business.

Myself as a researcher

Since I was a student, I have liked thinking about "why."
While continuing clinical practice, a question arose.
"How do the hearts and professional pride of those working as OTs relate?" "Shouldn't we first protect the health and well-being of OTs so that they, who support people's lives and living, can have confidence and continue to support others?"

As if chasing that question, I am now enrolled in a doctoral program and continuing my research.

"I want to support those who support people's lives and society."
That is the reason I continue my research.

Looking ahead

I want to grow even more as an OT.
I want to step into a new field called occupational health.
As a researcher, I also want to continue to express myself in my own words.
That's greedy, isn't it?

But all of that connects to the single thought of "wanting to support those who support people."

My "life"

The "life" in T ot_life includes many things.

My family.
I have been saved many times by my children's smiles.
My wife strongly supported me during my difficult times.
I also want to support my family with all my might.

Mountaineering and nature.
When I just walk in the mountains, my mind becomes quiet.
Placing myself in nature is the ultimate reset for me.

And, myself as a researcher, myself as an OT, and myself as a member of my family—
All of it together is "me."
The "life" in T ot_life is "me myself."

The thoughts put into this note

When I think alone, I sometimes hit a wall.

"Is this okay for an OT?"
"Isn't there more I can do?"
"Can't the possibilities of this job expand even further?"

I would be happy if I could think about such things together with you, regardless of whether you know about OTs or not.
The possibilities for OTs are still expanding.

I would be happy if I could meet even one more colleague through this article.
I hope that you, who are reading this, are that person.


I will continue to write about what I feel as an OT
in a relaxed way.

From the next time onwards, I plan to write about a deeper part of myself—
"my core part."

Please come back and read it if you'd like.