A while back there was a flurry of articles on NEAT, non-exercise activity thermogenesis. This was the exciting news that any physical activity burns calories, even if it's not part of an exercise program. It's almost like our cells don't understand the categorical difference between building a deck and doing a fitness class. This is the sort of silly seeming findings that make many of us turn off the TV.
Sometimes we need that reminder, though. Lots of things in life don't have a single way to meet a need. Just like we don't need to join a gym in order to be physically active, we don't need to participate in formal therapeutic programs to take care of our mental health.
My dad is the founder of a museum at a local historic site. As a grassroots project, it's a volunteer led organization. They fundraise to buy supplies to build exhibits, restore and maintain buildings, and keep the utilities on. Any work that can possibly be done by volunteers is done by volunteers. When you have enough volunteers, you’re bound to have people with a lot of different skills and areas of expertise.
I joke with my dad that he should apply for funding as a day program for seniors and the neurodiverse. The people who put their heart into the project would probably never agree to go to a day program. There are a lot of gruff vets and quirky engineers — people who would never go to a support group. The therapy speak that's become part of my friends' conversations is still foreign here.
They may not be open to trying meditation, signing up for yoga, or participating in peer support. The thing is, they don't need to. The work they do as volunteers meets the same ultimate goals.
Volunteers naturally clump together based on shared interests and experiences. They know that the people they're working beside get where they're coming from, no explanation needed. They're out mowing laws, restoring military vehicles, recording oral histories, putting together events, and organizing the collections. Some of the work is meditative. Some of the work is a big problem solving puzzle. There are solitary projects and big team efforts. It keeps them busy, but it’s not busywork. They're preserving history and sharing it with museum visitors.
No one is billing insurance for participation in these programs. They don't count as therapeutic. It's still life changing. People's social circles expand. They learn new skills and push outside their comfort zone to help accomplish big goals. They light up as they rediscover their passion and talents, then share them with others.
We thrive when we have a warm community and meaningful projects. Therapy, fitness programs, classes, and peer support programs are all great. Just don't forget that what matters is the ultimate goal of having a meaningful life. There are lots of ways to get there.
Maybe this is non-therapeutic therapeutic activity (NTTA)? Or, just living life.
