Storytelling

“Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution—more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.” Lisa Cron

I love reading or listening to stories and sharing my own stories. As an occupational therapist as well as an educator, I use narratives in my therapeutic process with clients and students. “A narrative is a collection of events, experiences, and perceptions that are put together into a meaningful whole and understood/told as a story. People conduct and make meaning out of life by locating themselves in unfolding narratives that integrate the past, present, and future” [1, p. 119]. As Boris [2] shared in her paper, What Makes Storytelling So Effective For Learning? “Telling stories is one of the most powerful means that leaders have to influence, teach, and inspire. What makes storytelling so effective for learning? For starters, storytelling forges connections among people, and between people and ideas. Stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people. When it comes to our countries, our communities, and our families, we understand intuitively that the stories we hold in common are an important part of the ties that bind”.

This issue of WORK contains 36 papers; five are COVID-19 related. I am delighted to introduce a new narrative column, Return-to-Work Corner authored by Phil Rumrill. This first column is about RETAIN Kentucky: A return-to-work and stay-at-work program for people with disabilities grounded in the conservation of resources theory. Some other topics in this issue include becoming peer educators in workplace mental health; examining the quality of work-life of paramedics; investigating the relationship between working conditions and career barriers; classroom furniture ergonomics; and job satisfaction.

Please stay up to date with our Learn at WORK webinars, blogs and news by going to our website at workjournal.org and following us on social media such as Twitter: https://twitter.com/WORK_Journal and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WORKJournal2016.

On May 4, 2022 at 1-2pm EST, Dr. Andy Cheng will present his article, Work productivity loss in breast cancer survivors and its effect on quality of life. Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6197342733590764300

On June 15, 2022 at 1-2pm EST, Dr. Thomas Tenkate will present his article, Setting priorities: Testing a tool to assess and prioritize workplace chemical hazard. Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1936437208271158795

On July 27, 2022 at 1-2pm EST, Dr. Khader Almhdawi will present his article, Mental and physical health-related quality of life and their associated factors among students of a comprehensive allied health institution. Register at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4954045770999434512

With gratitude,

Founding Editor, WORK

Occupational therapist & ergonomist