Finding a Spontaneous Moment

Earlier this week I was helping with the layout and adding photos into a PowerPoint presentation to be used for basic staff education about what Luana is and the Ten Eden Principles. I was having a difficult time finding photos that helped illustrate Principles Four, Five and Six, which state:

• Principle 4: A Resident-centered community creates opportunity to give as well as receive care. This is the antidote to helplessness.
• Principle 5: A Resident-centered community imbues daily life with variety and spontaneity by creating an environment in which unexpected and unpredictable interactions and happenings can take place. This is the antidote to boredom.
• Principle 6: Meaningless activity corrodes the human spirit. The opportunity to do things that we find meaningful is essential to human health.

I found that as one of the primary picture takers for Hale Makua Health Services, I really haven’t taken any photos of spontaneous moments. The photos I take are mostly of planned activities and events. In order to capture more of these spontaneous moments in photos, I would need to be constantly patrolling the neighborhoods with a camera in hand, something my other job responsibilities don’t really allow.

However, today I witnessed one of these unexpected interactions where one resident had the opportunity to give care. It actually happened to me as I was carrying a box with 70+ canvas tote bags to a craft fair in our Aloha Café. A resident seeing me struggling under the weight of the box, offered to help me by carrying the box on his lap while I wheeled him to my destination. This resident didn’t need to help me, he could have just watched me pass by, but it truly felt wonderful that someone who uses a wheelchair took the time out of his day to make my life a little easier.