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ePaper created 2014-12-04, 01:15:59 | version 1.33.01
40 Field Trips During one of my hospital stays, we were offered a deal. If we progressed well for the next few days, and exhibited excellent behavior, we would be able to participate in a field trip. You are probably laughing at this, but it's true! One of the incentives that hospitals offer is field trips. They can be with family chaperones or with attending counselors. They can be for a few hours, or possibly even overnight. The one that I was a part of was a trip to an ice skating rink. The funny part about my experience was that practically no one had the ability to ice skate. Sure, a few of us gave it a shot, but mostly it was an excuse to eat hot dogs and play video games. Granted, the goal of the trip was to get us some fresh air, some away time from the inside of the institution. But if you ask me, I would have appreciated a movie or a trip to the mall a whole lot more. Now, don't expect these. I've been to the hospital five times, and I've only been offered this once. So, don't get angry if you never get this opportunity. The best thing to do is be on your best behavior, and if one of these chances rolls around then you can be included. During one of my hospitalizations, a fellow patient was given a personal field trip. His father-in-law was being honored for an achievement of some sort, and the powers-that-be allowed his wife to pick him up, take him to the event, and then bring him back the next morning. I'm sure those of you who are inexperienced with the inner workings of a mental institution are questioning this practice, but let me assure you, these privileges are only given to patients who are very close to being released anyway. The patients who are still knocking around in the Quiet Room do not get these opportunities. So, once again, notice how good behavior produces the reward. As I've already mentioned a few times: the better you behave, the sooner you'll get out. Life is all about producing the correct result at the correct time, and your stay in the hospital is no exception.