Meditations and Comforts

This morning, I mentioned to Jane that I have a meditation that may be helpful. The meditation, which takes you to your personal paradise, helps you relax and regain your footing. I thought you might all enjoy the meditation; you’ll find the recording, below. The meditation is the third recording. You can listen here or download to your mp3 player to listen at your convenience. I also recorded two more Weekly...

Easy

We may spend some of our day looking around at others and think, “Their lives seem so easy. I wish I were them.” What looks easy to you, though, may be the cover of a life that’s tough for them. Easy is in the eye of the beholder. So, rather than judging another’s life of ease, focus on wishing everyone a life of blessings. And, know you have blessings, too, even in the unease of your life....

Tell Us: When Does Caregiving Steal Your Spirit?

Over the weekend, one of our Facebook fans shared what’s on her heart: “Does anyone feel like there spirit has been broken being a caregiver?,” she wrote. “I am doing what I need to do but I feel like my spirit is broken.” Caregiving can get the best of you in a day, when a phone call brings more bad news or a dementia behavior demands one more ounce of patience than you have. But,...

Surreal Cocoa School

Two weeks from today my school year will officially begin. Two weeks ago tomorrow Paul finished his second round of radiation. Today I have no idea who I am or what I’m doing in pretty much any regard. First, I’d like to thank everyone for the prayers and good wishes; this morning we actually moved some glass block into the bathroom and set up enough rows to be able to measure the total shower wall...

Song

When we’re children, we sing all the time. We sing songs to learn, to express ourselves, to connect with others. And, then somehow, as adults, we seem to stop our songs. Sometimes we stop singing out of embarrassment that others may hear our imperfect key. Other times we stop singing because we decide the song can do without our voice. Many times we stop singing because we decide a tough time is no time for...

Managing Financial Angst

The markets go up and down and so does your stomach. You worry about your investments, your caree’s and then you worry about what makes sense for your investments. How do you manage your financial angst during turbulent times? This morning, on Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, joined me to share suggestions on managing financial angst during turbulent times. You can listen to our show via the player at...

Tell Us: What Do You Take Too Seriously?

Heather begins her day the same way: Up at 5:30 a.m., shower, four bites of a granola bar, hair in a headband. Then, she dons the gloves, carefully and steadfastly placing each finger into the latex glove. She’s ready for the part of the day she dreads. She wakes her mom and begins the morning care. Her mom has intensive and extensive care needs, so morning care can take as long as 60 minutes. She guides...

Today’s Poll: What Do You Need Today?

I think sometimes caregiving can feel like a day-to-day experience. Some days, you’re doing okay. Some days, you’re at the end of your rope. I’d love to know how you’re doing today and, more important, what do you need? Please vote in our poll and share in our comments section, below. Take Our Poll

The Nine Miracle Steps

This morning as part of Table Talk on Your Caregiving Journey, I shared the nine steps which I believe lead to more miracles in our lives. (You can listen to the show via the player at the bottom of the post.) In developing the list, I thought about a time in my life when miracles seemed elusive and then a time when they seemed to multiple. I wondered, What’s the difference between the two times? Well, me, of...

When Was Your Last Miracle?

I recently wrote about my neighbors who made a lot of noise. Emily moved into the apartment above me on August 1, 2010. Her boyfriend, Mr. Loud, moved in soon after. Then, the (buzz) sawing started. He was building a platform they could use for their bed frame. Then, the pounding started. He was making a frame that could become their couch. Then, the hand sawing started; the couch needed end tables. Then, the tools...

Facing Reality After a Break

Wow, did I get behind!! I meant to post a recap of Saturday’s talk show on Sunday. Well, just for a few moments we’ll consider today to be Sunday. So, yesterday (wink), Holly, who cares for her husband, joined me for our monthly chat as part of Table Talk on Your Caregiving Journey. Last month, Holly and I talked about taking a break and really taking a break, without packing along worry. As we ended...

15 Wishes

Fifteen years ago today, I sat in the corner of my bedroom in my parents’ house and bought the domain name, Caregiving.com. (You can read more about the story of Caregiving.com here .) In honor of Caregiving.com’s 15th anniversary, I’m sending you 15 wishes: 1. I wish you love in your heart for your life, even when it seems this life can’t possibly be yours. 2. I wish you forgiveness in...

Webinar Follow-Up: What’s Your New Answer?

In yesterday’s webinar, I shared a three-step process you can use to develop answers to those awful questions family members and friends may ask. Questions like, “Why don’t you put your caree in a nursing home?” and “Are you sure something’s wrong” and “Why don’t you get help?” If you missed yesterday’s webinar, you can listen to the recording here....

Talking About Your Caregiving Depression

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Ann Stookey joined me to continue our conversation about the depression you may feel during your caregiving experience. You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. When you experience depression, you may think you can hide how you feel. When you share so much space and time with someone, like your caree, your depression will be hard to hide. So, how...

When Was Your Last Day Off?

In the summer, we all think of vacation, a break, a day off. I wonder, though: How often can you take a day off? Please vote in our poll, below, and share any additional thoughts in our comments section. Take Our Poll Resources We’re taking submissions for our Caregiving Art Show and our Help book! Be sure to share your art and your story with the world. Our 2011 Family Caregiver Survey report offers a snapshot...

Noise

I have neighbors who live above me who make an incredible amount of noise. They make so much noise that all I hear is noise. What’s the noise you hear in your life? Your noise may be what you hear between your ears (“This is too hard”) or what others put between your ears (“You look like this is too much for you”). It’s that kind of noise that seems to demand constant quieting....

Healing Your Pain

This afternoon on Your Caregiving Journey, Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, our happiness expert, joined me to discuss how our emotional pain (like stress) can manifest into our physical pain (like migraines). You can listen to our show via the player at the bottom of the post. Elizabeth shared ideas on help to manage the stress so that you can heal your physical pain. She spoke of a client who developed a headache at 5...

In Six Words, What’s Your Simple Caregiving Tip?

Caregiving is so complicated that it calls for simple suggestions. So, in this six-word competition, I’d love to know: In six words, what’s your best caregiving tip? (A special shout-out to SMITH magazine for inspiring our six-word stories.) Perhaps your tip is: Get help sooner rather than later. Or: To stay sane, let it go. Or: Laugh whenever you can. Share your six-word simple caregiving tip in our...

Face

Oooooooh, you may think. How am I going to face this? It may be another diagnosis, yet another new home health aide, a different treatment regime, a visit from family, a decision about end-of-life care. Or, it could simply be another day. When it seems that what you face is too big for you, call in the support. Tell a trusted friend that you feel like it’s getting to be too much. Take a walk. Share your worry...

A Life Line: By Then, I’ll Be Too Old

In caregiving, time can seem to pass too slowly. Until you think about time as it relates to your life. And, then you may worry: “I’ve lost my life in caregiving; I’ll be too old to achieve what I want.” In this Life Line, I offer a perspective on “too old.”   Updates Our Caregiving Summer School, Session II, starts next week! Our classes will help you understand where...

Communicating What’s So Hard to Communicate

This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined me to continue our conversation about depression. We spoke about how our inability to communicate how we feel can contribute to our feelings of depression. (You can listen to our show via the player below.) Anna and I spoke about how we may have learned, growing up, to remain silent about our feelings. We also may have learned to stifle how we feel. Our...

Table Talk: Kristin

Kristin, who cares for a family friend (Mary) and was our very first CareGifters recipient, joined me this morning for Table Talk on Your Caregiving Journey. You can listen to our show via the player, below. You’ll love listening to Kristin, who shares how she became Mary’s family caregiver. Mary, most likely the victim of a traumatic childhood, had abused her children; as adults, her children could not...