In February, our action word is Organize.
After removing what’s in our way, it’s wonderful to organize what we have. With an organized home, day and mind, we can move more gracefully within our moments. For me, I’m going to organize:
1. My goals, so I know which to pursue first.
2. My paperwork, so I’m ready to file my taxes this month.
With organization, you have what you need, which means...
In January, our action word for our Caregiving Happiness Project is Remove.
With the holidays behind us, let’s look at what’s in our way (in our house, in our relationships, in our life) and then remove it (or them). For me, I’m going to remove:
1. My worries.
2. My doubts.
Removing what gets in your way means you can see new possibilities, find new solutions, move to a healthier day.
Please share...
In December, our action word for our Caregiving Happiness Project is Create.
With holidays and a New Year ahead of us, let’s create new traditions and rituals. I’m going to create:
1. A way to celebrate every day;
2. A ritual that reminds me of my priorities and values.
Please share your action plan for December in our comments section, below.
(Would you like to join our Happiness Project, now in its...
In October, our action word is Understand.
When you walk down the path of forgiveness, you gain an understanding. You understand another–their perspective, their baggage, their reasons. More importantly, you understand yourself. We started the process of forgiveness during September to be ready for the holidays. The understanding you gain will also help you during the holidays.
For me, I’m going to...
Me: Mom it’s Dad’s birthday today, he’s 90 years old.
Mom: He’d too old to go anywhere, he better just stay here.
Me: Mom it’s Dad’s birthday today, he’s 90 years old.
Mom: After today we’ll have another Birthday for him next week.
Me: I think turning 90 once is good enough. You’re going to wear Dad out.
Me: Mom it’s Dad’s birthday today, he’s...
In September, our action word is Forgive.
Forgiving is about releasing yourself from past pain and walking into your today with compassion and peace. I think September is a great month to work on forgiveness so that you can enter the holiday months with acceptance and calm. Forgiveness will help you enjoy the holidays.
For me, I’m going to forgive:
1. My older sister. Forgiving my older sister is an ongoing...
In August, our action word is Connect. Isn’t this a great word! Connecting can be about forming relationships. It also can be about connecting the meaning. This month, we can commit to do a bit of both.
For me, I’m going to connect:
1. How thoughts about my challenges make my challenges harder.
2. With other small business owners so I have access to help and resources.
3. My day’s choices with how...
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...
I read this a couple of months ago at Caring.com and jotted it down. I find myself frequently coming back to it and after doing so again tonight, thought I share how I’ve applied it. (link below)
8 Maxims of Strength and Comfort for Alzheimer’s Caregivers by Duke University social worker Lisa Gwyther.
Focus on what’s left, not what’s lost.
– My parents are still here. When they...
We’re entering out twelve month of our Caregiving Happiness Project. In June, which closes out our first year of our project, our action word is Say.
For me, I’m going to say:
1. What I want.
2. How I feel when I’m feeling good.
3. My gratitudes every day.
I look forward to hearing what you’ll resolve in June; please share in our comments section, below.
Would you like to be a part of our...
That’s basically what I answered my son last night when he ask me if he could drive home. His qualification to drive… he’s a graduate of Driver’s Ed. YEAH! Now I’ve put him behind the wheel in parking lots and such and Driver’s Ed did give him several days of road time but last night it was dark, we were in a hurry and I told him I’m was in my state of denial where there are no teenagers...
It’s May 1, which means we’re starting the eleventh month of our Happiness Project.
In May, we’re resolving. For me, I’m going to resolve:
A question I regularly ask myself: Should I email him? (And, that’s all I say.)
A worry about my future. I have a plan, I have resources. I just want to resolve the worry.
The tiny details I think about too much. I have a few small decisions to...
This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined me to talk about how the wrong turns in life often lead to the right life. You can listen to our show via the player below.
I’ve been thinking about life’s wrong turns. I’ve noticed that when I take a wrong turn in the car I often find a short cut. What if, I’ve thought, a wrong turn leads to the right life?
Anna and I discussed...
Verb \ ˈri-mem-bər \ “to put back together that which is broken”
I read recently the poignant reminder that unbeknownst to many, they are on the verge of a very different life, a life turned upside down. They are doing for the last time, what they think they will be doing twenty years from now. As a widower, solo-parent and caregiver to both parents, while also working fulltime that is a line I crossed...
I can’t believe we’re heading into our tenth month of our Caregiving Happiness Project. Wow!
In April, we’re flipping March on its head. We learned in March so, in April, we’re teaching.
For me, I’m going to teach what I learned in March.
How about you? What will you teach in April? I look forward to hearing about your goals.
Would you like to be a part of our Happiness Project? We’d...
Today, on Your Caregiving Journey, Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo, our happiness expert, joined us to share her slant on forgiveness. You can listen to our show via the player below.
We spoke about two words which can keep us from moving into forgiveness: “If only…” If only he would…. If only she said… “If only” can be a huge obstacle to acceptance, which leads to forgiveness. When...
Posted by
Trish on Mar 21st, 2011 in
Trish's Blog |
8 comments
It has been seven weeks since Robert left his Old Home which filled his days with movies, music, reading circle and bingo (and filled his fridge with Milky Way candy bars with every bingo win!).
Nothing was going to prevent me from getting Robert to Day Program today. Not a visit to the ER, not a bandage still wrapped around his head, not the van transport not being set up.
I arrived early to Robert’s New Home to...
This morning on Your Caregiving Journey, Ellen Rogin, our wealthness expert, joined us for a discussion on how generosity is good for our health. Generosity, the ability to give and receive, adds years to our life. According to Dr. Stephen Post, “Giving protects overall health twice as much as aspirin protects against heart disease.”
Ellen challenged us to look at adding a small act of generosity in our day....
Posted by
Jo on Mar 1st, 2011 in
Blogs,
Jo's Blog |
3 comments
“Ten Glorious Seconds” is a short film about living with Alzheimers and those deminishing moments of clarity which occur.
Received this in my inbox and after viewing I really wanted to share here with others who could connect and understand. Many of us who deal with a loved one (or loved ones) with dementia have experienced those special moments of clarity and we so treasure...
We’re heading into our ninth month of our Happiness Project! So, here we go for March. Our goal is to learn. What you learn can be a part of caregiving–or not. Learn a new caregiving coping strategy. Learn about your new neighbor. Learn about a new topic or subject. Just learn.
For me, I’m going to learn:
More about website technology so I make good decisions about my websites;
Something new...
This morning, on Your Caregiving Journey, Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo joined me to help this question: Why do we have to work at happiness? Why isn’t it a given? You can listen to our show via the player below. (We had technical problems which abruptly ended the show. I didn’t get a chance to thank you for listening. So, thank you for listening.)
Our happiness is a combination of genetics (60%) and our...
We’re starting our eighth month of our Caregiving Happiness Project. For February, our action word is Plan. Without a plan, life can seem like a mess. A plan-less caregiving experience can seem like a nightmare.
So, this month, you can make plans for life, for caregiving or for the summer. This month is about creating a plan for what’s screaming for organization. With a plan, you create a foundation, a road...
