Dec 28, 2023
From: A Minute for Caregivers - When Every Day Feels Like Monday
“Happy New Year” can often feel perfunctory and even meaningless
in the caregiving world. Most of us know that January 1, 2, 3,
etc., usually brings the same challenges as the previous week and
year(s).
Yet, although our responsibilities may not change, we can.
While many fall into the trap of ambitious but unrealistic New
Year’s Resolutions (I usually give mine up for Lent), caregivers
can instead determine to live rather than just survive.
Living, however, requires risks. Life is perilous—despite our
culture obstinately working to mitigate all risks (thank the
lawyers for that). Isolating to avoid disease, injury, rejection,
or failure is no way to live. Nor is avoiding death the same as
living.
From gardening to music, anything that involves life, art, and
creativity comes with the risk of failure, as do relationships,
business ventures—and caregiving.
This year, I intend to push myself to learn, try, accomplish—and
even fail—new things. History teaches that risks and heartache
remain unavoidable, but joy is a choice.
“It ain’t dying I’m talking about, it’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” —Augustus McCrae, from Lonesome Dove (Larry McMurtry)