Embracing Change

There are so many things in which we caregivers can find commonality with one another: stress, fear, pain, love, determination and even prayer. 

I’d like to discuss another aspect of caregiving that doesn’t generally receive enough attention—change. 

As caregivers, all of our lives have changed, either slowly as our loved ones disease or illness progressed or instantly with a metaphorical or even real phone call in the middle of the night.  Then everything seems to change in the blink of an eye. 

I think back to my life just before the phone calls that ushered in the news about my dad's cancer or my mom's stroke... Whoosh, change. 

After the white knuckled fear that accompanied these calls,  I eventually realized that some of the changes have had positive effect on who I am as a person.  From learning to effectively communicate with their health care providers (with some effort) or fearlessly standing up for them to demand the best the system has to offer, without concern to whose feathers were ruffled. 

These changes have included a new life as publisher, author and speaker over these past 26 years and meeting the most incredible people I would ever have the pleasure to know—family caregivers. I have learned so very much from each and every interaction with my fellow caregivers and look forward to doing so for many more years to come.  

Although my relationships with my parents were always good, caregiving for and with them has opened a new depth to our interactions for which I will be eternally grateful.   

Sometimes there is enormous growth in change—even the kind for which you never would have wished.   Embrace it.  

Share your comments in the comments section below