Are you a caregiver who lives in the “…wreckage of your future?”
In kind of a “reverse phantom pain,” caregivers often feel anguish over things that haven’t even occurred. Caregiving stress is hard enough without us adding to it by living in the wreckage of our future. Letting our imaginations run wild with all sorts of things that may happen wreaks havoc on us.
Each day often brings an opportunity to race with fear, and its frequent companion: rage. But we are not doomed to those behaviors. Each day can also offer the opportunity to respond rather than react.
My martial arts instructor often shared in training seminar, “Fight what’s closest—not what’s beyond our reach.”
“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34
Hello Mr. Rosenberger!
Last week on your radio program, you asked us caregivers to share things that make us laugh:
I am caregiver for my husband who was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease 8 years ago. He does quite well. Even at night, he usually sleeps well. But if he ever calls me at night, that means he needs help RIGHT NOW. The other night he called me, and I awoke with my adrenaline flowing. “What! What!” I cried. He responded, “Colleen, you are snoring so loudly in my ear that I can’t sleep!”