It’s All About Me…..

DRAGONFLY RADIO

One thing that is for certain, when you are caring for an ailing family member, palliative care, or long-term illness, finding time for yourself is virtually impossible. Everyone tells us constantly to make time for yourself, do not burden yourself, and ask for help if you need it. YEP we hear it all, but what do we do? We try to do it all alone, because that’s what they would want or we like to tell ourselves that. We know what the right thing to say and do, but we continue on a path of self-destruction and challenge all that get in our way! Right? Next thing we know, we have a bottle of wine on the table and think that will help heal our sorrows lol. It is so important to listen to the advice given by our peers, and look into the days ahead and know that it is okay to take a break. We all have different ways of dealing with stress, some love Yoga, long walks, a good book, or maybe just a girl’s weekend. A guy or gal might like taking a fishing trip, or bike ride off a path somewhere, the point is whatever floats your boat, do it! Take advantage of the services offered in your community if you need, impose on family and friends, just take a breath of fresh air and live a little, because we all know that those days of caring and nurturing will return before we know it. It is hard to ask for help sometimes, maybe we wonder what people will think, if I am out enjoying myself, and my mom or dad, husband or wife is lying there dying and I am thinking of “ME” I can guarantee that the loved one that is there waiting is cheering you on silently and hoping that you are having a well deserved break. WE are the only ones holding ourselves back, no one is judging us, or criticizing what we do. There are great articles in regards to caregiver self-help. It is important to allow our minds and bodies to have stress relief and solitude, to allow our own energies to replenish, before we are lying next to the loved one ourselves.