Resilient Caregivers
It took a while for him to awaken from the anesthesia. Earlier the surgeons had come out to speak with me. The surgery had involved two separate teams of surgeons – throat and esophageal – and took 16 hours in the OR. The surgery was a “success” – they had gotten all the malignancy out. Given that it was over 30 years ago, if my memory serves me on this, they also showed me proof of what they had taken out. I would have preferred to have simply taken their word for it!
First, they said that “sitting is the new smoking.” Get up, move around. A good idea for many reasons, including how good it feels. Now, we hear about loneliness and its impact on our health and wellbeing.
This is the view from the mountain house we rented this summer and where we kept extending our stay through the middle of October. The house is surrounded by beautiful woods. We’ve seen turkeys, a bear, a family of deer, and a wonderful array of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.
The first chapter of Coaching for Caregivers is entitled “Stuff Happens.” And it certainly does, as the stories of the three families I featured in the book portrayed. And stuff keeps happening! In mysterious ways, challenging and wonderful. As I was putting the finishing touches on the manuscript of the revised edition of the book, my wife, Tsurah, and I were out for a twilight walk, enjoying the sounds of birds and the sights and aromas of blossoms – the best of spring in the Northeastern United States. And while she was enthralled by all this wondrous nature, she tripped, fell, and landed face down on the pavement.
How about this: there is no roadmap. I care about you. I want the best for you. And the same for your loved one who you’re providing loving care for. And the same for other members of your human and pet and plant families, as well. Think about it. No roadmap. Even though I included the “Reach Out Roadmap” in Coaching for Caregivers, I intended it as a way to recap ideas about how to be resilient, not to prescribe a particular path for you.
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