maria's mind Archives - Page 5 of 6

This is another post that was originally written for mariasmind.com. It has been slightly revised for clarity and refreshed with new images.

Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work. – Ralph Marston

Mental habits, well-worn patterns in our way of thinking and managing our lives, whether helpful or not, can become so ingrained that we do not always recognize how they affect us, until something happens that discombobulates us, upsets our apple cart. If the routines contribute something positive to our lives, whether it is some form of exercise, nurturing friendships or pastimes we enjoy, that is wonderful. Sometimes, however, it takes a kind, well-timed word to make us realize that our lives are out of whack. Although it can be hard to do, sometimes we must confront our misalignment when it begins to affect our sleep, our relationships, our overall state of mind. What to do?!

Today is National Caregivers Day in Canada. It is a day to pause and acknowledge the fundamentally important work being done by people, young, old and in-between, throughout this country and around the world. They are caring for spouses, parents, children, siblings and neighbours. They are doing their best, often while taking care of their own family and trying to earn a living, to provide various kinds of practical support: cooking, cleaning, driving, banking – as much as can be done. Most of all, they provide hope, comfort, a link to the outside world, a kind hand and voice.

I have been taking care of our mother in her home since 2020, with some help from my siblings, especially my sister, Cris, the other half of the shineandrise.com. Lately, as my sister and I are getting more and more exhausted, we are able to count on the practical assistance of some wonderful, kind, personal support workers to help with our mother’s care when we are not there. Back in 2020, I wrote this reflection as a challenge to prove to myself that I could. A blue slip in one of the religious magazines my mother receives asked readers to write about their pandemic experience. The following is what I wrote with some slight changes and some photos and links added.

If you are, have been, or anticipate that you will be a caregiver, I hope you enjoy this reflection, which first appeared in mariasmind.com.

Category: maria’s mind (Page 5 of 6)

Striving to Balance the Necessary Demands of Caregiving and Paid Work with Rest and Renewal

Me, my Mother, and the Pandemic Revisited

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