Caregiver's Dilemma

The unconditional love for parent, grandparent, sibling, child

The yearning to heal our loved one

Memories of joy and sadness fluctuating from moment to moment.

Sacrificing our desires to care for our loved ones.

Easy, at first, with the support from friends, acquaintances, colleagues.

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Time goes by; months turn into years – five, ten, twenty begins to feel like a lifetime.

We do our best to show love to Self and those around us

Inner thoughts echo – ‘I’m tired, exhausted. Jealous of others. Anger rattles the bones.’

Guilt rains down from the head and rests in the heart.

The caregiver Delima - I’ll put my life on hold…Can I do both?

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Establish Boundaries! The Voice thunders over the mountain tops.

Find time to go on vacation, gardening, exercise, take a spa day

Find time to sit undisturbed, laughter around the dinner table

Find a community to support caregivers and our loved ones in need.

The heat bounds - that is the relief I need to go another day.

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Today, I will see how my loved one is doing. A phone call, a visit

Thankful that I reached out - as I received their smiles of love,

a touch, a word of encouragement as we reminisce and plan for the future.

Unconditional love shines its light. Giving and receiving is now a delight

What every caregiver needs: recognition and respite.

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The Caregiver's dilemma the resilience to do it tomorrow,

and appreciating your loved ones as they are today.

To embrace the ebb and flow of emotions, unattached by

breathing life back into the soul. One more day to care for Self;

to love more fully, to shine the light on those we love.