Grateful Caregiver

September Reflections: Strength Beyond My Own September reminded me that being strong does not mean carrying everything alone. This month, I reflected on what it feels like to be the strong one —the person others count on, even when you are tired yourself. Many caregivers know that feeling. We keep showing up, making decisions, and tending to everyone else’s needs. Sometimes we become so used to saying “I’m fine” that we forget to ask ourselves whether it is true. I also shared a lesson I had to learn during my own caregiving journey: rest is not weakness. Taking a break can bring up guilt, especially when someone you love still needs care. But rest gives us room to breathe, reconnect with ourselves, and return with more to give. We were never meant to do this without support. Then came a moment that brought September’s message home for me. I had my first speaking engagement, sharing A Caregiver’s Perspective: Finding Strength, Hope and Resilience. I was nervous about going first, an...

SEPTEMBER’S THEME: STRENGTH BEYOND MY OWN “When my strength weakens, God’s strength remains.” God’s Word tells us, “Do not be anxious about anything.” As I reflected on the speaking opportunity God gave me this past weekend, I realized that I was relying more on my own strength than on His. Allow me to explain. I shared the platform with another woman who was bringing awareness to a heart condition through her personal experience. We met only a few minutes before our presentations and had to decide who would speak first. Because I was anxious, I volunteered to go first. I just wanted to get mine over with. Looking back, I realize that my anxiety and ego got in the way. When she presented, she shared both her story and her purpose. I shared part of my story, but I did not clearly explain my purpose—why God led me to create Grateful Caregiver and why supporting caregivers means so much to me. However a highlight of that moment was the connection and women in the room who shared their sto...

September’s theme Strength Beyond My Own. This week let’s talk about rest.  Have you ever felt guilty for taking time to rest—especially when someone you love needed you? In 2022, the same year I became a caregiver for my mom, I was invited to travel outside the country for the first time. I was excited, but honestly, I was also scared and struggled with whether I should go. I felt guilty because my usual travel partner—my mom—wasn’t going. My husband wasn’t going, and neither were my daughters. This time, I would be traveling with my sisters. As caregivers, we can become so accustomed to caring for everyone else that doing something for ourselves feels uncomfortable. Even when we have the opportunity to rest, our minds may still be filled with guilt, worry, and responsibility. While I was away, all I wanted to do was sit on the beach or relax by the pool. I didn’t want a packed schedule or a long list of activities. I simply wanted to enjoy the stillness. And I did. I had the most...

Strength Beyond My Own Asking for Help Is a Form of Strength September’s theme for Grateful Caregiver is “Strength Beyond My Own.” And one thing I’m continuing to learn is that strength doesn’t always look like handling everything on my own. Sometimes, strength looks like recognizing when I need help—and being willing to ask for it. The other day, I went for a walk. I was enjoying the moment when I suddenly started to feel a familiar feeling that I dread. I knew I needed to stop. So I stopped walking and prayed. For a moment, I thought I might need to call my daughter to come and get me. Thankfully, I never leave home without my inhaler. I used it, began to feel relief, and eventually I was able to finish my walk. But something stayed with me from those few moments. One of my first thoughts was, “I don’t want to worry anyone.” And I immediately thought about caregiving. We Don’t Want to Bother Anyone As caregivers, we can become so accustomed to taking care of everything that asking f...

September’s theme for Grateful Caregiver Wellness Community is “Strength Beyond My Own.” And as I thought about what I wanted to share this month, I realized that before I could talk about strength, I needed to talk about where some of mine came from. This is a little difficult for me to admit, even at 57 years old: I was bullied as a child. During my adolescent years, my self-esteem was very low. I didn’t always feel confident or secure in who I was. Words hurt, rejection hurt, and some of those experiences stayed with me much longer than I realized. But I had my mom. My mother was instrumental in helping me through those years. She encouraged me. She reminded me that I was special. When I struggled to see something valuable in myself, she helped me see it. As I grew into adulthood, though, I learned how to protect myself. I built an inner wall. When the Wall Still Shows Up Recently, I attended an event where I had an opportunity to share something personal. I wanted to share, but wh...