Self-care is essential for a caregiver, and I am trying puzzles as a hobby to help me relax and rejuvenate.

Self-care is important for the caregiver dealing with long-term illness so that we can restore ourselves for the task of caregiving.

I have been trying to find ways to relax and decided to try jigsaw puzzles. My daughter loves them, so maybe I would also.

While I can’t decide if puzzles are relaxing, I have found that while doing puzzles, I disconnect with the challenges of life, I go to bed a little later, which helps with my sleep patterns, and when, finally, I finish a puzzle I have a sense of accomplishment.

So, even if puzzles are not relaxing, they are giving me a moment of self-care.

 

While caregiving, I find the emotion of anger coming to the forefront as I respond to the actions and words of others.

The pressures of caregiving and the realities of long-term illness have brought out big emotions for me to deal with, including anger.

In the past, anger was not a go-to emotion in my response to circumstances.

Today, the actions and words of others around me bring me quickly to anger.

I have had to learn how to deal with anger so it does not interfere with my caregiving, but also so it does not damage my spirit and resilience.

 

A hurtful experience caused me to stop sharing, but that isolation did not help me or others, so I have returned with new caregiver stories.

Living with the trauma of long-term illness leaves me susceptible to triggers that cause deep hurt.

In October, I was hurt by someone in my caregiver circle, which caused me to stop sharing the journals.

I did not know how to speak of my hurt without speaking badly of the other person, so I stopped speaking.

The self-imposed isolation did not help me and did not stop the other person from causing more harm.

So, I am back to sharing the emotions of a caregiver, including dealing with hurt and pain. And I am glad to be back!

As my dad neared the end of his life, my uncle gave quiet, helpful guidance that turned into a caregiver lesson.

As my dad neared death, my family was coping with the loss of our loved one.

There were details that had to be taken care of.

In the midst of our grief, my uncle gave quiet, helpful guidance, making sure that we took care of the important tasks. His advice turned into a caregiver lesson.

 

 

Some may see the stress caused by caregiving and do not want to experience MY life. I have learned that every life comes with struggles.

While my life seems normal to me, I have learned that other people look at the stress of my life and do NOT want to be ME.

That reality got me thinking about how we think about our lives and the experiences of others.

I pray I will always have the eyes to see the struggles of others and look for opportunities to come alongside and support people in difficult seasons.

One gift of being a caregiver is that we learn to see the world through different eyes.

 

 

 

 

I shared some “behind the scenes” truths about my journey with a fellow caregiver. Our conversation provided us both a caregiver lesson.

I shared “secrets” of how I REALLY deal with the stress of Dan’s long term illness with a caregiver friend. My friend saw my “game face” and didn’t realize the emotional ups and downs I go through as a caregiver; this formed a caregiver lesson we shared together.

 

 

 

 

 

I never want my caregiver journey to end! I learned this caregiver lesson walking alongside my father during the final days of his life.

This caregiver lesson was realized recently with my father’s death.

Dad had struggled with a long-term illness. While visiting my parents regularly to help was exhausting, I wish Dad were still here.

That brought the realization that I want to continue this caregiving journey with my husband forever.