As is my routine, every Monday morning I set aside time to write this weekly Caring and Sharing blog. Often something I have read, heard or experienced the previous week inspires each issue. Today the inspiration was waiting for me in my in-box.
I want to share an inspiring blog entitled, Every Monday Matters that will influence your life, as well as your caregiving role. The author Shawn Parr highlights an interview with Matt Emerzian, the author of Every Monday Matters – 52 Ways to
Make a Difference. Matt Emerzian states:” (Monday) represents a day for all of us to do better, to be better. First, we need to stop dreading Mondays. If you really think about it, we have created a monster out of a day of the
week, and the monster is so powerful that it even overpowers our Sundays. . .Mondays can be a day of inspiration, a day to celebrate the start of a new week. It gives us an opportunity to make a choice, to make the simple, yet paramount
choice of how we want to live our life.”
Monday Morning
It made me think how often in spite of our motives and love for our elderly parents, we face our caregiving role with the same mindset. However, as in life, we have the choice of changing this mindset.
I remember hearing a radio announcer relating the story of his mother’s death. She had died following a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease. He was sharing how he received the message of her death. This caused him to think back over her life. Three times, she had battled and won over cancer and he admired her courage and faith. He shared how she was always there to talk and show interest in her family’s concerns and worries. He emarked about her reserved personality yet subtle humor.
The most poignant part of his story was a recording he made of a conversation between them. He was doing a cooking show and wanted some advice from his mother. He knew his reserved mother would refuse recording her voice for the program; consequently, he made the call, recording it without telling her. The conversation demonstrated her gentleness, humor and simple love for her family. He ended his story by imploring listeners to” make the best of what you have.”
Matt Emerzian expands on his philosophy by saying: “At the core of Every Monday Matters is a burning desire to help everyone understand that they matter. I think that every single person on the face of the earth has questioned his or her purpose. Why am I here? Why does it matter? Am I significant? This is life’s greatest challenge, and our biggest question.
People are powerful–much more powerful than they think they are and their actions matter.”
I think it is important that we as caregivers approach our role with the mindset that caring for our elderly parents is a gift, a gift of time together, reviewing memories, settling unresolved conflicts and perhaps forgiveness. The most important thing is
to recognize that each person that contributes to enriching this last stage of life matters and each part they play is significant.
Care Full Heart Coaching provides Group Coaching Services that can assist you in evaluating your caregiver role and develop ways to take control of your life and well-being.
I welcome you comments on this blog or questions about your caregiving journey.
Caring and Sharing
Karen
