So, in our comment section, please share:

1. What you accepted.

2. What you have gained. (One of the 6 Ps: Peace. Plan. Preparation. Priorities. Perspective. Prosperity.)

3. What action you will take.

Thanks so much for joining me yesterday! I look forward to reading your comments. Share here.

This week, our bloggers posted the following updates:

• Bette discovered how much she wants to balance;
• Jo shared more tips on how to make the most of a transition to a facility;
  
• Judith shared difficult news;
  
• Kathy answered a tough question;
• Kristin introduced herself and her story;
  
• Meryl felt the pressure;
• Trish created a storm to get what Robert needs;
  
• The Unit Known as Shandi decided to take care of her best friend's best friend.
  

By Denise M. Brown

This week on Your Caregiving Journey, Anna Stookey joined me to discuss the relationship of pain to suffering. Pain is a part of life; does suffering have to be a part of the pain equation? You can listen to our show via the player below.

Caregiving is a painful experience–there’s no doubt about it. When the pain becomes about suffering, then it seems the painful experience takes everything from you—perspective, sense of humor, choices, options, confidence, hope, faith. Suffering intensifies the pain, making life all about the painful experience. Suffering seems to silence any of life’s blessings.

Anna and I discussed some strategies you can use to minimize your suffering in order to better manage a painful experience. We talked about curiosity, which can help you disengage from the drama of the suffering.

So, I wonder: When have you suffered in caregiving? When have you felt like the pain of caregiving swallowed you? Please share your story, and how you worked through it, in our comments section here.

By Denise M. Brown

Ohhh… You’ll have days when you just want to quit. Just write your resignation letter and leave it on the kitchen table. Or, maybe, you’d like to just walk past the kitchen table, out the back door, through the back yard and head straight to the airport.

But, that’s just a dream. Because of all the things you can’t do is quit.

Because, really, quitting is about giving up on yourself.

You will have bad days. You will have awful moments. You will have minutes that seem to beat you.

Know you can move through the bad days, awful moments and difficult minutes without quitting. You can create coping skills, strategies and perspectives that keep you going.

Most important, you have strength, wisdom and heart that continue you. Because continuing, working through, is what you deserve. When you quit, your fears win. When you continue, you win.

Resources

• Do you love our comforts? Then, you’ll love Take Comfort, Too, More Reflections of Hope for Caregivers. In Take Comfort, Too, Denise M. Brown takes 108 words—including Parade, Green, Red and Glory—and then turns each into a reflection. The reflections focus on a family caregiver’s reality, sprinkled with hope. Denise’s insights about the caregiving experience feel like a warm hug, a helpful smile and an encouraging nudge. Order here.

• Listen to Caregiving Comforts here.

• Friday, February 18, 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT): Tax Times Two: Penelope W. Morgan, elderlaw attorney and financial planner, offers tips for completing your taxes and your caree’s.
• Saturday, February 19, Noon CT (1 p.m. ET, 10 a.m. PT): Table Talk: Trish: Trish, who blogs about caring for her brother, will join us to share her caregiving story.
• Thursday, February 24, 10 a.m. CT (11 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. PT): Power of POAs: Stephen J. Silverberg, Esq., CELA, CA of the Law Office of Stephen J. Silverberg, PC, joins us for a discussion on durable power of attorneys for health care and finances. A durable POA can be a blessing and a curse. Stephen will help us understand how to use and manage it effectively.

We read great books with a slant toward caregiving. When possible, the book’s author joins our discussion. You can purchase our book club picks in our store.

In March, we’re reading “The Long Hello ~ The Other Side of Alzheimer’s” by Cathie Borrie. Cathie will join us on Your Caregiving Journey to discuss her book on Thursday, March 31 at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET).

In April, we’re reading “Miraculous Moments: True Stories Affirming That Life Goes On” by Elissa Al-Chokhachy. Elissa will join us on Your Caregiving Journey to discuss her book on Tuesday, April 26 at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET).