Last week, I heard about SMITH magazine, which sponsors six-word memoirs.

The six-word memoirs cover most life events and emotions—about love, happiness, teens, pain and hope. Readers recently shared memories about love and loss. Some examples include:

Love hurts. Choose vodka or valium.

Hearts clubbed by diamonds in spades.

Finally found love, at age 41.

Note to self: avoid head cases.

He wasn’t worth the panic attacks.

Chocolate is the coward’s bad apology.

Pet-sitting for ex-husband describes amicable divorce.

Loved her madly — then went mad.

On Monday, I asked website visitors to share their six-word caregiving story. Stories have been wonderful. You can read them them here. And, be sure to add yours.

This week, our bloggers posted the following updates:

• Bette pieced together her puzzle;
• G-J conquered her stormy weather;
  
• Judith showed us what to wear to yogurt;
  
• Kathy faced a fear of flying;
• Karen shared good news;
• Kristin put a plan in place for her future;
  
• Trish would like her brother, please.

(Editor’s Note: This week, we welcome a new blog, Cooking for Caregiving, penned by John Reaves and Liz Dreyer of Care Lab. Care Lab works to develop new ideas, products, services, partnerships, and sustainable programs that will make a difference to the community of caregivers.)

We’ve begun a project we call “Cooking for Caregiving” focusing on issues related to (you guessed it!) grocery shopping, preparing, delivering and serving meals for your caree.

There are a lot of reasons why we think this is an important issue. Obviously, it’s a big part of the challenge of caregiving for many caregivers. The excellent 2009 MetLife study estimated that 75% of caregivers helped with food shopping, and 64% with meal preparation. And research is increasingly demonstrating that nutrition is an important risk factor for many chronic conditions, as well as having a critical impact on the health and well-being of all seniors.

Our goal is to find ways to save time and stress, improve nutrition (particularly for specific health conditions) and, of course, make delicious and satisfying meals. We’re hoping to tap into the “make ahead” community, people who know a lot about weekly & monthly meal planning, convenient prep techniques, freezing and storing, etc. We’re working with dietitians to identify nutrition issues, and professional chefs to help us reconcile good taste with dietary restrictions across a variety of culinary styles and cultures. We’re interested in figuring out how to tap into the movement to organize caregiving groups (like Share The Care) as well faith-based communities, and help them coordinate more “culinary caregivers”.

But more than anything else, we’d like to collaborate with caregivers by exchanging ideas, problems, solutions, and stories. To begin that conversation, we have a lot of questions:

• Are you regularly shopping or cooking for your caree?  Do they live with you or at a distance?
• Do they have any special diet requirements or conditions that might be affected by diet?  Do you ever have to fix two separate meals, one for your caree and one for the rest of the family?
• Is preparing meals sometimes difficult or stressful?  Would you like to find more convenient and flexible meal preparation strategies?  Would you like some help in finding recipes and/or prepared foods that fit your caree’s specific conditions?

Please share your thoughts about cooking in a caregiving situation here.

What’s in your caregiving closet that you no longer use? No longer need? Do you wonder what in the world to do with those supplies, equipment, gadgets?

Sell it in a Caregiving Garage Sale!

We’re holding  garage sale on SharingStore.com on February 26 and 27. For those two days, you can list as many ads as you want—for free, for three weeks. That’s right—your ad will be free for three weeks. (After three weeks, you can choose to re-list your ad. Any product you sell for the price of shipping is always free.)

So, start cleaning out your closets and get ready to list your ads on SharingStore.com on February 26 and 27. And, make a list of what you need–it’s also a good time to buy!

See you at the Caregiving Garage Sale!

Caregiving seems to steal your power, leaving you powerless over your days and your life. By accepting caregiving, you can move from losing to gaining, which is how your find your power.

In our four-week class, "Accepting Caregiving and Finding Your Power," we’ll help you gain peace, a plan, preparation, priorities, perspective and prosperity. Those six Ps add up to your Power.

You can participate in our class by joining our live class or listening to the recording at your convenience. Our live class will take place every Monday in March at 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT). When you register, you’ll receive details on how to join the live and access the recordings.

By Janet Hulet

Early in the process of creating my list for my Journey of 50 Lunches, I realized that there were individuals that have had significant impact on my life…but were no longer walking on this earth. Hmmm….that posed a challenge for me. How, exactly, was I going to have lunch with someone that was no longer alive? How could I honor their impact as part of my journey of gratitude?

Well, in two cases so far, I have found a way…a way that has been deeply emotional AND amazingly joyful.

I lost my dad over 30 years ago. It’s hard to believe it has been that long, especially as his impact on me continues to this day! On my Journey of 50 Lunches, I actually went to the cemetery, laid out a blanket next to his grave, had a candy bar…and enjoyed a “lunch” with him. Being there with him, with a heart full of gratitude, honored the significance his values, words, actions and unconditional love had on me…and still do. My dad’s spirit lives on, in me…and now in his grandkids.

To recognize my 8th-grade math teacher, Miss Helen Dierks (who passed a few years after I graduated), I actually went back to my grade school. During a Catholic Schools Week open house, I walked the halls and visited the classroom where Miss Dierks had her influence on my life. I had an unexpected, overwhelming feeling of love and community. My parents had to sacrifice to send all five of us to private school. And, I know the teachers there had to sacrifice as their salaries would not have mirrored their public school counterparts. Over 30 years later, their values and choices were very much alive in me.

Who will you connect with who is are no longer alive? And, how will you make the connection happen? Please share in our comments section here.

By Denise M. Brown

Sometimes, it’s just hard to find the word to describe what a struggle or disappointment or upset feels like.

During those times, I use the word “blah.” And, sometimes, when it’s a really difficult struggle, disappointment or upset, I’ll add an exclamation point. “Blah!”

And, then, I’ll sigh.

When it’s tough, it’s hard not to think: How much longer? When can I catch a break? When will I have what I want?

During those times of heartache and heartbreak, keep in mind: While life can seem unfair, you can be fair to yourself.

• Be fair by knowing you have a special place, with a special purpose, in your world and in our world.
• Be fair by believing the right time is beyond our control, which is what makes its timing perfect.
• Be fair by licking your wounds while continuing forward. Don’t give up on yourself.

You will have the blues because of the blahs. And, one day, the blah will become a bloom. You’ll be amazed at what you created: A really good life.

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.

• Saturday, February 26, 9 a.m. CT (10 a.m. ET, 7 a.m. PT): Ask Denise: On this edition of Table Talk, Denise will answer your questions about your caregiving experience. Have a question? Email her and she’ll do her best to answer your question during the show. Or, join her in the chat room during the show and send her your questions.
• Tuesday, March 1, 3 p.m. CT (4 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. PT): Forgiveness: We begin our special series on forgiveness with Rick Lauber, who cared for his father with Alzheimer's disease. Rick will tell us about an unexpected discovery which helped heal his relationship with his father.
  

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).