Caregiver, take it one step at a time

No matter how strong you are, dear family or professional caregiver, there are times you need to take it one-step at a time.

I’m a planner—I look ahead and as thoughts come to mind, I add them to my calendar. By the time the present or NOW catches up to what was my FUTURE (read that again), I feel gratitude in two ways.

1. One, it is easier for me to take care of what needs doing, now, because I’ve already started.
   I’ve been adding notes my calendar as ideas come to mind. One of the hardest things we humans struggle with is just getting started. Books and seminars on overcoming procrastination are popular because we postpone taking that first step.
2. Two, by taking a moment to jot down a note when I think of something, I eliminate the toxic mental clutter of trying to remember everything. I feel the joy of having quality nuggets of inspired thought recorded across time.
   When the time comes to deliver the keynote, finish the article, participate in a conference, or depart for a few days for a rare vacation, I don’t feel the stress of having to remember everything. I’ve already laid a foundation by adding notes to my calendar.

Feeling Overwhelmed and Appropriate Support

Even the strongest planners feel overwhelmed.

As the strongest trees survive by bending with the wind, we too have to go with life’s flow in order to survive.

Yet, it is during times like these, that those nearest us try to support us.

Their good intentions produce the opposite effect—STRESS—when they advise us to calm down or not to take life too seriously.

While we’re racing about, if they help us, instead, to take a step back in order to see the bigger picture, they support us more appropriately through LIFE’s harshest times.

BUT, when life happens at a frenetic pace…

There are times when life grows so overwhelming; there is nothing else we can do but stick to the task until it’s done.

When everything comes at once and all we can do is focus, Focus, FOCUS.

There is no time or energy left to look ahead and plan.

During times like these, we struggle to lift our heads to look ahead to see the bigger picture, but we can’t. We keep toiling at what needs doing to get it done.

Once we’re finished, we often lean back, let out a major SIGH of relief as we feel the JOY of well-deserved accomplishment. Only then, can we see a big-picture view of the future.

As we plan and then practice bending with LIFE’s winds, if we keep our eyes open to the detours, we may even spot a few opportunities among LIFE’s rainbows.