Practice what I preach

Well, here I am again – and fighting the confession I need to make.  So, let’s get it over with quickly and move on.

I’m exhausted — physically and mentally.  “My brain is fried” seems to be a frequently-used expression I can hear coming from my mouth this past week.

And I know it’s primarily the illness speaking – the fatigue, the brain fog, the migraines and pain.  I’ve done the drill before. It will pass, as it always does.  Yet I have to almost laugh that I am quite possibly the prime example of caregiver burnout, even though the last patient I cared for was well over a year ago.  Perhaps it’s the 35 years of caregiving that finally caught up with me.  The how or why doesn’t really matter at this point.  The healing is what matters; and it is coming.

My last patient was not an easy one.  She was a dear, sweet woman but suffered from dementia, had extraordinarily frequent visits with doctors, the rehab center, labs and infusions, and family members who were much different from those with whom I was accustomed to working.

My father became ill during this same time period, eventually passing away.  Although I was not responsible for his care, the drawn-out illness, only to lose him after the battle, did take its toll on all the family.  God bless my stepmom who cared for him; and even when he was placed in a nursing facility, she was the best advocate I’ve seen!  That journey took its toll on her more than any of the family members.

Today I had planned to begin my series on self-care for the caregiver, with the first discussion being rest and sleep habits.  Ironic really.  Because today I am exhausted and need rest.  Don’t “they” say recognizing the problem is half the solution?

So, instead today I will listen to my body and my mind, both of which need a short vacation (aka: a nap), some quiet-time reading my devotionals, and some restoration and rejuvenation for the body, mind, and spirit.

In short, today I will practice some self-care!  Today I will practice what I preach.

Make it a wonderful day today – and try to do at least one thing toward your own self-care.