Caregivers After All

I'm a caregiver, and coming to this, I believed - totally unprepared. For many years I helped my father care for my mother during her decline through Alzheimer's and then after I have helped my father in his later years. Now at 93, his mind is sharp, while his body faces a few complications. I'm happy that overall, he is still fairly healthy. I feel I can take little credit in this, although I do what I'm able and as much as I can - yet much has been luck, good genes, help from family members and medical professionals. After many years, now I've come to see my role as truly what the title says - I give care. I tend, lend aid, comfort, support and love. More so, I see that life has prepared me perfectly for this role - through heartbreak of my own, a certain knack for loneliness, a modeling for empathy and compassion from my parents and other loved ones. I come perfectly formed for this position. We all do. We're all caregivers. Life itself is perfect preparation for exactly where we find ourselves. From early on we're each caregivers in a way we can manage at the time - and this grows through ever stage, until we find it's all we truly have to give away, just a bit of ourselves, in whatever way the moment calls for. Nothing in my life has prepared me to do less than simply love. I have grieved for this, mourned, suffered loss, and not met with certain gain. My heart broke for this. Tears, and yes, laughter too - for joy is essential to this role as well. In fact, it's better said, easier, to say that I have lived entirely, every aspect, and all the years - to be present, tender, to a person now in need. This is my role, and yours as well. Most importantly, it's our time together to care for each other, for the world, in small and large ways. We are caregivers after all - born and lived to reach this role. 

~

Peace,

Eric