As caregivers, our lives are so busy and consumed with meeting the needs of others that we seldom find time to look back and analyze what happened, why it happened, and what other options might have been available. We also tend to sweep aside our emotional reactions to difficult situations.
Read MoreThis week we’re exploring art and all of the benefits it can bring, whether we’re creating art or experiencing it. Feelings can be messy and sometimes irrational.
Read MoreMusic can do many things. It can console your grief or loneliness, bring you peace and calmness, help you express your feelings when words aren’t enough, and encourage you to get your body moving. It also can do wonders for your self-care.
Read MoreCreative expression is the action of translating your feelings and emotions into a medium you can either share with others or keep private, if you wish. Creativity can change our perspective, point us down new paths, influence our problem-solving, and inspire us to take risks.
Read MoreFor many of us forgiveness can be challenging. It can be hard to let go of times when we have been hurt or excluded. Yet, by choosing NOT to forgive, we anchor ourselves in the past. And if we wallow in what’s been done to us in the past, we waste time and emotional energy.
Read MoreOne of life’s eternal questions is “Why am I here?” This week, our Spiritual theme turns to the topic of Finding Your Purpose, and that journey is, indeed, a spiritual one. But it doesn’t have to be hard or deep or complicated. It can be as simple as finding what feeds your soul.
Read MoreCultivating a practice of mindfulness asks us to dig deep within ourselves and, perhaps, reveal ourselves in ways that we may not be ready to do yet.
Read MoreI’m doing the best I can … each and every day. Some days are harder than others (remember – I’m a work in progress).
Read MoreBeing a work in progress is really a gift to yourself. No matter what you celebrate this Holiday Season, make time for YOU this week.
Read MoreFor caregivers, mindfulness means learning to live in the moment, accepting the reality of our situation, and filtering out distractions. It allows us to be fully aware of where we are and what we’re doing, while not being overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is happening around us.
Read MoreBe brave! Ask for help, and accept it – from other people, as well as your Higher Power.
Read More“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking.” – Earl Wilson With the holiday season already upon us, and all of the added responsibilities and activities this season brings to our already busy lives, it’s important to recognize that we all need a break now and then.
Read MoreWhat makes life worth living? I was asked to identify the top three things for me that make life worth living .. Our interconnectedness makes us stronger - the power of YET - emotions and feelings.
Read MoreLet’s face it – we never want to say “no.” For many caregivers, it just might be the most difficult word in the English language. We always want to help, and we want to do our best to meet any request. But as actress Claudia Black says, “Saying no can be the ultimate self-care.”
Read MoreNOBODY should have to navigate the caregiving journey alone.
Read MoreA powerful form of self-care can also be when we give of ourselves to others. Spending time with others, focusing on the needs of those outside our immediate family, and supporting causes that benefit the community can help us gain new perspectives on life while doing something positive that matters.
Read MoreNovember is National Family Caregivers Month and I find it the perfect time to reach out to you with an important ask.
Read MorePets are incredible! They have a natural ability to calm and soothe humans. Animals don’t judge, they provide unconditional love, and they’re always a reliable source of empathy and companionship, just when you need it.
Read MoreLet’s face it, being a caregiver is hard work. Sometimes you just need to step away, separate yourself from your loved one, and do something you enjoy that has nothing to do with caregiving. Having a hobby is a great way to do that, and that’s our topic for this week.
Read MoreToday is World Mental Health Day, and the focus this year is on “40 Seconds of Action” to raise awareness about suicide and how each of us can help prevent it. That’s an idea that we can strongly support at Courage to Caregivers as we continue to promote conversations about living with mental illness.
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