Take Time for You

                        “Take time for yourself,” I tell caregivers. The usual response is a shrug of the shoulders and a ‘How?”Some recognize the need to take care of self. Others never see the need because they are so busy being a martyr taking care of everyone but self. It does not make an impression when I mention, “If you go down, who takes over?” These caregivers assume they are invincible, like teenagers, they believe they can handle anything that comes along. I stand in awe of them. When they fall, I hope there is someone to help get them back on their feet so they can go back to their passion with a new attitude.                                                                                                     

                For me, I found that I could make it six months going full tilt. Now that I am a bit older, I give out a lot sooner. Like on an airplane, you are told if the cabin looses pressure, put on your own mask. What will it take to make you realize that you cannot do it all? Maybe I can give you some hints to help make your life better, even if you don’t think you need it. Give it a read.                                                                                              You cannot be on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is not possible. You have to sleep sometime. You need to rebuild yourself so you have something to give. If your bucket is empty, you have nothing to give to the one you care for. Replenish yourself.                                                                                        So you don’t feel you can take off an afternoon, can you manage ten minutes? Get up early in the morning and take some time for yourself. Make you feel better? Then find other ten minute segments to take as your own.  

Where Do I belong?

            We walked into a restaurant in the community where my husband was born.
I noticed he fit right in with the farmers gathered around the tables drinking coffee
and chatting. With their work boots and cowboy hats to shade them from the glaring
Kansas sun, you could tell they spent a lot of time outdoors. A few had caps on but all                      
shared a common lifestyle. My husband even drove a pickup. This place represented                                     the life he led.
What about me? I didn’t dress like the few women in the place. I don’t own a pair                    
of blue jeans. Where do I belong?

Good advice

            ARGUING

            People argue about the strangest things. I remember watching a TV show where the husband and wife were arguing about which way the toilet paper should roll, up or down. They even included other people in the argument. It got to the point of ridiculousness. If all you worry about is which way to put the toilet tissue on the holder, you have no worries. Still we as humans want to be right.

            Bud and I had a disagreement about a stop light. He said it was a certain way. 

I knew he was wrong and said so. Then I got to thinking about it. I discovered two things: 

1. How could I prove him wrong? 

The light had been changed so there was no way to prove either of us correct. 

2. In the grand scheme of things, what difference did it make?

            My younger brother gave me some advice: “Pick your battles.” Amazing since he did not have kids and he was always picking fights; I knew he was right. Let the small stuff slide and don’t compromise on the big stuff.