Member-only story
BALANCE
The Time for Radical Self-Care Is Now
Want to make an impact? The first step is to look in the mirror
Was it Tylenol for Mom? Denture cream for Dad? Maybe it was Benadryl? I stared at the toothpaste in aisle 3 and couldn’t remember what I needed to get at Rite Aid.
The year was 2018, and the demands in my life were at an all-time high. At this time, Mom and Dad were living with us, and we were their caregivers. Dad had Alzheimer’s disease and serious mobility issues and Mom had a laundry list of medical conditions that warranted a complex medicine regime and frequent doctor visits.
At the same time, my own health issues increased and I needed to attend to a back injury I incurred when I “caught” Mom who took a tumble in the shower. Fortunately, my husband was as hand-on as I was, so I wasn’t doing this alone; however, it was a lot for both of us to manage. Add in the regular stress of dealing with the chronic illnesses my son battles and try though I may to manage it all, I was spent.
At the peak of the stress, I received a package in the mail. A good friend sent me a copy of Cheryl Richardson’s book The Art Of Extreme Self-Care. “Time for radical self-care. You will get through this. love, Ann,” read the sticky note attached to it.
