Greetings!
I am happy to ring in 2012 and look forward to the many great things that will be created this year. Most of all, I am excited to be able to bring so many great resources each week to caregiver through The Caregiver Hour Radio Show and our many wonderful guests.
I am starting my annual planning to create some new ways for caregivers to connect and support each other. You will be seeing changes to the website this year as we revise the format to allow for guest bloggers and more opportunities to discussion about the most important topics for you the caregiver. Later in the year, I am planning for a professional caregiver retreat, as well as, scoping the next location and format for The New Age of Caregiving Symposium 2012 which is slated to take place in the fall.
As you step forward into the new year, I encourage you to take the time to write out your goals, tune in to your well-being and make sure to plan the time to nurture yourself.
I'd love to hear from you if there is anything you would like to hear or see from The Caregiver Hour or Senior Holistic Living this year. You can call me at 727-798-2663 or email me at kim@thecaregiverhour.com. I am a phone call or email away.
Wishing you a wonderful 2012.
Live well,
Kim Linder
Senior Holistic Living  | | Live 11AM to 12PM EST on MondaysClear Channel 1250 AM WHNZ Impact Radio in Tampa (www.whnz.com) |
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The Heart of the Caregiver
Healing the hurting heart
I remember the moment when my heart showed me that I was a true caregiver to my in-laws Sylvia and Hobie. It was a warm day and I was running down the street with my friend Karen Truman, who is known as a well-experienced caregiver expert. We had driven down to St. Pete to meet an associate at the historic Vinoy Hotel and we were heading back to our cars. I can't remember why I was running, but I distinctively remember shouting out to her to stop running. I was beat red and feeling upset. My heart was not pounding; it was feeling strange. She quickly stopped running and asked what was wrong. I replied, "I'm not sure what is going on with me. My heart is hurting. Why is it hurting me?" She put her arm around me and sweetly said, "It's because you are a caregiver and that's how it will feel most of the time as you go through your caregiver journey. Our hearts hurt because we care so much."
That moment became my defining moment as "the heart of the caregiver"; the one that links us all together whether we are standing next to one another in a hospital parking lot or a million miles apart sitting on a porch. We get the hurt. We get the pain. We get the struggle. But where do we go from here?
I was stunned with this bit of awareness. And over a course of a month I began to accept when my heart would hurt; during a visit with Sylvia, reminiscing with Hobie.
One day while sitting in my car before taking Sylvia to her doctor's appointment, I closed my eyes and began to repeat in my mind that I wanted to begin healing my hurt. I decided to shift the pain to healing while I could enjoy my time with my in-laws.
This shift began to work slowly but effectively. It seemed that the act of intentionally healing my hurting heart allowed me to be more in the present with my in-laws. I began to savor our lunch conversations, our little jokes and our new memories.
As you move into this new year, you may want to practice closing your eyes and imagining the act of surrounding your heart with white-light to begin the healing. This is the perfect example of the mind-body-spirit connection. As you heal your heart with your the white-light image, you are healing your body and recharging your spirit.
Happy New Year 2012!
Kim
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| About Senior Holistic Living
Senior Holistic Living is a comforting resource for caregivers who are seeking guidance, encouragement, and more balance in their life. We are a reminder that caregiving does not have to be a mindless duty - that it can, in fact, be a mindful opportunity for the caregiver's own growth.
If you need advice or have unanswered questions, our recommended resources will be both helpful and reassuring. If you yearn to feel more connected to your feelings and thoughts but are not quite sure how to make it happen, allow us to lend a hand. And if you simply seek respite during a time of crisis, we can help you find peace. We'll show you how to create balance and minimize stress so that you can make better and more conscious decisions.
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