Developing Potential

"What each must seek in his life  . . . is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience, something that never has been and never could have been experienced by anyone else." Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell pulled out of the myths of the world a structure which he called "the hero's journey".  The stages in this structure are:  hearing a call to adventure, crossing the threshold, facing tests and ordeals, gaining the reward, being transformed and returning home with a gift.  You are the hero in your own story, and I believe that the caregiving role is a type of "hero's journey".  First, we are called to the adventure (all right, maybe we would not lightly call it an adventure) of taking on the task of caregiving.  When we say "yes" to that role, we cross the threshold.  I am sure we can all agree there are many tests and ordeals encountered in this task of caregiving.  What is the reward for you?  It could be knowing you did the task very well, on behalf of the dignity of another human being.  We can allow the journey to transform us.  The research from Roslyn Carter Institute on Aging says 1/3 of caregivers will die doing the job, 1/3 will survive but be damaged by the experience, and 1/3 will be better because of having done it.  I think the last 1/3 were transformed by the experience.  The gift we can return home with (that is:  home to our true selves) is the gift of an expanded potentiality.  What if it is a choice?  I believe we can choose to be a part of the 1/3 that are transformed by this experience.  Please join me in being in that 1/3 who are transformed into better people for having taken this "hero's journey".