Avoiding Over Involvement

1. 

   "To allow yourself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence.  The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his or her work for peace." Tomas Merton
   
   

   As caregivers we have the real challenge of not surrendering to too many demands.  I discussed with a friend yesterday the many tasks that caregivers have.  Now I have not only all the inside of the house work, but the outside too, and the financial/business ones as well.  We used to pay bills together and make financial decisions together.  As caregivers we are probably doing these alone, in addition to all the responsibilities of another person's life.  I never take for granted that responsibility.  It is a tremendous responsibility to make decisions on another person's behalf, and - as caregivers - I think we need to make sure that is the basis of our decisions -- the welfare of the loved one -- while also keeping an eye on not burdening our own life.  A delicate balance.