"Human birth is hard to attain and extremely precious. We must do something of value with the opportunity," Buddha.
Some days when doing menial tasks, and there are many to do, one can be tempted to think that we aren't doing important enough work -- at least I can think that. But, truly, there is perhaps no more important work than to develop our own potential as humans and to behave in loving ways towards ourselves and others. Providing care to someone with a terminal illness provides great opportunities for this type of growth.
Oct 7, 2010
Oct 6, 2010
Creating a good life
"Good is the result of right thinking based on right motives. It is not a location." Dr. Ernest Holmes.
Driving home the other day I was amused seeing one cow who had her neck through a barbed wire fence trying to reach the grass on the other side. How like that cow we humans can be thinking that we can be better when our situation is better. The above quotation indicates the incorrectness of this thinking. Our thinking in any given situation is what makes it good or bad. How can our thinking create more good in this situation of caregiving?
Driving home the other day I was amused seeing one cow who had her neck through a barbed wire fence trying to reach the grass on the other side. How like that cow we humans can be thinking that we can be better when our situation is better. The above quotation indicates the incorrectness of this thinking. Our thinking in any given situation is what makes it good or bad. How can our thinking create more good in this situation of caregiving?
Oct 5, 2010
Love of self and others
"The universe suffers a sense of incompleteness whenever we indulge in self-condemnation," Dr. Ernest Holmes.
I think the the above quote holds truth, and I think the universe also suffers when we engage in condemnation of others. The role of caregiver can be so encompassing with completing tasks that we may forget how important it is to hold ourselves, the person receiving the care, and all others in positive regard. The attitude I hold makes all the difference in how things go here. Let us remember to treat ourselves and others with kindness, respect and love.
I think the the above quote holds truth, and I think the universe also suffers when we engage in condemnation of others. The role of caregiver can be so encompassing with completing tasks that we may forget how important it is to hold ourselves, the person receiving the care, and all others in positive regard. The attitude I hold makes all the difference in how things go here. Let us remember to treat ourselves and others with kindness, respect and love.
Oct 4, 2010
Enjoying nature
"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience" Ralph Waldo Emerson.
It is just lovely here. The trees resplendent with color. Lovely temperatures during the day and cool at night. The coyotes have been full of song morning and evening.
Yesterday we had a neighborhood gathering, to thank people for being such good neighbors. I served bison chili and creamy wild rice soup. It was successful and fun. After, Dwane said, "It was nice to have the house full of people." He still so enjoys social events, even though people might not guess that of him, as he does not talk much to anyone. It was a great diversion from the tasks of everyday life.
It is just lovely here. The trees resplendent with color. Lovely temperatures during the day and cool at night. The coyotes have been full of song morning and evening.
Yesterday we had a neighborhood gathering, to thank people for being such good neighbors. I served bison chili and creamy wild rice soup. It was successful and fun. After, Dwane said, "It was nice to have the house full of people." He still so enjoys social events, even though people might not guess that of him, as he does not talk much to anyone. It was a great diversion from the tasks of everyday life.
Oct 3, 2010
Death
"Death fascinates us in the abstract and repels us in the particular," Dr. Joan Borysenko.
How true. People seem fascinated generation after generation with movies about vampires and other violence. Ever been driving when there has been a car accident and experienced the frustration of being slowed by the "rubber neckers" who want to see the damage? Great symphonies and literature have been written about death. Death seems to fascinate us, until it gets too close.
Yesterday we attended a family gathering, a celebration of a bridal shower. People invariably ask how Dwane is doing, and I am reminded that we are dealing with a terminal illness. This too is more easily considered in the abstract.
How true. People seem fascinated generation after generation with movies about vampires and other violence. Ever been driving when there has been a car accident and experienced the frustration of being slowed by the "rubber neckers" who want to see the damage? Great symphonies and literature have been written about death. Death seems to fascinate us, until it gets too close.
Yesterday we attended a family gathering, a celebration of a bridal shower. People invariably ask how Dwane is doing, and I am reminded that we are dealing with a terminal illness. This too is more easily considered in the abstract.
Oct 2, 2010
Daily life
"The one who loves the most will live the most," Dr. Ernest Holmes.
After just getting such good news about Dwane's improved cognitive ability from Mayo, he is doing worse. Perhaps it is the new sleep agent, or perhaps it is part of this insidious disease which is characterized by significant changes in lucidity. Yesterday he got himself into a difficult situation and could not make sense of how to best handle it. He seemed to have forgotten how to operate a machine he had just used. I found myself discouraged that he was, for yesterday, in about as much a fog as two years ago. It seems that I know intellectually that this is a terminal illness; but when his condition worsens, I am discouraged. I'm not sure how to prevent these emotional ups and downs with hope and hope discouraged. I was speaking to another person whose spouse has early dementia. In frontal lobe dementia it seems the person with the dementia is not as discouraged nor experiences as much fear as the caregiver.
After just getting such good news about Dwane's improved cognitive ability from Mayo, he is doing worse. Perhaps it is the new sleep agent, or perhaps it is part of this insidious disease which is characterized by significant changes in lucidity. Yesterday he got himself into a difficult situation and could not make sense of how to best handle it. He seemed to have forgotten how to operate a machine he had just used. I found myself discouraged that he was, for yesterday, in about as much a fog as two years ago. It seems that I know intellectually that this is a terminal illness; but when his condition worsens, I am discouraged. I'm not sure how to prevent these emotional ups and downs with hope and hope discouraged. I was speaking to another person whose spouse has early dementia. In frontal lobe dementia it seems the person with the dementia is not as discouraged nor experiences as much fear as the caregiver.
Oct 1, 2010
October
"God gave me the ability, with the rest up to me," Billy Mills, Lakota Olympian.
I have always loved the above quote and what seems to be the attitude behind it. A great Olympian, and he seems to say that the ability was given to him, with him having the responsibility to use it well. I think that is true for us all. We have all been given unique talents and skills, and perhaps it is our life's work to develop them. Perhaps you, as I, have spent many of my years doing things that were not necessarily a direct match for my skills and talents because I also had to make a living. Well, it is never too late. What are the skills and talents that are innate to you? What can you do to develop them? I started water color painting classes this past week. I want to see how that creative expression is for me.
Billy Mills was an exceptional athlete. What are we exceptional at?
I have always loved the above quote and what seems to be the attitude behind it. A great Olympian, and he seems to say that the ability was given to him, with him having the responsibility to use it well. I think that is true for us all. We have all been given unique talents and skills, and perhaps it is our life's work to develop them. Perhaps you, as I, have spent many of my years doing things that were not necessarily a direct match for my skills and talents because I also had to make a living. Well, it is never too late. What are the skills and talents that are innate to you? What can you do to develop them? I started water color painting classes this past week. I want to see how that creative expression is for me.
Billy Mills was an exceptional athlete. What are we exceptional at?
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