HAPPY NEW YEAR—A YEAR FROM NOW
Writing letters to oneself has become a thing. Most of the time one is writing to a younger self. I basically consider each and every experience an opportunity to learn or to grow, if not to simply have fun. And my Younger Self was very good at doing that. Therefore, I truly don’t have any regrets, nor do I have any significant advice for my Younger Self. She lived well.
And then I became my Mother’s Caregiver and everything about my world changed. Changed in ways that I could not have even possibly imagined. Those changes changed me.
And so here I am.
It’s New Year’s Eve and the World is developing plans, reciting goals, making promises and resolutions about the year to come. That’s my tradition too.
This year, I decided to do something different. This year I thought that I would write a letter to myself to be opened a year from now. At which time I will see if Caregiver-Me was able to keep what would have been my New Year’s Resolutions.
Dear Caregiver-Me,
I’m not sure how this letter will find you this time next year. But these are my hopes for me, along with my hopes for you.
I hope that a year from now, you will be able to look at the past year positively.
I hope that you no longer have any doubts about the care you are providing for Mommy.
I want you to be in a place where you are able to find quality moments of peace.
I know that you may still be tired; but hopefully there has been rest. That you were able to take a break here and there.
I would love for you to wake up each morning looking forward to the day ahead. And I hope that you have had many of those days.
And then there are the things that are so simple; yet so very hard to accomplish while focusing on Caregiving. I want those simple things once again to have become routine.
- Read at least 2, preferably 6 books during the past year
- Yoga
- Bible Study
- Developed Several (more than 3) New Recipes
- Completed a Writing Project
I would advise you to attempt to reduce the number of Temper Tantrums as they may become hazardous to your health.
I hope that you felt some love and a little appreciation for all that you do for Mommy.
I know that it was probably not an easy year but looks like you made it, despite…
Despite Everything.
I am writing this to myself after a rough year. A year when I didn’t see as much sunshine as I wanted. A year that I felt un-appreciated, and a tad ill-used. A year in which I didn’t see my Brother. This year has been a year when I felt alone more often than not. I found myself crying at least 300 out of the 365 days of the year. But I made it through the entire year—despite EVERYTHING.
When you read this next, a year will have passed. I hope that you will be able to check all the boxes indicating that I was successful.
Know that over the past year, you have done your Best being a Caregiver! And your Best is all that God asks.
Most importantly I wish, “that you always like what you see when you’re looking at me as you’re walking past the mirror.”
A letter from me to Caregiver-Me straight from my Caregiver’s Conscience.
HAPPY NEW YEAR CAREGIVER-ME! WISHING MYSELF THE BEST OF EVERYTHING IN THE YEAR AHEAD!
BONEY M. – “AULD LANG SYNE”
https://youtu.be/DlZRXFuh5_E?si=k7gKto30N7rPaSZg
A CAREGIVER’S CONSCIENCE PODCAST – “SAVING FACE AS A CAREGIVER”
KENNY G – “AULD LANG SYNE”
A CAREGIVER’S CONSCIENCE – THE BLOG
Caregiver’s New Year & Attitude
Happy New Year!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I wish U many moments of peace, joy and happiness in the year ahead.