Welcome to Caregiver Friday!!
The story is one of the most empowering ways we’ve come to communicate in our modern society. It doesn’t matter if the story is spoken, written, or artfully transmitted…it’s powerful. It’s for this reason that finding the lessons in other’s stories is mesmerizing. Even when we’re talking about fiction the author’s beliefs and values creep into the essence of the work.
The Three Musketeers were famous for saying, “One for all, and all for one”. What if that were everyone’s motto, would the world be different? The answer is a loud YES, but since we don’t have control over everyone in the world; we’ll all simply have to be responsible for ourselves.
The idea that we’re all in this together is important for you, the caregiver/wellness partner, because it’s easy to fall into the trap of isolation and world on your shoulders. It’s important that the person you’re caring for be on your team as much as you’re on theirs. I know this may sound like a lot to expect, but sometimes it’s up to us to create the culture of mutuality. When someone is facing a health challenge it’s too easy to get caught up in your own life and only your life. Developing the capacity and the expectation that this journey to wellness is two sides of the same coin will save you lots of grief and bring you together instead of dividing the two of you.
Wouldn’t it be fun to stand in the middle of your lawn or at the park and shout out, “All for one and one for all”? Others may think you’ve lost it, but the truth is that however you say it, it needs to be a declaration. It’s not about negotiation, but collaboration. It’s important that you and the patient don’t try to compete for who’s worse off, or who is shouldering most of the burden. A health challenge impacts everyone in the family, so living the motto of the Three Musketeers is the mantra that will help catapult you and your loved one toward health and healing.
Pilgrim Pathway/Surviving Strong 