Whether or not your job includes working outside enduring the elements or seeing others suffer with no ability to change their situation, caregiving for a loved one possibly could be the most difficult job of all. Why, because it is a job from the heart and not one easily left behind once you leave the job site. Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving
How do you leave loved ones who are unable to go out and do much else for themselves without a saddened tug on your heart? Your heart wants you to know to that it is alright to do for yourself, but you feel torn as you see the loneliness in your loved one’s eyes. Then you feel selfish because, in your pit of despair, you desperately fear what is going to be left of your own life after years of caregiving to another. You cause sheer inner hatred by thinking of what the future might bring once the hardest job of your life is over. Do you talk about your feelings? Very little, as only those who have gone through what you are living through have the ability to understand. Of course, you want to run. But where? Your nerves, if you have any left, are shattered.
The fear cemented deep within your soul is your lifeblood of comfort you as you watch time flying forward for both you and your loved one. You wonder whether or not there ever will be a day that you don’t live in fear of what is going to happen the next day or even the next minute. Say “hello” to your loved one on a beautiful day in a wonderful mood that not even you think could be broken. Then a feather drops and causes your temper to flair with words you know that one day you are going to wish you had never said. Being able to forgive and forget what both do or say during heated times possibly is how to save yourself when handling the painful job of being a caregiver. In addition, if you are a caregiver, you must allow yourself to give and take love and positive strokes for of from each of you.
Too frequently you cling to your hurt feelings because anger often becomes the mode of exchange with your love one. I can become angry with myself because I wonder how I would be reacting if I were watching my own body fall apart. How would you like to watch your body fall apart? This answers the question as to why caregivers often cry themselves to sleep. The crumbling of a body is not an easy thing to watch. As you hold your tears back, you do all that you can to emotionally distance yourself. In reality, all that is left to do is hope that you are being kind enough to the person who is deteriorating before your eyes. You allow yourself to cry when you leave because your tears are for them. Their eyes tell the story of the sorrow that only one losing the use of his or her body could feel.
Run home, it is ok. Go cry, it is ok. You need to relieve yourself of your feelings of sorrow and fear that only caregiving can produce. If you understand the words describing the emotions of this caregiver, I think that both of us are learning the meaning of the word “caregiver.”
As a caregiver, I find that I am unable to offer you an exact definition. Caregiving could mean loving enough to visit frequently. Or caregiving might mean that you are your loved one’s leaning post. You could be his or her full-time caregiver. Caregiving often is defined as being able to help someone who is unable to care completely for herself or himself without assistance. Be sure to remember that the word “care” is combined with the word “giving.” You are giving a part of yourself to care for someone you love during her or his time of need. No matter how difficult the caregiving job may be, there is no more rewarding work in existence. Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregivins
By Sandra Speer
Ms. Speer is living her passion of using her education (BA, MAOM, Ph.D., abd), life, published articles, and 30+ years of work experience toward eliminating institutionalized elder/disabled individual abuse by writing for and speaking to organizations and individuals throughout the world. With each story or speaking engagement, her goal is to become closer to helping all understand the process of aging and that “Institutionalized Abuse” does not have to be a part of an aging or disabled individual’s life. Her heartfelt message is for all ages because learning to respect and protect our elders is key to teaching that abuse of human beings never leads to lasting success.
Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving
Hardest Most Rewarding Job is Caregiving
