The Painful Endings
Our caregiving experience makes any ending that much more painful.
The Olympics ended last Sunday. On Monday and Tuesday, I felt like a mess — sad, slow and somewhat hopeless.
It was another ending.
During our caregiving experience, we endure so much that ends. Gone are the carefree days, the spontaneous decisions to go and go anywhere, nights spent in deep sleep. We also watch our caree decline, almost disappearing before us, which means we witness the end of their life. These intense and, at times, traumatic ends mean we can become really sensitive to other endings. I know others missed the Olympics on Monday. But, did they lose hope when they ended?
Each ending builds on all the other endings. We feel like we’re ending in some way, too. It’s hard to trust that something good or happy or fun will start and then continue indefinitely. Caregiving always seems to put an end to fun which leaves us feeling so defeated.
Will I have to wait until the Winter Olympics in 2026 to enjoy such an exhilarating diversion again, I wondered?
I received my answer on Friday when I read that the Paralympics, which starts on August 28, will have its own GoldZone, an amazing coverage of multiple events, on Peacock.
That news helped me find a better perspective. Our happiness will ebb and flow. An event or experience that brings joy may end. But, the joy is just in pause. Another opportunity that delights us will come. We can keep hope when there’s an ending because another beginning is on its way.
The day my sister-in-law died, a friend of hers gave birth to a daughter. We met the new baby at my sister-in-law’s funeral. We can be within the circle of endings and beginnings, trusting that beginnings will arrive for us again.
Summer ends so fall can begin.
How do you cope with the endings?
(Image by Erika Varga from Pixabay.)
Resources
We finished our Summer Flashlight Camp on Friday. You can enjoy the five lessons by joining our free course, Summer Flashlight Camp. During the course, I help you see the light shining on your purpose and then help you take steps to make your purpose your reality.
On Friday, I shared an overview of our training programs currently on sale: Certified Caregiving Consultant, Certified Caregiving Specialist, Comfort Care Family Coach and Professional Listening Artist. Watch the archive and learn more on how to save 20%.
Take Time for Comfort, the fifth book in the Take Comfort series, is available for $2.99 (you save $1) through August 18. To celebrate the release of my 14th book, the other 13 books will be available for free on Kindle on August 20 and 21. I'll share a reminder on August 20.