| If you look up caregiver in the dictionary, it is defined as | | | | caregiver----(whether you are paid for your position or |
| someone who gives direct care. The example given | | | | a brother or sister taking care of a sibling or a parent |
| was someone who cares for the chronically ill, or for | | | | taking care of a child or another adult or your |
| children. Since I teach special education children | | | | parent)---- because we all human. I like to think that we |
| (K-22yrs old) about moving their bodies, then I would | | | | are "All Spiritual Beings having a Human Experience." |
| qualify as a caregiver. I feel a great deal of pride in | | | | There is a tremendous amount of stress related to |
| being called a caregiver, even though our society does | | | | being a caregiver and sometimes it takes its toll on you |
| not seem to value the importanceof what we are | | | | physically, mentally, and emotionally. So, as funny as it |
| doing with monetary remuneration. Teachers and | | | | may seem caregivers are usually the worst people at |
| nurses who are primary caregivers, are usually at the | | | | taking care of themselves. |
| bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to salaries, | | | | It is a valuable lesson that they must learn in order to |
| so I know firsthand most of us did not go into it for the | | | | truly last in this lifestyle. I call it following the "Caregiver's |
| money. (Doctors fare much better with their standard | | | | Golden Rule---------"Do unto YOU as you would Do |
| of living.) However, in most foreign countries these | | | | unto others!!!!" So, for me, I have learned to take a |
| same teachers and nurses are well paid and revered | | | | mental health day every once in awhile, when my |
| by the entire society. An interesting commentary about | | | | batteries need to be recharged. I do something just for |
| what we value in this Country-----------we would much | | | | ME----like sleeping in----going to the beach-----staying at |
| rather pay the people who take care of our cars | | | | home with the phone off---getting a |
| more than the people who take care of our elderly or | | | | massage----anything that I want to do!!!! |
| children. Something to think about, now that there is a | | | | Another group of caregivers that I really want to |
| shortage in both fields. | | | | acknowledge are those parents who are dealing with |
| So, if it is not for the money why do most people go | | | | children with a disability or those children who are |
| into these fields? I truly believe it is a calling for most | | | | dealing with parents who require constant care. I have |
| people, and also a very special gift that they are | | | | a great deal of respect andappreciation for them. I |
| honoring. I believe that we all are born with a purpose, | | | | watched my mom care for my dad who had |
| and it is up to all of us to find out what that purpose is, | | | | Altzheimer's, and respected her choice of "in sickness |
| in order to fulfill our destiny. It is what fills your soul with | | | | and in health", but I also had to let her know that she |
| joy each day and makes you excited to go to work. | | | | needed a break sometimes for herself. It can be a |
| Caregivers truly fulfill the calling ofbeing of service to | | | | thankless job being with people that don't even |
| others, regardless of pay---for most it is their soul's | | | | understand what you are trying to do for them, and all |
| destiny. I've seen many people go into these | | | | you can do is just love them. |
| professions, after they realized that the corporate or | | | | I think love and compassion are the main ingredient for |
| business world did not fulfill their soul's joy or destiny. | | | | ALL caregivers. So, in ending this article on caregivers I |
| Once they honor what their true purpose is, there is a | | | | would like to say if you know one----let them know |
| different look in their faces and they are excited | | | | how much you appreciate what they do---that is |
| with"loving life." This may sound a little corny, but I have | | | | worth more than money!!! If you are one, and receive a |
| seen it happen over and overagain-----------it is about a | | | | great deal of joy, love, and peace in what you do, than |
| soul's renewal and remembrance of their promise. It is | | | | know that you are truly fulfilling your soul's work and |
| about truly loving what you do!!!!! | | | | that What You Do is Important to the World!!! |
| Does that mean that there are no "down days" as a | | | | |