Journal of Sacred Work

4 responses to “Days 86-88 – Open Forum for Caregivers”

1. 

   Victoria Facey

   March 27, 2009

   Paying it Forward
   Has any day been designated for this cause? We have support/acknowledgment for administrative professionals, grandparents, teachers and so on – declaring a “Paying it Forward” day would open the door for endless acts of kindness.
   And now would be a great time to start this.
   There are households struggling with many challenges, seniors waiting for someone to stop by or care, students going without supplies and/or extra-curricular activities, single parents lacking groceries for days, and children who just want to feel good about being kids.
   How would we go about pushing this effort to the front of the line?
   I hear of people paying for others in the drive thru of coffee houses. BUT if we could designate this effort, it could/would draw attention on a larger scale = that’s a true “Caregiver” event. Why, we’d pen this event “National Caregiver Day”.
   Any comments? Suggestions? Interested partners?

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2. 

   ~liz Wessel

   March 27, 2009

   Victoria I love your idea and your enthusiasm. I think you might be on to something and I need to ponder what the next step might be. Of course I am willing to be your partner. 😉
   What I keep reflecting on today are two questions that Cathy posed to us yesterday in her extraordinary meditation. “What keeps us from reaching across the table to make contact with a gentle touch? Why do we let silence grow into an icy gulf when one softly spoken word of concern would bridge the gap?” It is painful when we reach out and are met with silence or and icy stare. I want to bridge the gaps in my life and in my ways of being.
   On a small scale I am really making an effort to awaken. It is very small but I am extending and stretching myself a little wider. For instance, this morning I received a phone message from a woman whose mother is in a skilled facility and she wanted information on homecare options for in home caregiver support. I thought about turfing this call to the intake department and that would have been appropriate but then I thought why not just take the time to call her back myself. I was able to learn about her mom’s situation and provide information and resource phone numbers that was very helpful to her. I encouraged her to call me again if she hit any roadblocks.
   Yesterday, I received a call from a student who is taking a special education class and she wanted to know if she could go out an observe someone with “special needs.” Her request was unusual, her description of what she needed so nebulous and our phone connection was fading in and out. I felt a bit exacerbated and told her I could not offer her a student placement. As I hung up I could hear the disappointment in her voice. A few minutes later I decided to call her back. We had a better connection and I was able to clarify what she needed which was still a stretch for us to accommodate but I gave her a lead to pursue an opportunity with us through her school and she seemed appreciative.
   Of course this is not glorious or inspirational as what you propose Victoria but in each little interaction, and in very small ways, and a million present themselves each day, I am trying to reach out to others in a more compassionate way.

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3. 

   ~liz Wessel

   March 28, 2009

   When I think of my comments from yesterday they are so miniscule I wonder why I even posted…I can only tell you I come with a sincere desire to reach out to you.
   I offer you this today in a spirit of praying it forward…
   Father, Mother, God,
   Thank you for your presence
   during the hard and mean days.
   For then we have you to lean upon.
   Thank you for your presence
   during the bright and sunny days,
   for then we can share that which we have
   with those who have less.
   And thank you for your presence
   during the Holy Days, for then we are able
   to celebrate you and our families
   and our friends.
   For those who have no voice,
   we ask you to speak.
   For those who feel unworthy,
   we ask you to pour your love out
   in waterfalls of tenderness.
   For those who live in pain,
   we ask you to bathe them
   in the river of your healing.
   For those who are lonely, we ask
   you to keep them company.
   For those who are depressed,
   we ask you to shower upon them
   the light of hope.
   Dear Creator, You, the borderless
   sea of substance, we ask you to give to all the
   world that which we need most—Peace.
   Prayer by ~Maya Angelou

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4. 

   ~liz Wessel

   March 29, 2009

   Victoria,
   I’ve been thinking of your idea of paying it forward and I have an idea. What if we begin small and introduce this idea to the Caregiver Voice Committee. Basically, I believe that people do practice this concept already. However, do so intentionally may be a way to raise consciousness and help to awaken our compassion. Two thoughts, when someone expresses appreciation to us for a kind gesture we might say, think nothing of it, perhaps if an opportunity presents itself you can pay it forward. Second, for anonymous random acts of kindness we might have a little calling card, so to speak. On the card it might explain the concept and invite the receiver to paerticipate and to the pass the card on to another person and in this way the gestures might continue to expand out. I like small beginning and the momentum that builds with faith and goodwill. Just a thought or two from your partner in crime, perhaps other readers may want to try this or offer additional ideas?
   Okay, back to weeding my flower garden.

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