Last week I spoke on Zoom to Margaret in England, as we chatted about my upcoming online talk to employees of a global technology company. It seems the need for support for family caregivers crosses oceans and time zones. We have so much in common, regardless of geography.
After scanning my website and listening to a few episodes of this podcast, Margaret wanted me to be sure include some dialogue about the upsides of being a family caregiver. To focus on the positives, despite and in the face of the grind…the day-in-and-day-out vigilance, the interrupted sleep, the appointments, the worry, the stress, the mess.  Challenge accepted!
Today I’d like to suggest that we are becoming more. No. Not more grumpy or short-tempered; although some days feel like that. No. I mean the more you and I are becoming over the long haul. How do I know this is happening? Because I’ve been paying attention to us. And, as time marches on, we are becoming more of the good stuff, despite our messy days as a family caregiver. Today I cover my top 5 observations about the ways the family caregiving journey is molding us into better human beings.
Resources:
My story in the Illinois Times, https://www.illinoistimes.com/springfield/blessed-in-this-mess/Content?oid=14868320
My interview with NPR Illinois, https://www.nprillinois.org/community-voices/2022-05-20/lori-schlosser-provides-encouragement-to-caregivers-with-podcast-blessed-in-this-mess-community-voices
Today’s Bible touchpoint, James 1:2-4, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A2-4&version=NIV
Takeaways:

Despite the difficulties around being a family caregiver, there are upsides to the journey.
We are become MORE of the good stuff in many ways. I offer five.
We are more deeply connected to friends who “get it.”
We are more accepting and flexible around accommodating others who have needs, even those different than ours.
We are more empathetic, better listeners, better encouragers.
We can be more influential, offering education and advocacy in schools, with medical systems and insurance companies, and in the halls of government.
We are more resilient, because we’re accustomed to finding joy in hard places and figuring out how best to cope with strain over time.
It is an act of extravagant love to persevere as a family caregiver. But that perseverance is shaping us into better human beings.

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