Make use of your benefits

I have been fairly good lately at practicing what I preached a few months back about finding time for meditation. I have joined a weekly meditation group, but seem to experience head aches and pain in my back and shoulders right afterwards. I spoke to the facilitator about why this may be happening, he explained that when you meditate, it brings your awareness into the moment ... aches and pains that are always there on a low level are noticed.

I've had access to a benefits package from my work for nearly a year but the only one I've taken advantage of is a couple of dental visits. There are so many other great benefits included in my package that I have not even thought use ... such as acupuncture, massage therapy, visits to natural paths, etc. Why haven't I been caring for myself in this way all along?! After yet another somewhat grueling meditation session a few weeks ago I booked a visit to see a massage therapist and am already noticing a huge difference. I'm happy to report that today's meditation was pain free. Keeping my body happy seems to have a direct relationship to my inner peace and happiness. I think we can all agree that experiencing pain can be one of the fastest ways to put you in a bad mood, and blow regular life stresses out of proportion. Often pain and stress is experienced at that low, nearly unnoticeable level, but it is always with us unless we tend to it.

If you have a benefits package, I highly recommend that you start treating yourself to one (or all!) of them. It is one of the easiest and affordable ways that we can care for ourselves.

Journaling

I have been struggling in the last while with some blues ... with talk of the economy, the recession, ongoing violence, and the endless negativity put out by the media, I have found that somewhere along the way I temporarily lost my normally upbeat, positive self. I have been finding it easier to see the negative over the positive in the world (and in my own world). I came to the point recently where I felt it was time to move away from those feelings and search for the positive and truly care for myself by taking control of them. Times of blues that we all go through is a true test of the power of self care.

I was able to care for myself through journaling last week. My journal is something I seem to turn to only in "bad" times, and somehow forget to tend to it during the good ... but it doesn't seem to care about the kind of news I bring, it is always there when I need to use it. It doesn't judge me for the lack of attention that I give it, or the darkness that I bring to it at times. This is a place where I feel very safe getting some of the blues and negativity out of my system, and the process of writing with good old fashion pen and paper seems to bring such clarity for me. It has reminded me that my positive self is still present, just needing an extra nudge to make more than an occasional appearance ... a realization that has been very comforting for me.

Wear slippers at home

Practice making your home peaceful by wearing slippers. Try keeping them by the front door so you can slip into them when you enter.


*Self care practice from Mike George

Letting Go While Holding On: The Transition to Facility Care

There is yet another workshop being offered by the Family Caregiver Network Society to share with you:

Letting Go While Holding On: The Transition to Facility Care

When the time comes for a family member to be admitted to a care facility, this decision is just one of many made along the continuum of care. It is a time of transition for both the care recipient and their family. Relief is often felt by the family caregiver, but it is in conflict with other emotions such as guilt and grief. There can be a sense of loss as your role as primary caregiver changes. This change requires a gentle “letting go” while still holding on with love and compassion.

In this workshop we will explore how your role as family caregiver changes when the person you are caring for moves into a care facility. Practical information will also be provided on visiting with your loved one, communicating with healthcare providers and normalizing some of the emotional responses to a transition to care.

Facilitator: Sheilagh McIvor, Social Worker
March 28, 2009, 10:00 am - March 28, 2009, 12:30 pm
Leisure Suite, Alexander Mackie Lodge, 753 Station Avenue, Langford
$20.00 for FCNS members $25.00 for non-members
Limited seating. Please register by March 23rd.

Boundaries and Assertiveness: You Can't Have One Without the Other

Just a reminder about the next workshop being put on by the Family Caregiver Network Society:

Boundaries and Assertiveness You can’t have one without the other

Boundaries implicitly define for others what behaviours are acceptable and not acceptable when they interact with us. Being assertive grows from the knowledge you have about your own boundaries and involves stating clearly and calmly what you think, what you feel, and what you want to have happen.

In this workshop you will learn some simple yet effective tools that will benefit you as a family caregiver. Become more aware of your boundaries and learn how to be more assertive with the person for whom you are caring, other family members and people in the healthcare system. While you can’t change the world with a magic wand, you can make your life easier by knowing your boundaries and expressing yourself assertively.

Facilitator: Allison Reeves, M.A., Registered Clinical Counsellor March 21, 2009, 9:30 am - March 21, 2009, 12:30 pm Canadian Cancer Society, Vancouver Island Lodge, 2202 Richmond Road $25.00 for FCNS members $30.00 for non-members Limited seating. Please register by March 16th.

Finding the simple things

Make simple things that can be done in the moment part of your life: walking, running, meditation, prayer, singing, playing with a baby, gardening, sports, knitting, reading, watching the birds, music, baking, silence, laughing with a friend, whatever it is that lights you up and reminds you that you are more than your work as a caregiver.

*Self care practice from Heather Fox, MSW

Walking on grass

"Walking on grass", is a phrase and a beautiful image that I hear almost weekly from a client in one of my music therapy groups, to describe to me how he is feeling. We talk often about what this image looks like for him ... he describes how good it feels to walk through the cool grass in his bare feet. It always strikes me what a calming image this is. What a wonderful way of sharing how we are feeling with someone else, to use imagery and metaphors. Maybe this is something more of us should try.