Photo Credit: Amy Goyer
The magic number for the trip was “5.” Five days of the sound of ocean. Five days of reading magazines. Five days of eating scrumptious seafood in lovely beachside restaurants. Five days of chatting non-stop with my dear friend of 45 years, Laurette.
It took me five days of this nirvana to finally wake up in the morning without a panicky feeling, “What didn’t I do? What do I need to get done today? What have I forgotten? What ends did I leave loose?” Five full days before I could lie on that beach chair and not be uncomfortable with the lack of schedule. Five days to whatever…!
But I finally got there. Ahhhhh.
Any of you who are caregivers know that the thought of a week away from our loved ones requires a great deal of planning ahead:
- Do I have the paid caregivers set up?
- Can my friends check in and make sure the caregivers are doing their jobs?
- Who will drive my parents to their appointments?
- Do I need to reschedule doctor visits?
Sadly, the vacation was only six days, so once I reached the go-with-the-flow stage I had one day left to cement the feeling. Did I want to go home? Not really. But I’m home and my new challenge is to maintain what I found in myself at the beach.
Here are some ways I’m translating that week of respite to some on-going peace:
- Respite journal. I write down everything – the emotions I feel as I start to wind down all the laughing, talking with friends, getting a massage, exercising, writing, watching movies, reading self-help books or escaping in a novel. Writing it all down helps me later when I am I the throes of caregiving and need to find quick ways to recapture that “whatever” feeling.
- Massage wishes. As the masseuse worked on my upper back, neck and shoulders I felt like he was breaking up all the emotional tension there and it was turning into fairy dust and floating away like the wisps of a ripe dandelion. So I made three wishes as I envisioned blowing on the dandelion: 1) peace of mind; 2) wonderful caregivers who love my parents, are totally committed and conscientious, warm, loving, humorous, energetic, smart, and dependable; and 3) wisdom to continue getting the best treatments for my parents. Weekly trips for a massage or pedicure will help me relive this feeling.
- Meditation sounds. I find that at the beach the repetitiveness and constancy of the waves seems to blur the constant chatter (a.k.a. worry) in my head. My mind quiets and I don’t even feel the need to think. When I got home, I downloaded a sounds of nature app that helps soothes.
- Dance. One of the great joys of the beach is watching the little children play. Their unbridled joy is so evident. It reminds me that, deep inside beneath the layers of grown-up crap, my soul is still actually as light and free as they are. Watching them helps me reconnect with the freedom at my core.
Since I returned from vacation, I try to replicate that feeling in my life by dancing more often – it’s the closest thing I can find to that physical expression of freedom those beach kids have. I dance with my Dad, with Jackson, by myself in the living room with music blaring – whatever works. I may even try some dance lessons!
- Do nothing. Although I am aware that I am a “human being, “not a “human doing,” it’s extremely difficult for me to just “be.” When I’m not hands-on caregiving I’m working, cleaning, organizing, managing finances, yard work, planning … there’s always more things on my to-do list. It’s tough for me to justify any time to just relax. But at the beach I was able to get to a point of stillness and just “be.”
How can I replicate that at home? In additional to my daily meditation, I try to spend a little time each day – even if it’s just 15 minutes – being entertained by television, reading a book, sitting on the porch and enjoying a cool evening, having a cup of tea and glancing through a magazine or listening to music.
How do you stretch your respite time once you get back into the chaos of caregiving? Please share your ideas in the comments section below!
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