HARVESTING SELF-CARE
Our Tuesday women's empowerment Circle continues to be profoundly nourishing. Each week Raregivers are making deep connections with themselves and each other. It is quite miraculous. This week we looked at how to harvest the self-care gems from the earlier part of your life before you were a Raregiver, we asked ourselves how we could weave these practices into our current lives.
Nourishment takes all forms
Take a moment and close your eyes. Breathe and let your body relax. Ask yourself the question: what is nourishing for me? Is it activities, ways of being, practices or perhaps ways of relating like setting boundaries. Once you know what nourishes you, you can bring it into the present. In fact, the only way you can know what you need is to rest into the present moment. It is here that true guidance is revealed.
Self-care
For some of us self-care looks like yoga, working out or taking a hike. It may look like time with your pet or in your garden. Trust that you know what you need. Remember that you can do abbreviated versions of these so that you are able to practice multiple times a week. The main thing you can do is show up and give this time to yourself. When you give time to yourself, you are tending to your family and your rare child.
For some of us, solitude is nourishing, and for others it is being in community. Being a Raregiver can be very isolating and oftentimes your old friends do not understand your new reality. They simply can't relate. This can be very painful because the people who once were a source of support and care are no longer able to play these roles. Certain people can rise to the occasion and meet you where you are while others cannot.
Being a Raregiver entails a lot of acceptance and letting go. Let yourself feel the heartbreak of losing a close friend. Your feelings make sense and they want to be felt. Once you take the time to be with what you’re feeling, the emotions will dissolve and you’ll be left with a feeling of spaciousness. As Einstein said, “the universe abhors a void.” Trust that new friends and deep soul connections will appear in their own time.
Coming Up Next Week: End Of Life & Survivorship (Stage 5 & 6 Emotional Journey Map)
In this session we will have a tender conversation about how as a raregiver you are trying to strike a delicate balance between trying to create and live a “normal” life and grieving daily (also called anticipatory grief) for the life that could have been—for yourself and your loved one. But at some point, you as a raregiver must grapple with how best to prepare for the end of your loved one’s life.
When caregiving has been at the core of your experience and identity, the end of caregiving can trigger not only distress, but also guilt and uncomfortable and unanticipated feelings of relief. For some raregivers, grieving involves not only the loss of their loved one, especially a child, but also involves grieving for the life they hoped to live with their loved one. Over time, it is possible for raregivers to feel stronger and develop a new identity. You are invited to join us to share what’s in your heart and learn ways of navigating these profound stages of caregiving. All of your feelings are welcome.
Please Join Us ❤️
You may not realize how much you need the Raregivers community until you find it. When you participate in these weekly meetings, you’ll make lasting friendships with people who truly understand you.
Zoom Link: Click Here
We look forward to being with you soon. ❤️❤️❤️