HOLDING IT ALL
This week in our Tuesday support group we had a conversation about an incredibly tender topic. We looked at the reality of the end of your Rare child's life, and the fact that you will most likely outlive them. This is a difficult thing to contemplate, and yet it is useful. If you allow it to come into your awareness, you can give yourself the time and space to feel your feelings. You can grieve and learn how to hold yourself in some of the deepest pain you will ever experience.
Tending to the heart
It is a good idea to have a spiritual practice like meditation or prayer so that you can learn how to turn toward these feelings and hold your beautiful heart in a deep space of love. Learning how to wrap your warm arms around yourself is a skill. As you tend to your heart, you expand your capacity to lean in and be present with the full range of your feelings. This is no small feat and it takes practice. You learn to trust and surrender to something bigger than your idea of yourself.
Staying engaged
When you are in the stage of survivorship (Stage 6 on the Emotional Journey Map), it's important to stay engaged with your life. When your Rare child leaves this physical plane, your life will change drastically and your surroundings change as well. You may need to reorient your space as well as orient to yourself and your needs. It's very important to maintain connections with friends and other people who understand what you are going through, which is one of the primary purposes of our weekly support groups on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am Pacific Time.
Coming Up Next Week: Replenish With Self-Care
Self-care is at the core of finding balance and sustainability in your life. It’s not easy for raregivers to make time for self-care and it is hugely important. Who knows how to take care of you better than your pre-caregiver self? In this session we will take some time to connect with who you were before you became a raregiver. We will explore what types of activities gave you pleasure, rest, fulfillment or a sense of ease. Come and be nourished in this session with others who support you to take care of yourself.
Please Join Us 🍁 🍂 🍃
You may not realize how much you need the Raregivers community until you find it.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88974713173
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving and we look forward to being with you soon! 🍁 🍂 🍃 🍁 🍂 🍃 🍁 🍂 🍃