Taking care of the Caregiver

Hello dear friends, The last few posts have been submitted as snags from emails I get from friends. They make me giggle...the snags and my friends...so I posted them here. It's been an exhausting time for me as I care for my daughter and her newborn, my mother, and try to be an attentive girlfriend to my boyfriend and my girlfriends. No one expects me to do all that I do, but they are grateful, and I am content as it is who I am, Caregiver. However, even the Caregiver needs nurturing after a while and this is the time I choose to do so. I gave my mother and my daughter notice that the coming week is about caring for myself. They lovingly agreed and will seek assistance from other family members, if needed. So what will I do with my time now that it is not spent caring for others? I plan to meet girlfriends for lunch or dinner, go to a Peter Nero Pops Concert with my boyfriend, sleep late if I want to, take a nap if I want to, walk around in my pajamas all morning until noon if I want to, knit, read, sit and enjoy the Fall in Pennsylvania as the leaves are changing and it is a beautiful sight. In other words, I will allow my spirit to rejuvenate so I can remain strong for myself and others. I am so proud of myself for taking care of myself. This sense of empowerment gives me great inner strength and reinforces my thinking that I am deserving of such "selfishness". After all, not only do I benefit from caring for myself, but others reap the rewards as well.