No explanation necessary

 In most recent months, It has become glaringly apparent that I need to remind myself that I am enough and that I do not need anyone’s permission to allow myself the things I need in order that I may be the best person that I can.  Nobody understands the life of a caregiver, but a caregiver. Sometimes we  as caregivers have to remind ourselves that we need to take even better care of ourselves than those who are in our care. Well that may not make sense to many, it makes complete sense to me, or people who have even more responsibility than Me, when it comes to comes to caregiving.

 You see, as strong as we are for those in our lives that we care for, we are still actually very vulnerable at our core. Many do not understand that and see our times of quiet, and distance, as something being wrong with us and they do not try to understand. I have to remind myself, thanks to those in my life who are here to tell me, that I am worthy and I do need to take better care of myself if I am to be the best person that  I can.

 So it’s OK for me to have downtime. It’s OK for me to be vulnerable. It’s OK for me to be, or at least feel, week. It simply means that I am human, I am tired, and I need to remember that I am worthy and I am enough! No exclamation is necessary. No excuses need to be shared. No more.  I am Not less than. I am not second rate. I am not slow or lazy. I am me, I need to take care of me, and no one else needs to understand that more than I do! To my friends and the people who have truly been there and understand this, a heartfelt thank you! And now, it is time to do more to consistently take care of me!