"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of [a person] to elevate his [or her] life by a conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau

   As you perhaps know,  Thoreau came up with many of his most discerning insights while living in isolation in a cabin on Walden Pond. For those of you who toil by the bedside of sick patients or help other vulnerable people, you understand how lives are elevated.
   Our humanity is ennobled when we lift up others. The same is true when we gratefully receive the encouragement and compassion of others rather than to dismiss it.
   Today, may you see your life elevated through the mirror of someone you encounter.

Be well,
Erie

Categories:

4 responses to “Days 205-207 – How Caregivers Elevate Their Lives”

  1. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    I have heard it said that to give is to receive… and to receive is to accept. Sometimes I place a wall of resistance against receiving the gift offered. However, when I am open to receive I naturally offer acceptance in return. Life does not conform to my preconceived notions of what should be. Darn! Perhaps, it is as simple as the wind messing my hair or pressing matters that arise to diverge from my planned course for the day. Yet, when I let go of my expectations and accept life as it is, I may discover the hidden gift that is in all.
    Your blessing reminds me of the beautiful Sanskrit greeting called Namaste, “I honor the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honor the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.”
    Wishing everyone a peace filled weekend!

    Like

  2. Karen York Avatar
    Karen York

    Thank you Erie. I feel elevated after reading this.

    Like

  3. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    There is an elderly woman who I have never met but we speak often by phone. She has cancer with mets to her brain, bones and throughout her body. Her speech is affected and although her words come out in a bumpy way, there is a little laugh that trails behind each stuttering utterance that is so endearing to me. I call to ask how she is managing with the pain. It is intense when she tries to get up from the chair. I try to offer suggestions to ease her pain but she is adamantly resists taking pain medication. She is away for two weeks visiting her daughter’s family and grandchildren. I call to check in, she is sleeping but I have chance to talk with her daughter. “Mom has energy in the morning. She makes busy washing my dishes and cleaning my house. Then she sleeps the rest of the day. I tell her not to, that I don’t need her to help but there is no stopping her. She goes in the bathroom and closes the door. I can’t see her but I know she is down on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor. It is so hard because I don’t want her to do this.” I say, “I guess it is her way of expressing her love, and what a beautiful love that is.”
    I think about the many trips home to visit my mom. The many times she wanted to fix something for me to eat. “No mom, I am fine, no I can fix my own sandwich, no, you don’t need you to wait on me.” I would feel frustrated by her continuous attempts to get me to eat something! As you can see, I did not accept her gift of love very well. Ah, my mom is 93 now and no longer able to fix me meals. I’d like to think that I would receive her gift differently now, if I had the chance. Soon I will visit my mom and I look to lovingly receive her gifts during our precious little time together.
    Funny, how now my son John loses his patience with me when I dote on him and worry about his safety.

    Like

  4. ~liz Wessel Avatar
    ~liz Wessel

    Through a mirror, Love brightly shines…
    Let me not to the marriage of true minds
    Admit impediments. Love is not love
    Which alters when it alteration finds,
    Or bends with the remover to remove:
    O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
    That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
    It is the star to every wandering bark,
    Whose worth’s unknown, although his height be taken.
    ~Excerpt from Shakespeare’s 116 Sonnet

    Like

Leave a reply to ~liz Wessel Cancel reply