I woke this morning with this song playing in my head. I always think of it when someone tells me that I can’t give from an empty cup.
Over the five-and-a-half years that I was helping Mike negotiate his illnesses I heard many times and from many people some version of take care of yourself. Probably I needed it most when I was working full time as the Oakley Area Tourism Director.
A team of mules at the State Cornhusking Contest in 2015.
I remember when we were planning the State Cornhusking Contest in 2015, I would be at meetings and be reminded of something I said I would do. I must have responded with a blank stare and many times my response would be “was I here for that?”
That was also the fall that Mike and I were traveling to MD Anderson in Houston every month usually with trips to KU Med Center in between.
I was so exhausted from the travel and trying to do my job when I was home and sometimes when I was away that I couldn’t remember my commitments.
We agree to be caregivers because of our love for the one needing care. Possibly for professional caregivers because of our love for humans.
It’s easy to get burned out. To become emotionally dehydrated. Like I was. We forget to take care of ourselves because we are so focused on our loved ones.
In January of 2016 I left my Tourism job because it was being combined with another job and started my two-year intensive training to become an Equine Gestalt Coach. This was one of the best moves I made for myself.
The Touched By A Horse program is full of loving, supportive people. It was right where I needed to be at that time. It was one of the ways I took care of myself.
You see the horses have amazing love and healing powers. I had always intuitively known this I had not, however, seen it in such a way.
I think with every Core I attended I would let out a huge sigh of relief when I got there. Sometimes I didn’t know if I was going to be able to go right up to the last minute. The only one I had to reschedule was because of my surgery not anything to do with Mike.
This program, the horses, and the people put me in the best place I could be emotionally do deal with being diagnosed with breast cancer while I was caregiving for Mike.
The whole experience has made me passionate about creating a safe space for doctors, patients, and caregivers to work on making connections and taking care of themselves.
Burnout is very real. If you’d like to get my tip sheet on how to avoid caregiver burnout click here.
My horses and I help doctors, patients, and caregivers make more synergistic connections for better communication and understanding to increase wellness. If you feel called to work with us, please hit “reply” to this email and let’s set up a time to talk. I would love to gift you with a free 30-minute call to see if I might be a fit to work with you.
My Cup Runneth Over with love. Keep it filled up.
Make a Connection in the comments below.
Onward! Why Continuity of Care Matters to Your Patients and Their Caregivers
