Trauma Fights the Clock But Caregiving Fights the Calendar

This is Peter Rosenberger and this is your Caregiver Minute. When someone we love is hurting, suffering, or impaired, we often heroically leap to action and fight the danger. Although it's a good trait in an emergency, it's unsustainable in the marathon of caregiving. Unlike trauma, caregiving requires a different approach. In trauma, the clock is the adversary, but it's the calendar in caregiving. We engage caregivers in way too many battles on multiple fronts, leaving us depleted or worse.

Remember the mask of Zorro Don Diego said to Alejandro, oh yes, my friend, you would have fought very bravely and died very quickly. That's us as caregivers. While actions remain important, discretionary valor is equally, if not more, essential as a caregiver. That discretion of knowing when to act, speak, or be still comes with time and effort. This isn't practice, but it's a necessary part of our journey in becoming healthy caregivers. Being still often requires enormous discipline and is its own form of bravery. Although some may not recognize it, knowing when to act often reflects extraordinary valor. And I love this quote that somebody told me a long time ago, don't just do something, stand there. There's more information at standingwithhope.com.