We all know that being able to share our thoughts and experiences with others can help us keep perspective. It can also help us stay healthier. And, maybe most important of all, it could be of use to someone else.
I know when I wrote my book, Three Months: A Caregiving Journey from Heartache to Healing I wasn’t planning on writing a book. I was just trying to keep my thoughts straight. I was also creating lists to remember doctor appointments and suggested resources. In time these notes took a distinct narrative form and I could see a story evolving about the shock I was experiencing. Out of the blue- my wife and I learned that she had terminal Stage Four pancreatic Cancer. We were given six months and she only lived through the first three.
Time was ticking; with each passing day the window of opportunity for hope was getting smaller and talking to myself with pen and paper helped to provide comfort.
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Since then I have spoken with many caregivers who found comfort and solace in my story and in sharing with others the heartbreak and challenges they faced. In that process they also wereable to aide those who might have been only a few steps behind them in what can feel like a very dark tunnel with no road map or clues about what happens next.
I encourage others to tell their stories in whatever ways are most appropriate for them. For me it was writing that over time became a first person tale of the journey I took. For someone else it might be blog posts, audio or video recordings or, for those who have visual talents, collages or works of art that link the dots of their experiences caregiving a loved one.
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There are many good resources out there to help you get started. Here’s one in particular that I think I have come across several good resources for those who want to start the process:
