Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief
Many of us will agree that 2020 has been a crummy year for a plethora of reasons, and we are all hoping that 2021 will mark a new beginning.
For me, I lost my beloved Pixxie in July, developed heart arrhythmia issues in August, discovered a cataract in my right eye in September, and then — the doozy — my mom broke her hip in October.
Many of you already know I have been living with my elderly parents the past two years, and was already acting as a caregiver to my mom with help from my dad (who also needs help on occasion). When I first decided to move in, it was because mom had heart failure, shortly after she was diagnosed with blood cancer, and now a broken hip.
To say it’s been a lot would be an understatement. Being a caregiver when you yourself still need self-care is overwhelming. Throw in dealing with your own heart issues and spending all of your extra time scheduling doctor appointments for yourself, your mom, and your dad. It’s a lot. A lot a lot.
The moral of the story: it’s important — critical — to practice self-care. You cannot help others when your own cup is empty. I have had to learn how to balance time helping my parents with time practicing self-care for myself, whether it’s a few minutes of meditation, a quick yoga practice, working with my crystals and essential oils, or — my favorite — going for a walk while listening to a good podcast or audiobook. Find ways to make self-care a part of your daily routine. Your mental health will thank you.
