Appreciation Begins With You
We had our first meeting of the Rare Family Dynamics Workshop this past Tuesday and it was awesome! There was a wonderful turn out and three new Rare mothers joined the group. The community is growing. We are grateful you are here.
The theme of the meeting was appreciation. We explored how important it is to appreciate and acknowledge yourself. Let’s face it, most of us are our own toughest critics. It can be challenging to appreciate yourself. Self-appreciation is a practice. It’s a muscle and when you use it it gets stronger.
You Show Up
As a Rare caregiver, you are determined. You don’t give up. It’s important to acknowledge how you show up, recognize your strength and notice that you show up regardless – even when things get hard. And, there are lots of hard moments including trips to the emergency room, multiple doctor’s appointments and the chaos that can ensue at any moment.
Perhaps you take the time to appreciate that there were times when you didn’t give up even though you felt like it, you persevered. You are motivated by love.
One of the wise elder Rare mothers in our group put it this way, “I don’t give up. I show up.”
Restrict the Inner Critic
Notice any tendency to beat yourself up for things that you don’t do. If you follow the path of the inner critic, it will take you down. Be aware of when you have turned down one of those dark pathways and Pause. Notice what you are doing. When you are aware, you are at choice.
You Don’t Give Up
Notice that you never give up. Take time to recognize how being a member of a Rare family has grown you. Rare mothers and other caregivers become stronger because they show up. You might even be surprised at the things you’ve done and all that you have overcome. Celebrate your growth.
A Practice to Support You
You are invited to take time at the end of each day to acknowledge and appreciate yourself for the ways you have shown up and the things you have done throughout your day to support yourself and your Rare family..
Write them down in a journal or say them out loud. Listen to your words and let them sink in.
Receive
When you receive what you are doing and you appreciate yourself, it nourishes you and gives you strength to continue to show up for yourself, your Rare child and your Rare family.
Coming Up This Week: Embracing Change
In the early stages of becoming the primary caregiver for a Rare child, you are asked to embrace many changes as you move from a full or part-time professional to full-time caregiver. This is a huge shift and there are many feelings to embrace as you step into all that is involved in being an expert on your child’s Rare disease. Please join us for a potent conversation.
You Are Welcome Here
This group is open to all Rare caregivers regardless of gender or relationship status. Join our amazing community of Rare caregivers who know what it is to walk in your shoes every Tuesday morning at 10am PT. Come and be seen, heard and deeply understood. Let the community hold you. If you have been waiting to participate in this group and have felt it was not for you, it is now. We look forward to meeting you.
Come as you are. Your presence is a contribution.
Zoom Link:
We look forward to being together soon.
Warmly,
Padma
