I need to be my own “Motivational Coach”. Most of the time I am in uncharted waters and can easily get swept away by the enormity of this CarePartnering task. I am already doing more for my husband than I ever expected and know that even more will be asked as his disease progresses. How can I stay positive and motivated to meet the ever increasing challenges?

The first thing I need to understand is the importance of acknowledging the good things I am doing rather than focusing on mistakes I may make along the way. All of those little slipups are helping me learn how to better care for myself and my husband. Without making the occasional wrong turns, how will I know when the right ones come along?

To this end, I keep a copy of the Caregiver 10 Commandments posted next to my computer. It reminds me that perfection is overrated and that I can’t do it all. It reminds me that there will be days when things are left undone, and that it is okay. The most valuable thing that it reminds me is that other people have walked this path ahead of me and they have made it through, and so can I. I am strong, I am smart, I am loving, and I can be, no, I am a great CarePartner for my husband as we share in his journey with Parkinson’s Disease.