It doesn’t take much to knock the wind out of my sails, throw me off course or overturn my boat these days. Said another way, my bucket is often overfull simply with the duties of being a CarePartner and then something else comes along. I go through my days like a tightrope walker trying to maintain balance as I wobble to reach the other end which never comes. And it only takes a slight breeze, or a new predicament, to send me tumbling. Thankfully there is a safety net below.

What does my safety net look like? Well, first of all it is my acceptance that things will happen and I will find a way through. Then, it is taking a breath and looking at the situation with clear eyes. I may discuss the problem with my husband and get his input or I may reach out to others in my network of family and friends. Finally, I try to determine if I can do this on my own or if I need outside help. Once I have a plan, I can take the first step to resolution.

Life is unpredictable and unfair. It doesn’t matter that I am busy caring for my husband or that I already have a full load, additional challenges are going to come along anyway. I can let them overwhelm me or I can acknowledge them and begin to look for solutions. Acceptance, understanding and my underlying safety net will keep me moving forward in this often-tumultuous journey.