Mantra

My nephew Mark suggested this web site for daily inspirations. It has been good for me and I look forward to them every day.

A recent one was, "Anything you do to overcome or prevent, causes a spotlight on the very thing you are wanting to overcome and prevent. You cannot take enough action to compensate for the Energy that you're flowing.

--- Abraham (dailyquote@abraham-hicks.com)

I found it a little confusing so I e-mailed Mark and said, "So what's the message here? Don't try to overcome or prevent?"

His reply was simple, "Focus only on what you want never what you don't want.  I love you."

So I thought about Gregory's recent declines and tried to figure out how I could phrase what it was that I really wanted without focusing on trying to overcome or prevent.


After a progression of fine tuning my mantra, this is what I came up with:


"I am responding to Gregory's needs in a supportive way with love and respect." 


I have been using it and guess what? It seems to be working.

I Love My mouse

This is the third of three postings about the recent possibility of using a skin cancer drug to help reverse Alzheimer's.

I have nick named Gregory (if only in my mind,) MOUSE.

On one hand it reminds me of the adorable, yet complex character in the "Tales of the City" by Amistad Maupin.

It also is a quick way to keep awareness of what it must be like to experience what Gregory is going through based on the above study's mouse's inability to do something as innate, and simple as building a nest.

Mouse. My little mouse.

For more than three decades, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the Cityhas blazed its own trail through popular culture—from a groundbreaking newspaper serial to a classic novel, to a television event that entranced millions around the world. The first of six novels about the denizens of the mythic apartment house at 28 Barbary Lane, Tales is both a sparkling comedy of manners and an indelible portrait of an era that changed forever the way we live.

Silence

Today's Daily Word addresses something I continue to work on in my relationship with Gregory. In an effort to "be his words, be his story, support his actions" I find that I continue to jump in too soon. If given a enough time, if given silence, he often is able to formulate his words or work out an action on his own.

In an effort to protect him, often I jump in too soon and often my help only serves to distract and confuse him. Often it frustrates and angers me. It is painful for me to watch him struggle, especially when I can tell from his face and from his posture that he is indeed struggling. Even more difficult is that when he cannot come up with what he was trying to say or do, he is not able to move to "Can you help me?" Just silence. Painful silence. So often I have to jump in.

Another situation that I continue to work at monitoring is "When do I need to correct him?" The guideline is "Are babies dying?" Translated this means does the fact that he is not doing something correctly matter? Is he in danger? If not, I try to say nothing. Silence. But often I am already giving feedback when I realize to late, "Not necessary." Silence would have been better.

So recently, after I "mess up" I repeat silently to myself, "Say nothing. Do nothing. Say nothing. Do nothing." Besides helping me calm down I am trying to bring my actions to a higher conscious level so I do not react, but rather act ahead of time. Act before I speak.

At the same time I am carrying on an argument with myself because at times I must "Say something. Do something." It is not fair to him or to myself to always say or do nothing. So I have been looking for a better mantra.

With this Daily Word, I have that mantra:  SILENCE. Working at being silent (and repeating the word "Silence" over and over again) will give me time to think, while waiting to see if I have to jump in. This is the answer to how I might handle myself when these occasions arise.

At least for now. At least until the game rules change again. I'll let you know how it works.

(As I usually do when sharing a Daily Word post, I have revised the thoughts to reflect my spirituality.)

About Daily Word | Pray | Affirmations | Articles | Search Archives | Subscribe | Shop | Donate Saturday, December 24, 2011 SILENCE In the Silence, I am strengthened and renewed. Before I begin my day, I rest in the silence of the morning, close my eyes and breathe in deeply. A smile comes to my lips as I feel the loving presence of God life. In silence there is power, depth, beauty and strength. I can never be alone, for God love and life dwell s within me. Silently, my prayers thoughts go forth to bless send love to a dear one, and silently, I meditate upon the joy within. It is in the silence that God strengthens my faith in life and in myself and fills me with courage. In the silence are born new aspirations, new inspirations and renewed faith. In the silence, I walk and commune with the my indwelling Spirituality and rest in God's life's sustaining love. Peace, be still. I am in the presence of the Almighty. In glorious wonderment I travel on holy ground. I experience myself both inward and outward, during calm times and during turbulent times, and know that both are signs that I am alive as I travel life's path and that all is well. Be silent, all people, before the Lord.--Zechariah 2:13

My Mantra & My Advice to Others

This is my mantra and my advice to others who are dealing with being a caregiver for whatever reason; be it an elderly parent, an ill life partner, the day to day relationship and needs of a spouse, a mother for her child as he grows up.

"Be good to yourself, take time for yourself, believe in yourself, all you really have is yourself!" (Michael A. Horvich 2011)

People would always say, "You need to take care of yourself." Had figure out what that meant in the middle of the continuous crisis that is Alzheimer's. Easy for them to say but you're the one in the middle of the cyclone. But one day you learn. As you will have to do for yourself.

You need to be selfish. Selfish doesn't mean selfish. It means SELFish. If you don't take care of yourself first, you will not have the energy, time, and/or spirit to take care of others. If you are in poor health you will not be able to help others. If you are frustrated and angry, you will not be able to be organized and calm.

I have learned. One day you will too!