Yes, tell the best stories about a person. It sounds simple, and it is simple. It may not feel easy to do when there are potentially many reasons to feel overwhelmed, disappointed, exhausted on this path, especially when you weren’t planning to be a caregiver.
Andy Warhol coined and played with the meaning of this phrase, “15 minutes of fame.” My meaning is this: start small, and evolve with the best stories you have about the person you care for. Start with 5 minutes a day, one great story that brings you and him or her a good belly laugh or a proud feeling about life. Then 10 minutes. Then 15 minutes of fame a day.
You can certainly decide to add more time that is spent with the best stories, as you can. But do start.
And when you record or print or post or YouTube or Facebook or whatever these stories for everyone in the group around you-Hospice chaplains, best friends from childhood, son-in-laws, grandchildren, neighbors stopping by-then everybody wins.
Assist those who assist you by giving them an ‘in’, an introduction, a ‘rolling out the red carpet’ moment for everyone, for at least 15 minutes a day. Go for more as you can. May your days be full of as many stellar moments of laughter and delight as you can pack in.
Take care, and stay in touch,
Tryn Rose Seley,
Author, 15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders To Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground at www.caregiverheart.comPurchase PDF version of 15 Minutes of Fame
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