I am a nurse.  I am proud to be a nurse.  I have been a nurse for 29 years.  For those who may not know, as a nurse, even when you are no longer working a “real job”, you are still a nurse.  My career was a remarkable journey and I am grateful for every job I had along the way.

When I was a bedside nurse, I took care of patients.  As a manager and administrator, I took care of employees. For those of you who have had any experience in management at any level, you will understand when I say that taking care of employees is a far bigger challenge than taking care of patients!

I knew I wanted to be a nurse when I was 5 years old. As a child, I took care of everything and anything! I would find an abandoned bird and build a make-shift nest in a box.  I then attempted to care for that tiny creature with a futile outcome.   My parents were very patient, allowing me to hone my skills.  As I grew through childhood into adolescence my idea of “what I want to be when I grow up” shifted through many stages. 

I always came back to nursing.

I am a caregiver through and through.

I know there are those of you reading who identify with this role.  We are the people that others turn to when they are in need.  We are the problem-solvers.  We are the doers.  We are often the behind-the-scenes workers that make sure things get done.  You do not have to be in a healthcare profession to fill this role.  But it seems you are somehow born to it.

Here is the catch about being a caregiver, and I too am a victim at times:

I forget to take care of myself…too often.

Sure, I eat right, exercise, and otherwise work to keep my body fit.  However, there are many times I fail miserably at nurturing the “inside” of me.  I forget that I need time to push all of my adult responsibilities aside for a time and have fun.  I forget that I am allowed to ask for help.  I forget that I am allowed to be weak.  I forget that I am allowed to accept that someone else can have a turn being “the strong one” while I take time to mourn and cry.

For those of you who know a caregiver in your life, please know that we sometimes need a gentle nudge (or smacked directly in the head with a brick) to be reminded that we do not always have to be the caregiver.  It is more than okay if we give you a turn to take care of US.  Be warned… we are not good at accepting care.  Thankfully, we have the capacity to learn.

Today I am reminding myself that I must take time for me.  It is not selfish to do so; rather it is self-preservation.  It is my time for healing.  As with all things in life, it is required for balance.

This caregiver is reminded she deserves the same good care she gives.  I will listen to myself.  And I will start right now!