Standing at the sink washing dishes, I realized something was wrong. There was no panic in the pit of my stomach. My hands were steady. My breath was even. Could it be? Is this what 'normal' feels like? It has been so long, I have forgotten. Every night at 8pm for the past two years(at least), I had to call dad for his 8pm pill. Nine times out of ten I had to call twice to reach him on the phone, explain where the pill was, tell him to take it with water, explain the 1/2 bedtime dose. Pure frustration.
With him in the hospital, I've not had to do the pill reminders (other than whipping the staff into shape to get the pills on schedule)... but I have had the worry of him recovering... is he going to recover? Is everything going to be ok? That worry replaced the 8 pm pill worry in the pit of my stomach.
Until today. Today has been the first day I have been able to exhale. Today he was sitting up, mind clear... even asked me what I had been up to that afternoon, and thanked me for coming in to see him.
In a side note; I had been reading further in October 2011 Vogue, about Arianna Huffington, co-founder of Huffington Post. This is a woman who knows all about juggling many activities and responsibilities. She states that women have a responsibility to correct the way things are run. Her slogan is, "Unplug, recharge, sleep." We have so much going on in our lives, we are connected all the time, and there is an expectation to be connected all the time. With so much going on, all the more reason to take a break, step back and hear yourself think. I have found this slogan to be beneficial in these past weeks in dealing with all that dad has thrown at me. I have needed to unplug, recharge and sleep. The days following that action have definitely been easier to manage than the days where I don't give myself a break. On that note, I think I need to follow through on my words, and disconnect... good night!
Click here for the October 2011 Vogue article on Arianna Huffington...
No comments:
Post a Comment