ng Hurts
Facing Guilt You Never Saw Coming
still second-guess yourself. That’s the thing about caregiver guilt; it doesn’t always come from making a mistake. Sometimes, it comes from trying to be everything, all the time. When you finally do take time to rest, you may even feel selfish. But here’s the truth: Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s essential. A New Kind of Respect This experience may have given you a new respect for caregivers, especially those who show up daily without recognition. Alzheimer’s care is relentless. It can chip away at the person you love, and if you’re not careful, it chips away at you, too. But you can learn to give yourself grace and ask for help. And you can begin to let go of the idea that you must be perfect because you certainly don’t. Learning to Let Go of the Guilt So, if you’re feeling the weight of this enormous responsibility, know you’re not alone. You can talk about it and cry if you need to, but it’s important to slow down. You can’t care for anyone if you’re running on empty.
Rethinking Positive Thinking The Rainbow in the Storm I’ll be honest: I’ve had a complicated relationship with the phrase “positive thinking.” It felt like people tossed it around as a bandage for real problems for the longest time. “Just think positive!” they’d chirp, and I’d want to scream, “It’s not that simple!” But over time, I’ve come to appreciate the powerful difference between genuine positive thinking and the shallow version we often confuse it with, what some refer to as toxic positivity, where people pretend everything’s fine when it’s clearly not and may even deny struggle. Real positive thinking is choosing where to place your focus. I remember a moment this hit home for me: I was out walking my dog, and as I looked to one side, storm clouds loomed. It was dark, moody, and a little ominous. But when I looked the other way, a beautiful rainbow was arching across the sky. It was on the same walk, seeing both at same time, but the views were opposites. That’s what positive thinking feels like. It’s not pretending the storm doesn’t exist. It’s knowing a rainbow might be forming even in the middle of it. For me, that often shows up as gratitude. It’s all about finding something good, even when things are difficult. Life will never be easy all the time. We all have days when everything feels upside down. But what I’ve learned, and what I try to remind myself on days when I’m spiraling, is that we can still find meaning, beauty, or peace amid the chaos. We can direct our thoughts toward the light instead of the dark. So, on National Positive Thinking Day on Sept. 13, I’m not pretending everything is perfect. But I am celebrating the fact that I get to choose how I respond, and I can acknowledge the challenging stuff while still making space for hope, joy, and gratitude.
It’s okay to be human!
Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak
Inspired by TheShortOrderCook.com
Ingredients
• 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 tsp ginger powder • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional) Meat • 1 1/2 lbs flank steak
Marinade • 2/3 cup red wine • 1/2 cup soy sauce or tamari
• 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 cup sesame oil • 1 tbsp sesame seeds • 1 tsp minced garlic
Directions
1. In a large bowl, whisk together marinade ingredients. 2. Place the flank steak in a large, rimmed dish. Pour the marinade over the meat. 3. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for 15 minutes. Flip and let marinate for another 15 minutes. 4. Preheat grill to 400 F. 5. Add the meat to the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes on each side. Leave the grill lid open to avoid overcooking. 6. For a medium-rare steak, remove from grill at 130 F internally, and for medium, remove at 140 F. 7. Let the meat rest on a cutting board for 5–10 minutes. Then, slice against the grain into thin pieces and enjoy!
If you’ve never tried looking for the rainbow in your storm, maybe today’s a good time to start.
3 724.256.8850
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator