I have had some past personal experience as a family caregiver. I am currently raising children. I have partnered with many families in my role as a therapist and also worked for a Hospice years ago.

What I know about caregivers is that they are some of the hardest working and most selfless people you will ever meet. They work long hours with few rewards. And I think we can all agree that caregiving is not glamorous work. Since becoming a mother, I have many times thought about jobs that are hard, often lonely and mostly unnoticed—jobs like caregivers, mothers, foster care parents, daycare workers, prison workers and teachers in underfunded schools. Other jobs that come to mind are nurses, funeral directors, pastors, army chaplains and custodians. All of these roles are crucial not only to our immediate families, but to our communities, societies and country as a whole. Without caregivers in their various roles the world as we know it would not go round. Moreover, the world would not be a very human place.

The beauty in humanity is that there are people who are willing to step up and do the quiet and hard work that others either cannot do or will not do. They do it not for accolades or great monetary gain, but because it is the right thing to do. When newbies in my field of counseling ask me what I like best about our work I usually say “witnessing the resilience of the human spirit.” However, writing this and thinking of all the caregivers in the world and their willingness to give to those who most often cannot give back, I may just change my answer to “witnessing the kindness of the human spirit.”

If you are a caregiver in any form you are doing beautiful work. It is normal to feel overwhelmed at times and in need of additional support or just a listening ear. If you are experiencing difficult feelings related to your caregiving role please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to speak with one of our seasoned mental health counselors.