Conversations with Elders

Deck us all with Boston Charlie,
Walla Walla, Wash., an' Kalamazoo!
Nora's freezin' on the trolley,
Swaller dollar cauliflower alley-garoo!
Don't we know archaic barrel
Lullaby Lilla Boy, Louisville Lou?
Trolley Molly don't love Harold,
Boola boola Pensacola hullabaloo!

Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Polly wolly cracker 'n' too-da-loo!
Donkey Bonny brays a carol,
Antelope cantaloupe, 'lope with you!
Hunky Dory's pop is lolly
Gaggin' on the wagon, willy, folly go through!
Chollie's collie barks at Barrow,
Harum scarum five alarm bung-a-loo!

Dunk us all in bowls of barley,
Hinky dinky dink an' polly voo!
Chilly Filly's name is Chollie,
Chollie Filly's jolly chilly view halloo!
Bark us all bow-wows of folly,
Double-bubble, toyland trouble! Woof, woof, woof!
Tizzy seas on melon collie!
Dibble-dabble, scribble-scrabble! Goof, goof, goof!

This past week, while staying bedside with my mom in the hospital, I was reminded how we can live fully no matter what.

Her elderly roommate, whose cognitive ability has diminished considerably, taught me a wonderful lesson about being present to what is when she was asked by a health care provider, "Do you know why you're in the hospital?"? She responded, most seriously and reflective of how we'd been spending the past few days visiting and joking and laughing, "I'm not here for the hospital. I'm here for the party."

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Read Loving All Phases

Grief and loss

The way things are

List 10 things you enjoy about your job and/or role as caregiver

List three co-workers and/or people you regularly deal with whom you particularly enjoy and why

List 10 things you would like to change about your job and/or role as caregiver

List three co-workers and/or people you regularly deal with whom you have a difficult time understanding or relating to

List the one most rewarding aspect of your job and/or role as caregiver

List the one most unpleasant aspect of your job and/or role as caregiver

Examine the lists for patterns. What is it telling you about what you need?

Personal inventory

Self:
What's your best personality trait?

What's your least favorite personality trait?

What is your overall satisfaction rate on the job?

What is your overall satisfaction rate outside of work?

What do you want more of in your life? (make a list)

What do you want less of in your life? (make a list)

What is one thing in your life right now that is not serving you?
(ex: a toxic relationship, your personal environment, a scheduling issue, negative thoughts, or anything that feels like you are fighting, or putting up with)

On a scale of one to ten, one being "not so much" and ten being 'love it", rate the following:

How do you feel about:
Your name (yes, your actual name)
Your physical appearance
The way you routinely speak to others
The types of things you think about throughout the day
Your overall attitude about your life
Your current lifestyle
Your self as a person

I feel best about myself when:

I am listening to what someone needs and can help them achieve it.

I can see what someone is doing wrong and help them correct it