I realize how precious and short our lives are, moreso as I witness our Mom struggling to deal with health problems, being a wonderful and positive person and looking ahead to sudden changes.... With the above in mind, I came across this article called Words to the Wise, published in the Alberta Caregiver August 2009 edition. I want to share it with you, dear readers...

An Angel says 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tommorow and it doesn't happen you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.' As a caregiver, you are often concerned with the life of another...you must slow down and remember your own personal wants and needs. Clip out this collection of other tips and post them in a conspicuous spot- maybe on your refrigerator door or on your bathroom mirror, so that you can be continually reminded of your own self-worth and importance.

• Go to bed on time.
• Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
• Say NO to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
• Simply and unclutter your life.
• Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are too many.)
• Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
• Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
• Take one day at a time.
• Separate worries from concerns. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
• Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
• Have backups - an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
• K.M.S. (Keep mouth shut). This piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
• Do something for the Kid in You everyday
• Get enough rest
• Eat right.
• Get organized so everything has its place.
• Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
• Write down thoughts and inspirations.
• Every day, find time to be alone
• Having problems? Try to nip small problems in the bud.
• Make friends with good people.
• Keep a folder of favorite reading/poems on hand.
• Laugh.
• Laugh some more.
• Take work seriously, but not yourself at all.
• Develop a forgiving atitude (most people are doing the best they can.)
• Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
• Sit on your ego. -Talk less, listen more.
• Slow down.
• Remind yourself that your are note the general manager of the universe.
• And every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before.