As a mom of 2 disabled adult children, I can tell you that there have been moments lately when I became impatient when completing tasks when caregiving. Attending and helping can really drain any caregiver, and I don’t discount that this takes its toll. When we are drained, it becomes harder to practice the four qualities that can anchor us in every situation: 

compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity. These aren’t lofty spiritual ideals. They are practical tools for sustainable wellness as we continue in caregiving. Let's reflect on each terms meaning in daily practice:

Compassion means recognizing suffering without judgment. When the person you support is struggling, pause and silently say, “This is hard right now.” Extend that same acknowledgment to yourself. Compassion includes self-compassion.

Loving-kindness is the intentional choice to respond with warmth. It might look like softening your tone both verbally, and non-verbally, being kind and extending grace, or offering reassurance instead of remaining frustrated. Loving-kindness doesn’t mean you are a doormat to be stepped on. It means you choose to overcome everything that you must do with deep listening and care.

Joy in caregiving isn’t always laughter or feeling overly elated about our role. This is a form of delusional thinking and leads to burnout. Instead, we take moments to appreciate the privilege of being trusted with such an important journey and we turn our attention to our many gifts and blessings which leads to joyful living.

Equanimity in caregiving is treating your loved one and yourself with equal respect and dignity. It's about balance. 

During the month of February, let's deepen our practice and improve our mental atmosphere with these important qualities. We must take a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to share in the life of these special people. Caregiving is not about perfection. It is about returning to compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity in our interactions from moment to moment.

As always, reach out to me if your journey feels overwhelming or each day seems like too much to do alone and we can arrive at long-lasting solutions together.

Be Well in 2026 my dear friends,

Damita Radtke