A Day in the Life
I have to apologize because I haven’t posted on Substack since October, and now it’s a brand-new year. I wonder why this doesn’t feel “new” to me? Maybe it’s because the troubles facing this country haven’t changed but have only gotten worse. Maybe my mood has fallen because I compulsively follow the news each morning. And that’s not the best way to start a day, is it?
As the caregiver to my husband who suffered from MS, how the day started wasn’t really in up to me. It all depended on how he was feeling that morning. What kept us going and not falling into despair was our love and commitment to each other. That was our foundation, our bedrock, our compass.
I don’t have that now, twenty years since Michael’s death on January 1, 2006. And perhaps that’s why I’m despondent. Maybe it’s not the world situation. (Although that certainly isn’t raising my spirits!)
But to dwell in negativity isn’t helping, not me, our country, or the world.
Today I decided to follow whatever I felt like doing and not focus on all the undone chores that incessantly chatter at me. It was raining out, cold and dreary, so I curled up with a book and a cup of tea, and I just let myself be—no pressure, no regrets, no compulsive negativity. It felt good. In fact, it gave me the energy and the where-with-all to sit down and write this post.
So I hope you’re finding new possibilities in this brand-new year, or the where-with-all to weather the uncertainty that inevitably unfolds, in your lives and in the greater drama in which we live. I hope you find the courage to face your challenges and the grace to have compassion for yourself when you fail to meet them.
Even if just for ten minutes, whenever you can, take a book, have some tea, and let your life and the world just be. According to Anne Lamott “Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Suzanne Marriott’s memoir, Watching for Dragonflies: A Caregiver’s Transformative Journey, brings courage and inspiration to anyone facing a life-changing challenge.
2023 winner of the Living Now Book Awards Bronze Medal for Mature Living/Caregiving.
“A moving story of love, loss, illness, and the beauty that persist.” —Kirkus Reviews
For more information and to read the first chapter, visit www.suzannemarriottauthor.com.
Available online at AMAZON and in bookstores now.
Suzanne, this resonates so deeply it hurts. I’m currently in the thick of it—navigating the 'Everyday Broken' as a caregiver for my husband. Your reminder that 'how the day starts isn't up to me' is my current reality. Thank you for the permission to let the chores chatter while I just be for a moment. I’ve recommended your voice to my community at The Nook; we need your perspective on how to weather this.
“As the caregiver to my husband who suffered from MS, how the day started wasn’t really in up to me. It all depended on how he was feeling that morning. What kept us going and not falling into despair was our love and commitment to each other. That was our foundation, our bedrock, our compass.” I can relate to this so much. I wake up everyday with plan, but it never unfolds that way. Everything with my mom and dad is so unpredictable and their mood/health dictates how the morning goes. Most days I wake up already tired. What gets me through is love.