I’ve always admired nurses and those who take care of loved ones on the home front.  A hometown family friend, Gloria, has been nursing her husband and this week, as I’ve adjusted to including nursing Flanagan throughout my day, I’ve kept Gloria’s spirit as a model.

I am a mental and motivational nurturer, not a “take care of the physical” nurturer.  I admire those who can be a home-nurse but I know I was never lulled to that arena for a reason.

Flanagan’s accident, a week ago today, uprooted my daily schedule, robbed me of writing time, kept me preoccupied, and interfered with my favorite holiday, Kettering’s Holiday At Home Festival over Labor Day weekend.  I did go to the parade, but it held little favor for me as my mind was elsewhere.

This morning I decided that I needed to readjust my thinking, my attitude, and simply include Flanagan’s care into my daily schedule instead of considering it an interruption to my day.  I scheduled in time for myself.  I took a brisk, brief walk after teaching and instead of focusing on Flanagan, I breathed in the sunset, watched ten minutes of a Fairmont girls’ field hockey game (I’d never seen one), and regained my emotional footing.

Already, I feel stronger and less drained.  It’s all about the attitude.