The Carer Mentor Journey.

My Frame of Reference, My Journey.

The image above is my Frame of Reference (August 1988 to August 2023). Each point is a milestone event that impacted me in some way—a significant dip before University, a challenging career climb before seismic caregiving activity.

I realised the seismic acute activity after 2015, was me living life to the fullest, largest capacity I could.

As Russ Harris author of ‘The Happiness Trap’, says:

If I were to define the word happiness I would describe it as living a rich full and meaningful life in which we feel the full range of human emotions. The things that make life rich full and meaningful don't just give us pleasant feelings.

This index of articles offers a suggested sequence for readers.

A Memoir of My Carer Mentor Journey

To date, I’ve been through 37 Transitions. ‘9 were lifequakes. ’ (Aligned to the definitions by Bruce Feiler’s US Research for ‘Life is in the Transitions’)

To name a few: Corporate to Carer, 18 Relocations, Living and working in 10 countries (including Asia, Russia, Canada and the USA), evolutions of my chosen friends-family, Vice President Commercial Leader to Business Owner.

I’ll share my journey about how my mother and I fulfilled my father’s wish to die at home, how we pivoted from Dad’s funeral straight into Mum’s surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy and how I continue to care for Mum now.

There are facts and a whole swamp full of emotions, struggles, hellish no-sleep nights, and so much more. And yet, we found our joy, and I found my way to thrive.

I want to share the broader areas of my experience and life. Being a carer is my #1 priority, but it’s not all I am and it’s not all I do.

My personal experience can offer you and others a window into caregiving. There is no ‘standard’ path because we and the relationship dynamics we have with others are unique. My story is only one of the many millions. What’s yours?

A Table of Contents and suggested reading order.

1. 'Walking the Talk' Poem: One Carer's Purpose. A space to connect and to feel at home.

2. 'Who started Carer Mentor and Why?'

3. Personal Reflection: ‘A Prelude to Caregiving: Love and Torture’ A 2015 hospitalisation was only the beginning.

4. Poem: 'Head-Heart-Gut Aligned'  

5. Brussels: 'The Sixth and Sixteenth Relocation' The first of several articles sharing my experience of living through 18 relocations across 10 Countries.

6. Personal Reflection: 'A Recalibrated Frame of Reference'. A reframing of life events

7. Personal Opinion: 'Working within an outdated Frame of Reference?' Do your reference points and measures need recalibration?

8. Personal Reflection: 'In the space of 'Not Knowing' are sparks of 'Be-ing'

9. Personal Reflection: 'A New Year...with an Outdated Frame of Reference?' Do your reference points and measures need recalibration?

10. April 2024 'A little respite: reminders, revelry and love?' A short post of a little paradox

11. June 2024 'How's our Community Network going?' Defining success, the Carer Mentor way. A mid-year review

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