What is a caregiver?

Necessary present, imagined future

When you hear the word caretaker what do you think of? A caretaker of a home? Perhaps a vacation home while one is away. Maybe someone who looks after animals in a zoo? Let’s say we change the word slightly to caregiver. It is here our definition tends to shift to the role of a family member or paid helper who looks after a sick, elderly or disabled person, right?

Our definitions of these words tend to sit inside the box of a profession or given role. Sometimes these roles only come into play when a situation has gotten to its worst; when there is nothing left to do but ask for help. What if we took these roles out of that box and looked at caregiving as something we just did. For ourselves and others, without an exchange of resources or expectation?

I imagine we would live lives that feel more safe. Lives where we get to lead with trust instead of fear. I imagine a pervasive feeling of everything is going to be ok. 

What if then we took care of the land we live on in the same way?

I imagine a planet that feels more abundant and alive. With which we have a reciprocal relationship, tossing guardianship back and forth, instead of continual destruction and lack. What if we all assumed the role of caregiver in our everyday lives just a little bit more? I like to imagine this future. 

While we work towards getting to this place that I like to imagine, there are people among us that carry a heavy load of caregiving responsibility. The ones with roles and titles, held with tender care. Health care workers, family caregivers, community organizers and more. Who takes care of the caregivers? 

My next workshop seeks to give caregivers at least a place to land softly together while the rest of us investigate the places we may be able to caretake just a little bit more. Take a look.

This one is in person but farther away feedback is telling me that an online version may have a future. Interested? Let me know.