Carla Cheatham

“The bottom line is that sometimes the most responsible, loving, efficient, and sane thing we can do is let another person have their process. We can set boundaries if their process is making us insane, and we do not have to agree to enable behavior with which we do not agree. Finally, we can accept the ultimate boundary that their life is their own, and they deserve to find their way, knowing that when we intervene, sometimes we stand in the way of exactly the path that will be of greatest value to them. We can disengage to stay sane, trust them to find their way, and walk with them with a lot less anxiety, guilt, and frustration, and just enjoy being their daughter, son, loved one, rather than trying to play a role that isn’t ours to play.”
― Carla Cheatham, Hospice Whispers: Stories of Life

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” we often remind families. “You’re allowed to keep some reserves in your tank so you don’t burnout before this race is over.”
― Carla Cheatham, Hospice Whispers: Stories of Life