I smile too much. That doesn't sound like such a bad thing right? Smiling is good, it means you're happy. But I smile too much, because I am a caregiver to my core. I smile so that everyone around me feels at ease, and nobody feels bad around me. I smile because if anyone around me is feeling helpless, they come to me. I help people, I help everyone because if someone is hurting I can't handle it. Their pain is my pain, and until it's solved or mitigated in someone, I will not be okay.
I take other peoples struggles into account at my expense, and negate how I feel. Which is comforting for the other person, I understand their struggle, I empathize with them, and that makes the difference. However bad they were feeling, it's made better by me saying what they're going through is hard and even though I haven't had it as bad, I get it and commend their struggles.
The problem is, I don't always want to smile, and sometimes I want people to say my struggles are the hardest things to go through at the moment. I know I work hard, and I know others know that as well. But the problem with being the caregiver is, you let your struggles take the backseat, and even when people aren't trying to take advantage of you, they do. That's not the fault of anyone, but it needs to be recognized.
I am a caregiver, and I am learning to stand up for myself and stand on my own two feet. My voice can be heard above my smile. I smile too much, but I can learn to smile at the right times.
I take other peoples struggles into account at my expense, and negate how I feel. Which is comforting for the other person, I understand their struggle, I empathize with them, and that makes the difference. However bad they were feeling, it's made better by me saying what they're going through is hard and even though I haven't had it as bad, I get it and commend their struggles.
The problem is, I don't always want to smile, and sometimes I want people to say my struggles are the hardest things to go through at the moment. I know I work hard, and I know others know that as well. But the problem with being the caregiver is, you let your struggles take the backseat, and even when people aren't trying to take advantage of you, they do. That's not the fault of anyone, but it needs to be recognized.
I am a caregiver, and I am learning to stand up for myself and stand on my own two feet. My voice can be heard above my smile. I smile too much, but I can learn to smile at the right times.