How many times have I heard this phrase and nodded my head in agreement?  But how many times have I put this into practice?  Not many, I fear. 

 

Until now…..until I became a caregiver.  Until I realized that obsessing over the small stuff will serve no purpose.  It won’t slow my Mother’s dementia.  It won’t give me peace of mind and it won’t make either of us happier or less frustrated.

 

So every day I look for “stuff” to put in the “small stuff” category.  Almost everything is finding a home here – unless it directly affects my Mother’s health and wellbeing.  For instance, when my Mother loses her purse and her wedding ring and her keys – I just help her look for them, knowing we’ll find them hidden in the laundry hamper or dresser.  Or when my Mother confuses the date, calls me repeatedly about the same issue or can’t remember what she had for lunch – I let it go.  Because worrying about it isn’t going to make it better.

 

I’m still sweating though – thanks to a maniacal personal trainer at the exercise club I just joined.  My thrice weekly workout is intended to help manage stress …..but I refer to it as “sweating the big stuff” – specifically the BIG Treadmill, BIG Elliptical Trainer and BIG Weight Machines!