Hi Patti,

Please don’t feel alone in this.  We are here to help you through this.  Dealing with chronic back pain and knee issues while trying to help your parents is definitely not an easy task.

However, one of our central principles of POP  is that the power of the mind is an incredible thing.  If you can start to focus more on the many positives in your life (no matter how hard that might be), especially at this time of Thanksgiving, you will also start to see things in a different light.  It might be hard to think of things that you are grateful for at this moment but I am confident you can not only be grateful but you will reap the scientific results of gratitude: better physical and emotional wellbeing!

Don’t be so hard on yourself.  You are doing the best you can.  Don’t let anyone else tell you differently.  When you can feel the gratitude and notice you’ve chosen to be of service to your own parents, not fighting what is happening to you and your family, you will find that things are a lot more easier to handle.  When we try and fight and resist the events that happen it makes life that much harder.  You want to flow with the river, not paddle against it.

When you’re feeling a bit less overwhelmed, take another look at the website. You’ll notice we offer you and POParents in your situation a host of resources, a book that’s directly on point, a wonderful coaching program and this space to vent, learn, interact and share what you’re going through with others.