Patti and Joe—a Journey with Alzheimer’s

I am in the Hunter’s Bay Radio Studio with an amazing woman, Patti Hanrath.
We had a hard (but good!) conversation as Patti is going through a
very challenging journey. I asked her to share her greatest advice for anyone
going through adversity:

The journey I am currently going through is my husband Joe, at the age of 57,
is well into Alzheimer’s. I never thought we’d be facing this at this time of our life.

The critical message for anybody going through any kind of adversity is
do NOT try to do it alone. Intentionally build your village. Don’t necessarily
think that everybody that’s in your village now is going to continue to show
up for you. Intentionally find the people who are willing to take this
journey with you. And lean on them. Lean on them for everything.
We don’t have to do it alone. And we can’t do it alone.

And come out healthy! Caregiver burnout is so high!

If you are a caregiver or facing adversity, it’s 24/7. Sometimes, so you
can’t do it alone. Build your village. And if the people you thought would
Just Show Up are not, then find different people who can and who will.

Absolutely. It’s critical to have those people there, those who are OK taking
this journey with you. Because not everybody can do that and I understand.
I don’t hold any grudges.

Remember: It might be messy, it’s hard, and it’s not your job to fix it.
Sometimes Just Showing Up is being there and saying, “This is hard.”
Or the great words that I often say, “This really sucks!”
But when it’s difficult and challenging… Just Show Up!

Thank you, Patti, for your words of wisdom and for sharing.
The message is:

Build your Village intentionally.
 Find people who can walk this journey with you.

Thank you for being part of our community.
   Purchase your copy of Love Your Life to Death here,
    our Audio, From Avoidance to Resilience or your
          #IJustShowedUp bracelet. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's
TEDx Talk ​​