"Carers' Week"

 

 Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

 

 "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." 

- Leo Buscaglia, author

 

 "It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing." - Mother Teresa, missionary

 

This week is 'Carers' Week'. Here is a definition of a carer: "someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older. It isn’t someone who volunteers or is employed to provide support."

 

That includes a lot of people - 6.5 million at least in the UK. If you are, or have been, a carer you will know the reward and challenges that role can bring. Click here or here for more insight. 

 

Writing Prompts:

• If you are, or have been, a carer write about that for seven minutes. Let your words flow on to the page and express your joys and frustrations - no one is going to read what you put. 
•  Has someone cared for you in the past? How was the experience? What emotions did you feel? Set a timer and write about it for a few minutes.
• Has your life been turned around as in the quote above? If so, write about what happened.
• Do you agree with Mother Teresa (see above)? Must caring also involve love? Write for a couple of minutes expressing your opinion.