A Sense Of Humor

I have several quotes that keep me on track. Here's one of them:

A sense of humor can help you overlook the unattractive, tolerate the unpleasant, cope with the unexpected, and smile through the unbearable.

-Moshe Waldoks

My mother suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. She still lives at home with my dad. If you have ever personally experienced a loved one with this disease you know what a horrible experience it can be. The person you once knew is gone, or only shows flashes of their old self, which is incredibly painful.

As I stop by to visit each morning I never know what I will find. Reflecting on this quote before I step into their house or address the "issue of the day" helps mentally equip me to best handle any situation. I have also noticed that it helps me better prepare to meet the rest of my day.

At a Memorial Day Program last year with people cast in patriotic roles, mom passed out due to dehydration just as we were practicing our lines (I was Teddy Roosevelt) before the program was to start. I carried her to a small room outside the auditorium and placed her on a couch. When she came to, I wanted to diffuse everyone's anxiety, including hers. When she asked what happened, I told her that she had passed out and that Teddy Roosevelt had brought her here while George Washington (a physician in the cast) checked her pulse and blood pressure and Dolly Madison (my daughter) held her hand. She simply laughed and said, "Well, it sounds like I am in good hands." A tense moment was now much more manageable for all of us.

As you start your day, don't forget to grab a sense of humor-you just never know what may await you.