This just happened. Despite not following the month of hearts challenge, I do keep noticing them everywhere - maybe it's a sign?
We parcel a piece of our love up in a heart shaped representation and present it to the one we choose on valentine's day. But lets not ignore the rest of our love to share with others, and through the year. It comes in many shapes and sizes.
A couple of years ago, on valentines day I wrote this ....
"Never underestimate the energy it requires to be a carer (or a proxy carer). Thinking I could easily improve on the £40 taxi fare for a journey to and from the day care provision for Mum - which was to use up 50% of her taxi tokens issued instead of a concessionary bus pass - I innocently add this to today's list of things to accomplish.
My journey of calls from Plus Bus Scheme to Cheshire West and Chester Council to Adult Social Care to Cheshire Car Share Scheme to Countess of Chester Hospital to Discharge team to British Red Cross takes me through frustration, elation, disappointment and helplessness and leaves me with no answers. If you can't physically climb into a car and you don't have a social worker, heaven help you.
I have the greatest of admiration for my Dad who reminds me what Love really is on this Valentine's Day. His commitment to care for Mum through everything has never faltered since the day they married. His love perseveres. This morning I am reminded just how difficult that perseverance can be.
So to all those caring for a loved one this valentine's day - respect to you. Happy Valentines Day. Wishing you a moment of Joy amidst all the pressures."
I repeat it here, because events at work today have also reminded me of the stresses of a carer's lot, and so to anyone here on 365 who is having to care for their loved one round the clock 365 days a year, it is your love that makes the world go round - Happy Valentine's Day.
Although it's nice to celebrate Valentine's day in the traditional way, I'm glad that through the years more aspects of love and what that really means has been added to it. Well said Helen and cool shot!
So true, Helen. I had absolutely no idea how stressful, both physically and emotionally, caring for a seriously ill loved one can be until I was in the position of caring for my sister during her last two years of life. I think we very often forget and overlook how important it is to give carers our love and support, in whatever form that may be. On this day of love, thank you for the reminder. :-)
I'm so glad you noticed these hearts and decided to capture them for your 'flash of red' photo. Perfect!
I worked with intellectually disabled adults for a few years and although I wasn't a 24 hour a day 365 day a week carer I was thankful that I was able to give respite to the families of our clients. To see the expression on their faces after they had had a few hours freedom to just be able to do their own thing and not worry about their loved ones was priceless.
caring is tough, undervalued, even (especially?) by the recipients, who sometimes aren't quite able to put themselves into the larger context. Here you talk about transportation logistics, cost. Sometimes these things are unimaginable. Sorry, rambling incoherently. I love the heart.
My Grandmother cared for my grandfather for the last three years of his life. He was 101 when he died; she was 91. They were married just shy of 76 years when he died. She never considered having someone else do it. She just turned 102; I love to hear her stories of their marriage, its ups and downs and how they weathered 75+ years.
Your image is perfect in the context of your narrative.
Nice shot. I was happy to care for my mum for several years, until I had difficulty helping her in and out of bed. I have a back problem and could no longer hold her safely, so went into a care home for the last months of her life.
@rosiekind thank you Rosie. I'm sure it is something you would know a lot about, from when you were working. @cherrymartina thanks Martina - glad you liked the photo. @olivetreeann thanks Ann. It is great if you can combine both the romance and the practical commitment. @gaylewood thank you for your comment. having experienced the level of commitment and selflessness required to care for a loved one, you will understand the sentiment. You did a wonderful thing for your sister and I hope that you draw strength from knowing that. @kwind thank you - I do hope that you had the chance for a little relaxation and light heartedness yesterday, and that you lad is continuing to improve bit by bit. @suzanne234 I did go on rather a lot - I'm surprised and humbled that people bother to read. Thank you. @onewing such valuable work you were doing. Glad you know how much it would have been appreciated. @adayinmallacoota thank you so much Belinda. I sometimes forget that this is a photography site and get carried away with the writing. I'm here to improve my photography really! @stimuloog I appreciate your words very much marloes. (I took a picture of bark today and there was a heart staring me in the face when I converted it to black and white!) @francoise I think I touched a raw nerve - I hope I did not cause upset. You are so right. In caring, is the starkest of illustration of true love being ven without any expectation of receiving back. The task of continuing loving is gargantuan. Take care. @evalieutionspics thank you for your lovely comment and story of your grandparents. 76 years of marriage - that is (almost) incredible. @carolmw sadly, caring at home to the very end is not always possible. You gave of your best. Know that you did well and take good care.
Aww, what lovely words Helen and a lovely image too. I hope you had a nice day. My parents are not great and I am up and down to them at the moment....my dad is 87 years and not in good health and watching my mum getting worse with dementia is pretty crap as well. The circle of life is not easy to see.
@stephanies it is really tough isn't it - especially when there is distance involved. Whatever you are going through now, I am sure that you wont regret any of the support you were able to give, in years to come. I find that knowing we gave of our best, helps in the grieving. We now have two elderly fathers to care for and a feeling that it is going to get messy all over again.
I'm so glad you noticed these hearts and decided to capture them for your 'flash of red' photo. Perfect!
I worked with intellectually disabled adults for a few years and although I wasn't a 24 hour a day 365 day a week carer I was thankful that I was able to give respite to the families of our clients. To see the expression on their faces after they had had a few hours freedom to just be able to do their own thing and not worry about their loved ones was priceless.
Your image is perfect in the context of your narrative.
@cherrymartina thanks Martina - glad you liked the photo.
@olivetreeann thanks Ann. It is great if you can combine both the romance and the practical commitment.
@gaylewood thank you for your comment. having experienced the level of commitment and selflessness required to care for a loved one, you will understand the sentiment. You did a wonderful thing for your sister and I hope that you draw strength from knowing that.
@kwind thank you - I do hope that you had the chance for a little relaxation and light heartedness yesterday, and that you lad is continuing to improve bit by bit.
@suzanne234 I did go on rather a lot - I'm surprised and humbled that people bother to read. Thank you.
@onewing such valuable work you were doing. Glad you know how much it would have been appreciated.
@adayinmallacoota thank you so much Belinda. I sometimes forget that this is a photography site and get carried away with the writing. I'm here to improve my photography really!
@stimuloog I appreciate your words very much marloes. (I took a picture of bark today and there was a heart staring me in the face when I converted it to black and white!)
@francoise I think I touched a raw nerve - I hope I did not cause upset. You are so right. In caring, is the starkest of illustration of true love being ven without any expectation of receiving back. The task of continuing loving is gargantuan. Take care.
@evalieutionspics thank you for your lovely comment and story of your grandparents. 76 years of marriage - that is (almost) incredible.
@carolmw sadly, caring at home to the very end is not always possible. You gave of your best. Know that you did well and take good care.