I am honored to have Leeza Gibbons as my first guest post.
I reached out to Leeza and was so appreciative to receive an email from Gibbons who is a TV/Radio Host, Author, Wife/Mother, Alzheimer’s advocate, Entrepreneur and the list goes on and on. Here are her word of encouragement those in the caregiving and Alzheimer’s community. First her words to me.
How are you? Thanks so much for your advocacy in the Alzheimer’s community (and for your Twitter support!)….I thought maybe I would provide this little tidbit…for your blog. Again, we are all appreciative of your voice! Thanks Pamela!
“Especially during the busy holidays when stressors are maxed out, caregivers need to find their “sanity sanctuaries”. These are the places, people or things that bring you back to calmness and control. They are non-negotiable. For me it’s a five minute walk, a cup of coffee away from the phone and computer, my bath at night. Come up with your list and protect if fiercely. Figure out what you can do to mitigate that dreaded sense of overwhelm that you know is coming and plan for it. Remember that you can change your psychology by changing your energy through purposeful breathing. So slow things down with 10 deep breaths which can lower your heart rate, pump some oxygen to your brain, lower your blood pressure and put you back in control of your thoughts. THAT is the only thing we can control anyway, right? Why not release the rest? Show up, do your best, let go of the rest! Know that even if you get off track, your Sanity Sanctuaries are always there for you to reclaim yourself and move forward”
Ever Forward,
Leeza
From her website:
Leeza Gibbons is one of the best‐known and most well‐loved pop‐culture icons on the air and at the top of her game. She’s also a wife, mother, businesswoman, New York Times bestselling author of TAKE 2, and champion for family caregivers.
The spectrum of Leeza’s career in entertainment and news media— combined with her stunning hands on advocacy for health care, wellness, and caregivers—is diverse and impressive. Her on‐camera hosting dominance in entertainment‐news and talk‐show arenas ranges from the most popular entertainment news show in history, Entertainment Tonight; to her award‐winning daytime talk show, Leeza; to, currently, the syndicated TV news magazine show America Now and the weekly TV news show My Generation on PBS. Recognized as a social entrepreneur, Leeza has become one of the leading voices for issues facing family caregivers. After her family’s experience with her mother’s and grandmother’s Alzheimer’s disease, Leeza took action. Her training as a journalist united with her compassion and business savvy when she created the Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation, a 501 (c)(3); and its signature programs, Leeza’s Place and Leeza’s Care Connection, which offer free services for family caregivers. Over the years, Leeza has become known as a trusted girlfriend, valued confidante, and source of inspiration and information to empower women to show up for their lives with confidence and pride. Whether it’s her scrapbook line honoring the value of memories, her jewelry collection to symbolize transformation, or her beauty products to reveal inner and outer beauty, Leeza develops programs and products to help women claim their strength and rewrite the story of their lives.
Websites: www.leezagibbons.com and www.leezasplace.org.
CONFESSIONS OF A MASTER CAREGIVER 