The Caregiver’s Journey: The Introduction

1,627 Days

There are experiences in life that don’t leave you the same person. Caregiving is one of them.

As we’ve grown in this business, I’ve realized people deserve to know who we really are and why we do this and not the cliché of “Hi, I’m in real estate, want to buy a house?” That has never been me.

So here’s the truth of how life brought me to this now.

Most people think caregiving is appointments, medications, logistics. They have no idea. Caregiving can change your life if you let it. It is the loving someone through their worst days and being there always. But who is it that is give care does matter in the end. It’s the giving up of your previous identity. It’s the beginning of grief that eases in time, but comes back time and time again. It is ‘til death do us part’ in real life.

For a long time, I carried this privately. I started the writing in 2014 and touched it many times and it continues to evolve.

Some of it was too hard to talk about. Some of it was too sacred.
Some of it, I simply didn’t have words for. I worked on this for 12 years and it is finally finished.

Whenever someone asked me while touring homes, “Richard, how did you come to Florida?” I’d give the easy answer — “I love the beach.” But eventually I realized that wasn’t the real story. The real story is that life reminded me how short our time can be at a moments notice. This is that story and journey of a cargiver.

Over the last few years, I’ve learned something. Many people walk this same road of illness, loss, and sudden unexpected change. Most never feel seen while they’re going through it. We hide the most hurtful memories and parts of who we are. We seem scared to share our real truth because we fear how people will react. The freedom this journey gave me to be me and speak freely is a great give. I have gotten over that fear.

This new 10-part series, The Caregiver’s Journey is my attempt to embrace at least this for myself. It’s an honest exploration of what it means to love someone through illness, loss, and the long, uneven path back to re-find yourself and your great joy of life.

This isn’t a memoir or your guide. It is my truth. While it is similar to many, it is only my truth, but the journey out and the drive to continue to live joyfully is my wish for anyone suffering this kind of unexpected change.

I needed and wanted to do this years ago and never found the way until now.

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What’s Ahead in the Series

• the moment life changed into before and after

• how love quietly becomes caregiving and who is giving the care

• the slow uncertainty of days

• anticipatory grief and the false hope of preparation - I got this because I am prepared false hope

• final days that do come

• what loss actually feels like

• the “fantastic” world of voices that follows the funeral

• the first time guilt of new joy fades away

• who you become or can become and the struggle to maintain the new better you

Some parts will be uncomfortable and I do not gloss over personal events.
Some parts will be tough for some people to understand. But it is me.
All of it will be honest. I do not hold back. Why do that?

If you’ve ever cared for someone you love…
If you’ve ever lost someone who set you on your proper course….
If you’ve ever had to rebuild your life because of loss no matter how it happened……

…you’ll find hope here I hope. I hope like Red hopes. To find Andy.

The first installment arrives republished Now with the accompanying Podcast this week - Today | Now.

It’s time we let people see who we are, why we are, and why this life matters — now.

—Richard

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If this resonates, consider subscribing.

This series is personal, but it’s also universal — and you’re welcome to walk it with me.