The Question of Care
A call for contributors
Care Connection is a new venture for me. Honestly, I am afraid no one will join me here, in talking about these things, but I have ignored this idea for long enough and it is still with me, so here goes.
I hope this will be a place to celebrate the often unseen, often overlooked work of care - to celebrate the commitment, the connection, and the joys of caring, as well as acknowledging the challenges. Ultimately, a safe space for carers to connect. I hope to bring you the experiences of a range of people, in a range of care situations. I hope to offer a regular newsletter, with offerings from a different contributor each month.
I am hoping that others will join me and share their joys, their frustrations, and the dignity and love they bring to their roles. If you are a carer, or you know a carer, have a read and see if this could be something you would like to do. If so, get in touch. I would absolutely love to hear from you.
Below are the prompts I am offering contributors.
Firstly, thank you for being here. Your time and your experience are precious, and I am honoured that you are considering sharing it with me.
Secondly, there is no need to answer any of the questions below if they feel uncomfortable or triggering in any way. Talking about your caring role is a choice, and it is always up to you how you do that. Leave anything that doesn’t serve you. No questions asked. You can also remain anonymous if you wish, just let me know.
Thirdly, these are prompts to respond to in any way you like, and images and audio are welcome. I do have a policy of not sharing photos of people unless they are able to give consent, so it is probably best not to use clear or identifiable photos of the one you care for, but anything else should be fine.
The Prompts
Whatever you feel comfortable sharing about your caring role
A moment of connection
A thing you do for yourself, big or small, to take care
Something you wish people knew
A way you create dignity or joy
An instance of challenge
A thing caring gives you
The things in your mind in the morning
Something caring gives you
Something that makes the person you care for light up
Something that makes you light up
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am looking for contributors, so please do share widely, and if you feel moved to do so, please reach out. There is no pressure at any stage, but I would love to hear from you.