I don’t make New Years Resolutions. I never have. The whole concept seems ill directed. Like celebrating Valentine’s Day. Why would you do that only once a year? Don’t you love them all the time? Then show it all the time.
Why focus on making resolutions to do things better on one day? Each waking day is an opportunity. But as usual, I digress. This year I have made a resolution, and it happened to be on New Years Day. I realized that along with all the other adjectives I use to describe myself here and elsewhere, (musician, performer, writer, engineer, geek, you get it) I have always been a caretaker.
I take care of things in my job. I take care of animals and plants. I try to solve relationship problems I see my friends sliding into. I took care of my younger brother when he had no more fight left in him from years of cancer treatment.
I helped my mother through her decision to deny treatment for her cancer to the end. Just last November my older sister died after an illness no one knew of but it decided she was a good home. She survived what I call a year of medical torture as things started shutting down from the massive doses of antibiotics needed to keep her alive when it hit. I have never seen anyone more relieved to know that the government ‘would let them die’. I hope to never see that again, to be truthful. Even writing that sentence makes me feel bitter.
Along with all my other titles it occurs to me that maybe above all of them, I am a Caretaker. So, from one Caretaker to another, and to all the Caretakers out there, I offer my song as a suggestion for your next resolution;
Caretaker MSK 12 31 2023
A houseplant with a lot of sunlight
Needs a little water to make it grow.
Doesn’t take but a minute,
And you can make it so.
Walking down the sidewalk shopping
There’s another piece of trash on the ground.
Bend down to pick it up
Without looking around.
Caretaker. Caretaker.
Taking care of everyone.
Most animals seem to just know you
They see what I do; the look in your eyes.
You calm them down
And the owners always act surprised.
Life’s a simple dedication
Pass it on, give more than you take.
When Life flashes before you
It stops on every mistake.
So much to do if you stop and care
Lately, you’ve been feeling a little worn-thin.
Do you want to save the world?
You got to start from within.
Caretaker. Caretaker.
Take care of yourself: Have some fun.
I have decided to take care of myself for a while. To do something fun here and there. It is OK. I still care. But until I can recharge my internal batteries, I will not have the energy for anyone else’s emergency. I am old and emotionally exhausted. I just don’t know what would fun be anymore. I will have to figure that out.
MidiMike 