The Lessons of Caring: Inspiration and Support for Caregivers

By Dr. Santo D. Marabella

Written as a source of inspiration and support for the contemporary caregiver, The Lessons of Caring is short, sweet and to the point - colorful, digital pages with video commentaries from caregivers to comfort you, and exercises and questions to help you.  The purpose of the book is twofold.  First, to share so

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marabella Entertainment & Education Enterprises
• Release date: Sep 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9780692154830

Dr. Santo D. Marabella

Santo D. Marabella, MBA, DSW, The Practical Prof®, is an author, playwright, filmmaker, speaker and educator who creates, produces and distributes "edu-tainment that makes a difference". Dr. Marabella is author of the book, "The Practical Prof: Simple Lessons for Anyone Who Works," (2013) and his newspaper column, "Office Hours with The Practical Prof®" has appeared in the Reading Eagle's Business Weekly since 2012. He is writer and producer of a musical, short film and six plays; creator and writer of a TV pilot, Franklin Street Station (2018); producer of five short films and a TV pilot; and, director of more than 25 community theatre productions. His creative works have focused on contemporary issues such as bullying, loneliness and isolation, sexual orientation and identity, and being "stuck," and attempt to tell stories with the drama, poignancy and humor that often accompany these issues in our lives. Dr. Marabella is Professor of Management, Moravian College; President, Marabella Entertainment & Education Enterprises LLC; co-founder and former Film Commissioner, ReadingFilm; Co-Founder and Past Chair, Greater Reading Alliance of Community Theatres. His professional memberships include The Lambs®, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Theatre Communications Group, the Academy of Management and the National Association of Social Workers. Website: www.MarabellaLLC.com LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thepracticalprof/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePracticalProf/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarabellaLLC and https://twitter.com/PracticalProf Quote: "Manage with a Heart, in ways that feed the Spirit!" Dr. Santo D. Marabella, The Practical Prof®

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

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Dr. Santo D. Marabella

The Practical Prof®

I have been a college professor for most of my career, but this book is about the lessons that I have learned in the personal course called Caregiving. I write it for two reasons. First, to share some of the insights I have gained from helping my parents deal with the challenges of advanced and complex medical issues and their aging. Second, I write in the hopes that my insights and perspective will provide support, inspiration and affirmation to other caregivers.

I have deliberately written and formatted this book with the caregiver in mind, at least as I understand her and him to be from my experience. If your life as a caregiver is similar to mine, then no matter how well-researched and informative the source may be, you have neither the time nor the energy, or for that matter, the desire, to work harder than you already are working to read a heady book about caring. If you’re like me, you’d turn on mindless TV for an hour and fall asleep before you read someone’s epic dissertation on caregiving.

So, this book is written as a source of inspiration and support for the contemporary caregiver. The Lessons of Caring is short, sweet, and to the point - a relatively small number of digital, colorful pages with video commentaries from caregivers to comfort you, and exercises and questions to help you. It’s the book I would want to read for inspiration and support.

Additionally, here are a few notes about what to expect, or not to expect.

Though I’m an academic, this will not be an academic read. As with my previous book, The Practical Prof: Simple Lessons for Anyone Who Works (2014), this will offer accessible content and pragmatic, usable (you judge if it’s useful) advice.

It is largely based on my experience, not my research. I’m a single, except for my fur-kid, adopted only child, of two Italian-American parents. So, what I have to share may have limited relevance and applicability to you and your situation.

I have no delusions that this book is an exhaustive or comprehensive presentation of The Lessons of Caring, it is merely the lessons I have learned.

The lessons are presented with a deliberate sequencing in mind, but they can be read in any order you choose. You may find it helpful to just read one chapter and then try to implement the homework in each lesson, rather than reading all of the lessons.

Know that your thoughts and feelings are justifiable, and that as each day brings new challenges - it’s OKAY to slip and get frustrated. (Take this as a caring reminder, not a presumptuous intrusion.). Re-read a lesson whenever you need a tune-up!

Each lesson, including this Intro, has a short video clip.