Take This Job and Shove It

I've done a lot of hard things in my life. Lived through a lot of abuse, obstacles and body blows.

I've survived a botched surgery (there may have been drugs involved - not me, the doctor) where they changed out my blood three times while trying to stop the bleeding.

I've been kicked, stomped, head butted, gored and body slammed by numerous very, VERY large animals.

I've been verbally abused and called "a stupid, worthless, dumb shit" by an alcoholic parent. A LOT. Repeatedly.

I've come out in one of the reddest states in the nation. I've known heartache and betrayal.

I've balanced HUGE egos, client demands and impossible deadlines without breaking a sweat.

Car crashes. Graduate school. Parents divorce. Check. Check. Check.

I don't say these things to make you feel sorry for me or to put me on some kind of pedestal. I'm no saint and definitely no hero, but I share this so that you understand that I no hard.

Or at least I thought I did.

Then I became a caregiver.

THIS is the hardest thing I have ever done.

Caregiving is hard.

Caregiving will run you over, back up, run over you again and drop a lit cigarette on you all the while playing a Nickelback song.

Caregiving is FUCKING hard.

And no matter what you can't say Take This Job and Shove It.

Because try as you might, you can't quit.

Until the job quits you.