KISS

KISS...

Could be...

But I was never a fan.  Could be...

Which is nice, but not what I am thinking.  Kiss is 

KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID.  I say this "tongue in cheek" because I'm not suggesting anyone is stupid, but I'm suggesting that as caregivers we get lost in the details.  We get "stupid" to the simple things because we try to think on a more complicated level.  We lose the forest for the trees.

Today we had our sunrise church service outside in a wooded area, where we listened to a simple message of love and redemption.  I couldn't help but be taken in by the surroundings of nature.  It was as though there was a supporting cast of birds and trees hired specifically to frame the very purpose of our visit.  We sang songs, aided only by a talented man with a harmonica.  The message itself was brilliant in its simplicity and brevity.  

It made me think.  When was the last time I stood and watched the dawn?  Or listened to nature work in harmony?  Or listen to a message and really hear what the message was telling me?  How often do I get wrapped up in the details and forget the basics of why we are here in the first place?

The autism spectrum is complicated.  Caregiving for our children, siblings, or parents is complicated.  The best way to counter complicated is to simplify.  Strip things down to the bare roots and rebuild.  Start with the basic needs of all people; to be safe, healthy, nourished (physically and spiritually), and loved.  If those things aren't met, there should be nothing else happening until they are. No house stands without a strong foundation.    

 Regardless of where we are in our lives, we should always make time to take inventory.  For ourselves and our loved ones, we must be willing to purge the needless details in our lives in order to refocus on what we really need.  We need to remember that there are sunrises, trees, and birds available to us EVERY DAY, but it's up to us to put them into our lives.

Be well and God bless.  Tom