How To Stay Joyful When Loved Ones Are Struggling
- Kathleen Naomi
- May 19, 2022
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 12
Worried about a sick loved one? I did too… until Nama reminded me that happiness isn’t selfish — it’s magic that spreads.
When Worry Feels Sickening
What do you do when your puppy, child, or a loved one is ill?
(The same applies to chaos, fear, or hatred in the world.)
Feel bad?
Worry?
One day, Nama, my puppy, wasn’t feeling well.
I worried.
I wondered if it was something serious.
Should I take her to the doctor?
Should I wait?
She was a little lethargic.
Maybe it was something she ate —
she eats everything on the ground.
Maybe she was just tired or sore from doggie camp the day before.
She’s a little over a year old, still very energetic…
though she’s also changing.
Is it “the change,” and she’s just slowing down?
As these thoughts rambled across my mind,
I realized something: I literally felt sick.
Sick to my stomach.
Head fuzzy and pressured.
That’s normal for me.
If I’m worried about her, that means I care.
And then…
I had to run an errand.
While driving on the Libramiento in Puerto Vallarta,
it hit me like a ton of bricks:
Worrying about Nama because she may be ill
is not healthy for me.
It’s not healthy for her either.
I’ve heard this many times through the years.
This time, it finally sank in.
If I focus on keeping myself healthy and happy,
my positive energy will help Nama.
Simple.
So I shifted my focus:
Feeling good
Feeling relaxed
Thinking of things that make me happy
…and lo and behold, it felt:
FREE. GOOD. JOYFUL. ✨
I’ve realized since this epiphany that it’s something you have to practice each time.
It’s not selfish to focus on your own well-being.
It helps everyone around you — especially those who need it most —
to be surrounded by your positive, healthy energy.
What about you?
How do you feel when a loved one is sick?
Or when there’s sadness, hatred, or fear in the world?
Have you thought about this?
(For the record: I did take Nama to the vet for a full check-up.No health issues found. 🙂)
When we care for ourselves, we give the best of ourselves to those we love — and maybe even the world. ✨
Find your inner movie star.
xo Kathleen Naomi