aishaadkins

[aishaadkins]

Changemaker Challenges

It's 2024 and I am dreaming BIG! If you want to know how you can help, read on!

Hello, friends. It’s been a little while since I’ve visited the blog. Swimming in the depths of grief while also surviving as a high-functioning person with ADHD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD sometimes requires taking a step back from a few things to begin to focus on other things. Image of Columbia University’s 2023 Age Boom Fellows announcement. The last…

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[aishaadkins]

Am I Grieving Right?

How am I doing since my mother's passing? Maybe better than I should be. Check out my new blog post to learn more!

It has been two weeks since we celebrated my mother’s life. Over 30 days since I sat on the bed where I listened to the death rattle coming from my mother’s body, watching for her to make her final exhale. There are moments when it feels like she’s just away in the hospital, or even on vacation. Like she was never sick and the last 10+ years was just a really bad dream. Then, of course, when I…

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#Caregiving #healing #millennial caregiver

[aishaadkins]

I Just Want You To Fly

The passing of my mother has brought about a lot of reflection. Peak into what's been going on in my mind over the last week...

As you learned in my last post, my mother died one week ago today. As fresh as her passing is, I cannot say that I fully feel the impact of our loss, but one word I’d used to describe my initial feelings is relief. Relief that her suffering has ended. Relief that the arduous work of caring for someone with dementia is done. Relief that I can live a somewhat “normal” life as my mother intended me…

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#death #Faith #Family #fly #Grief #love #mother-daughter

[aishaadkins]

In Loving Memory

Photo of Rosetta Linda Adkins, circa 1980 Today, my father Ron and I share that my mother, Rosetta Linda Adkins, passed away on Friday, July 7 at 7:00 pm, with my dad, her sister Jacalyn, and myself by her side. After a long and hard-fought battle with Frontotemporal Dementia, Rosetta is no longer suffering and is at complete peace. Thank you to everyone who has accompanied me on the last 10…

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[aishaadkins]

A Decade of Care

New blog post commemorating my 10 year care-versary! #MillennialCaregiver

I assumed the journey that began in February of 2013 would last a few weeks to a few months at the most. Ten years later and I am still caring for my mother and now care for my father as well. Beyond advocating for my parents, I now advocate on behalf of family caregivers, disabled people, and older adults across the country through my career. I am a writer and a speaker; I even have my own IMDB…

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#Caregiving #community #love #millennial

[aishaadkins]

Nothing Yet to Say

This year has been exceptionally difficult. But it's not over, so there's really nothing, yet, to say...

As a writer and storyteller, I am fortunate in that I’ve rarely encountered writer’s block. Until now. Until I attempted to share the overwhelming difficulty that has been my 2022. From severe mental health struggles to new health care trauma, caregiving woes to heartbreak, this year has truly been one of the most difficult of my life. My natural inclination is to take what I am learning and…

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#Caregiving #Faith #Friendship #Health #millennial caregiver #PTSD #Self-Care #Self-Esteem #storyteller #Writing

[aishaadkins]

Nothing Yet to Say

Nothing Yet to Say

As a writer and storyteller, I am fortunate in that I’ve rarely encountered writer’s block. Until now. Until I attempted to share the overwhelming difficulty that has been my 2022. From severe mental health struggles to new health care trauma, caregiving woes to heartbreak, this year has truly been one of the most difficult of my life. My natural inclination is to take what I am learning and…

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[aishaadkins]

When one song ends, another begins

A farewell to @OurTurn2Care and a look ahead for Aisha Adkins the brand... #OurTurn2Care #MillennialCaregiver

This part of the journey comes to an end, but the work continues and connections remain. – Aisha Adkins Transitions. They are the only pathways from where we are to where we want to be. Sometimes those pathways are paved and well-lit. Other times, they are actually dark alleyways covered in shards of broken bottles that once held precious dreams. Unfortunately, I can tell you that a lot of folx…

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#Caregiving #mental health #millennial caregiver #millennials

[aishaadkins]

Do We Know It’s Christmas?

Is it still Christmas without the presents, decorations, and general fanfare? Aisha shares her thoughts in her latest post.

Growing up as an only child, I was incredibly blessed. I had the opportunity to experience many things I’m not sure I would have been able to if I had siblings. Every Christmas, I received most everything I asked for, and then some. But very little compared to the atmosphere of warmth and magic my parents – especially my mother – created in our home. A glowing tree that could be seen from…

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#Christianity #Christmas #Faith #Friendship #hope #love

[aishaadkins]

After months of deliberation, I have decided to take a few days off from work to get caught up on life and quell some of the inherent chaos that can come with being a caregiver for my parents. When I first decided to take some time off, I daydreamed of things like spending a day at the @highmuseumofart, treating myself to lunch or dinner at nice restaurant, or maybe even a covid-safe visit with a friend. But then reality set in. I am not just an employee taking a break from my job. I am a employee who has another full-time job as a caregiver and personal needs as a full-time human. So my vacation days won’t actually be spent “vacationing,” but mostly in doctor’s appointments, cleaning, running overdue errands, catching up on elusive sleep, following up on anything that has fallen through the cracks, and making sure my parents have everything they need. Except I won’t be doing these things in between Zoom calls, emails, rapid response, and interviews for the next week or so. #NationalFamilyCaregiverMonth #HCBS #PTO #PaidTimeOff #PaidLeave #Blessed #Rest #Respite #SelfCare #Wellness #Resilience #Resistance #Restoration #Gratitude #Faith https://www.instagram.com/p/CWI-lD2rAbj/?utm_medium=tumblr

#nationalfamilycaregivermonth #hcbs #pto #paidtimeoff #paidleave #blessed #rest #respite #selfcare #wellness #resilience #resistance #restoration #gratitude #faith

[aishaadkins]

Hello friends. I am humbled by all of the new followers recently. That said, you’ll have to wait for new content, as I am going on a hiatus for a few days. As a caregiver, I have used social media as a tool for raising awareness about issues affecting BIPOC millennials who are providing care for a loved one. One of the issues I am passionate about is caregiver mental health. Caring for someone, especially someone who is living with a debilitating or terminal illness, can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting – even debilitating. As such, I am taking a step back from social media for a bit to create more space and capacity for me to care for my parents and myself in a healthier, more balanced way. Additionally, I will likely be stepping away from some roles and opportunities for an as yet undetermined amount of time as I continue to learn the best ways to cope with anticipatory grief and heal from traumas I’ve encounter throughout my life. If you are finding yourself anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed by the challenges of being a caregiver, know that you are not alone. You may not be able to change your current circumstances, but you can control what you consume and some of the unnecessary triggers that steal your peace. I’ll touch base in a few days, and may decide to extend my social hiatus at that point. Until then, be well, be kind, and be your own greatest advocate. #Hiatus #Blessed #TakingABreak #Wellness #Peace #ProtectYourPeace #HealthyMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CRmUUb0Khhw/?utm_medium=tumblr

#hiatus #blessed #takingabreak #wellness #peace #protectyourpeace #healthymind

[aishaadkins]

Help Spread the word! @hihdomesticemployers member Engracia Figuroa flew to DC for #CareCantWait & on her way home @united DESTROYED her wheelchair. This happens way too often to disabled people. Sign the petition and #MakeUnitedPay! #DisabilityJustice #LinkInBio https://www.instagram.com/p/CRb45_fK_q_/?utm_medium=tumblr

#carecantwait #makeunitedpay #disabilityjustice #linkinbio

[aishaadkins]

More scenes of the day… #CareIsEssential #CareCantWait (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRUXPeypO_8/?utm_medium=tumblr

#careisessential #carecantwait

[aishaadkins]

My time in Washington, D.C. has truly been a remarkable experience filled with growth, reflection, and connection. These are just a few images of my colleagues and friends, many of whom met each other in person for the first time this week. As impactful as this trip was for my career (not to mention positive for my mental health), the reality is that is was also an anxiety-addled test run for obtaining regular care for my mother. After many last-minute calls, frantic emails, and $486 out of pocket, I arranged for an aide to come to my home and make sure my parents were okay while I was gone. It was expensive, and I worried about how things would work out. Fortunately, things went well on both ends. Now I am returning to a reality in which I will grapple with anticipatory grief and try balance work and care. We are daily making progress in gaining legislation that will get family caregivers, people with disabilities, and people with disabilities the much-needed home and community-based services we so desperately need. The struggle continues. #CareCantWait #CareIsEssential (at Washington D.C.) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRUW3EZJOSr/?utm_medium=tumblr

#carecantwait #careisessential

[aishaadkins]

Mother’s Day has been hard for me for a long time. My mother is still with me, but she is not the same. Her lovely singing voice is not as strong as it once was. She can’t make her famous Precious Poundcakes anymore. And she doesn’t remember any of the sweet moments or bitter tensions we shared together as mother and daughter throughout my life. But today is a good day for my mom. She is lucid, alert, and able to communicate fairly well. I showed my parents the Caregiver Corner interview I did for @caringacrossgen with @sianpierre and @rebrexit of @dutyfreefilm, and @brandongwill and @janicehwill of @ourwillpower. My mom told me she was so proud of me and who I’ve become. Sure, the things my guests shared touched my parents and they commented on how handsome Brandon and Sian-Pierre are. But they were mostly just surprised to see me in a light they never have before: confident, poised, professional. But most importantly, loving what I do. My mom just kept looking at the television screen (I pulled it up via the Facebook Live app on @amazonfiretv) and back at me, wiping tears from her eyes and grinning ear-to-ear. When the playback ended, she told me it is so wonderful to see me grow up into this woman and find my voice, because it is like a coin to my future. I thanked her and proceeded to give her a mani-pedi (after years of unsuccessful attempts). We may have ice cream later. Maybe not. We may talk to a few more relatives on the phone, or call it a day. My mother could continue to have a good day, free of the most debilitating symptoms of dementia, or she could experience a really terrible sundowning episode. We don’t know what will happen, but I do know that I have learned how to manage my expectations for myself and of my mother. Today can be a special day, or it can be one of many where I just do my best to make my mom proud, whether or not she is always able to recognize it – or me. So, as Hallmark holidays go, today is pretty okay so far. Your day can be pretty okay, too. https://www.instagram.com/p/COqr4foJPr1/?igshid=1gpjfaawlqisv

[aishaadkins]

Don't You Forget About Me

Virtual communities have offered a lifeline to many people who were previously isolated and will return to isolation if these communities are not prioritized, funded, invested in, and sustained by people who care...

Community. Beyond being a cult classic NBC sitcom, it’s also a key institution to ancient and modern societies alike. At the onset of the pandemic, a lot of us mourned the communities that were so integral to our daily lives. Many folx took for granted the budding entrepreneur grinding every day at your local coffee shop, the retired woman who bags your groceries and asks about how your son is…

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#belonging #community #Friendship #Joy #loneliness #Togetherness

[aishaadkins]

Tuesday night, 8 people were murdered in and around metro Atlanta, including 6 Asian-American women. Not far from my home. Despite the killer insisting this was some result of a “sex addiction,” it is clear that this was a HATE CRIME in which the Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community was targeted, violated, and forever changed. Today, I spent some time reaching out to my close friends with Asian-American identities. I wanted to see how they were doing, how they were processing the events. Everyone’s reaction was different, because no one group of people is a monolith. But knowing that they know they are not alone seemed to be appreciated. If you feel lead, I encourage you to reach out to your Asian-American friends, just to let them know that you see them, feel their hurt, and are willing to support them in any way they need if it is helpful to them. #StopAAPIHate #EndWhiteSupremacy #Solidarity #Change (at Atlanta, Georgia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMieSlwJEEs/?igshid=lrj1skhqqx2f

#stopaapihate #endwhitesupremacy #solidarity #change