The Time We Have Left

Full description

Caring for a parent, a spouse or a loved one who is seriously ill means living two things at once: taking care of them every day, and starting to say goodbye before they are gone. It is exhausting, and you forget yourself. The Time We Have Left is a 24-page journal for anticipatory grief and caregivers: a tool to get organized, catch your breath and say what matters while there is still time.

Caring for those you love does not mean disappearing. This journal keeps a place for you.

What you will find inside

• Understand: what grief before goodbye is (sadness, guilt, sometimes relief, all of it is normal) and a "Who can do what?" page to share tasks and dare to ask for help
• My week: your caregiver week at a glance, a page for medical appointments and questions to ask, and a simple wellbeing tracker (sleep, energy, meals, time for you)
• 10-day notebook: one page a day to take stock, ask for help, listen to your body, note a good moment, let out anger and guilt, plan your respite and handle visits better
• Saying it: the five important things to say (thank you, I love you, I forgive you, forgive me, goodbye), their memories and words to keep, their wishes, and a "While there is still time" page for the gestures you want to make

Who this journal is for

For you who care for an aging parent, a spouse with a serious illness, a child or a loved one at the end of life, at home, in hospital or in a care home. For you who feel yourself running out of energy without daring to say it. For you who want to make the most of the time left without regrets. It is also a tender gift for a caregiver friend: a way to tell her "I am thinking of you too".

How to use it

Start with the "Who can do what?" page: it is often the first step to lighten your load. Fill in your caregiver week on Sunday or Monday, and bring the appointments page to the doctor. The 10-day notebook takes a few minutes, ideally in the evening. Keep the Saying it section for calm moments with the person you are caring for: some pages can even be filled in together.

What you receive

• 2 PDF files: the English version and the French version (24 pages each)
• Clickable contents and side tabs on every page to jump between sections in one second
• A "Contents" link at the bottom of every page
• US Letter pages (8.5 × 11 in), easy to print at home or at a print shop
• A soft, simple design made for writing with a stylus just like by hand

The journal works with GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Xodo and most apps that open PDFs, on iPad, Android tablets or a computer. You can also open it on your phone to read your pages. Nothing is shipped: you get your download link by email right after purchase, and your journals stay in your account if you create one.

Good to know

This journal is a writing and reflection tool. It does not replace help from a health or mental health professional. If your grief becomes too heavy, if you can no longer function day to day, or if you have thoughts of hurting yourself, please reach out right away: in Canada and the United States you can call or text 988, day and night. In an emergency, dial 911.

Because this is a digital product, all sales are final. Please read the description carefully before buying, and write to us if you have any question: we are happy to help.