Burden

"I don't want to be a burden on my family" is a common refrain heard in hospice care. Parents, brothers, sisters, spouses, mates, all wish to relieve loved ones of the work and worry of their care at end-of-life.  Thomas Long has lectured  the sentiment of protecting our loved ones from the burden of our care is reflective of our modern distaste for bodies-real, aging, sick, and dead bodies and continues a denial of the betrayal of the body experienced with aging and illness. He also posits this takes away our ability to deepen our humanity and what it means to be human.
He encourages people to develop the capacity to "squint" and see the body as a symbol of something of worth and to honor the body-in spite of, or perhaps because of,  it's brokenness. He, as well as other writers, encourage people to embrace the notion that "I WANT to be a burden on my family".  Identifying this as an opportunity rife with love, and challenge and growth, and payback for the "burden" of child rearing and parenting.
Burden is defined as a duty or responsibility. Webster's free dictionary informs the word burden is derived from Middle English, from Old English byrthen; akin to Old English beran to carry and it's first known use was before the 12th century. So, it is 900 year old word about carrying responsibility.   How will you burden or be burdened with the loved ones in your life?  

Annette Coulombe photo