Sometimes an imperfect relationship is good enough.

In Loving Someone Who Has Dementia, Dr. Pauline Boss describes an alternative to ending a relationship because it’s not everything we wish for. By that she means we can choose to retain the relationship and find peace by consciously deciding that a relationship is worth preserving, even though parts of it are painful.

This is not to pretend that nothing is wrong, or that bad behavior must be silently borne; victimhood leads to smoldering resentment. No, the attitude Dr. Boss describes is empowering because the acceptance is a conscious choice.

I’ve seen this lived out in inspiring ways. [Read more…]