Kindness
Generosity
Determination
Wisdom
Humor
Service
Commitment
Compassion
Faith
Empathy
Care
Faithfulness
Loyalty
That was Carrie White in a nutshell. Always concerned about others, always willing to lend a hand or offer a brutally honest word of advice. She didn’t mince words, ever.
She adored her family, but I imagine there were countless people who considered her a second mom, play aunt, or big sister.
When I was a young mother, she was my daughter’s first babysitter. She opened her home to me, and even walked me through the steps to secure my first apartment. She was a bit of a mentor; an encouraging force. She’d suffered a lot, and was transparent in sharing her experiences, if it meant that others would think critically and soberly about their own choices and decisions.
She motivated me to keep going at a time when I was green and fearful. She’d been widowed as a young woman, but that didn’t stop her. She worked hard. She was a walking testament that anything was possible. No shame, no excuses, no doubting, fainting, or looking back was her motto.
When I was a caregiver, she shared this advice:
"When they come in the door, that’s when you go out. Get out, get out, get out! GET out! Get gone! Get outside, and take care of the needs of you. Go. There is nothing wrong with you taking a little time for you. Just go out. Go get your nails and feet done. Go to the mall. The thing is, you're not complaining, you just want to do some of the things you used to do. It doesn't have to be anything big. Just get some ME time”.
I wonder how often she took her own advice. She was always helping someone else.
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