The Power of Small Tip #9: When Caring Hurts: Choosing Yourself So You Can Care for Others

The Power of Small: How Little Things Make a Big Difference

Think about the last time something small made a big difference: a word of encouragement, a small idea, a two-minute lesson that stuck. This season on I Love Learning, we’re diving into The Power of Small. Host Dr. Gina Anderson will unpack stories of how learning doesn’t have to be big to be powerful because sometimes, it’s the smallest spark that ignites the biggest change.

For more on the Power of Small, check out Dr. Gina Anderson’s TEDx Raleigh talk “How Microlearning and Connections Transform Us: The Power of Being Present,”.

I Love Learning Podcast, S3 EP9: Carolyn Dowdy

We begin 2026 with a deeply moving and honest conversation about self-care, love, and survival. In this episode we sit with a story that so many caregivers live, but few talk about out loud.

When Carolyn’s husband suffered a stroke, her life changed in an instant. Overnight, she became a caregiver, carrying the weight of responsibility, fear, and love all at once. Through exhaustion and uncertainty, Carolyn learned a powerful truth the hard way: you cannot pour from an empty cup. Without boundaries and self-love, burnout doesn’t just harm the caregiver—it also impacts the person they are trying so desperately to care for.

Carolyn shares how choosing happiness, practicing gratitude, and protecting her mental health became acts of love, not selfishness. By focusing on positivity and honoring her own needs, she found the strength to show up fully and compassionately for her husband.

This episode is a reminder that caregivers matter too. Your well-being is not optional, it’s essential. For practical mental health tools and self-care strategies for caregivers, visit Carolyn’s website: caregivermentalwellness.com

Be sure to connect with Carolyn using the links below:

Check out this week’s episode:
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