The Forgotten Carols

There are moments when the noise of life softens just enough for something deeper to reach us.

For caregivers, that quiet can be rare.

This Christmas season, I had the opportunity to attend Forgotten Carols, a concert created by Michael McLean. While it is often described as a holiday performance, it feels more like an invitation to pause. To remember. To breathe.

The music isn’t flashy. It doesn’t rush. It tells stories of ordinary people, quiet service, unseen love, and the sacredness found in showing up day after day. Sitting there, I was struck by how closely those themes mirror the lives of caregivers.

Caregiving rarely comes with applause.

There are no standing ovations for managing medications, calming fear at 2 a.m., or putting your own needs on hold for someone you love. Much of this work happens in silence, behind closed doors, without recognition.

And yet, it matters deeply.

As the music unfolded, I felt a sense of validation that many caregivers long for but rarely receive. A reminder that devotion does not need to be witnessed to be worthy. That love expressed through consistency, patience, and presence is profound.

After the concert, I shared a brief moment with Michael McLean, offering a simple hug and a thank you. Not because of celebrity, but because his work gave language to something so many caregivers carry in their hearts. The feeling of being unseen, yet essential. Tired, yet still showing up.

That is what The Caregiving Corner exists for.

To remind caregivers that their role has meaning.

To offer moments of rest, reflection, and connection.

To say, clearly and without condition: you matter too.

If this season feels heavy, if the joy feels muted, or if you are giving more than you have, know this. You are not forgotten. Your quiet love counts. And there is space here for you to be supported as well.