In honor of National Memory Week I feel compelled to write about what I have witnessed first-hand. I could sum it up in a one liner, (but I like to write so I won’t)!
The older individuals that I have met don’t remember that they felt anxious or stressed to the point of making themselves sick about the economy or their stock portfolios or the burst real estate bubble. Many can’t remember their children’s names. If they could, I bet that they would kick themselves for the energy they put in that direction instead of pursuing joy.
It is hard to avoid the pain that life can bring, but the next time you worry about how you are going to be able to pay a bill or send your children to college, try to take a moment and recognize that those are just thoughts that you can control by making new thoughts. This is a luxury that people who have a cognitive impairment lack.
So, use your brain wisely and think about good things, because life is good.
