An Invitation to Enjoy Now

 "We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

-Thornton Wilder

 

Nearly every year my family hosts Thanksgiving dinner. This holiday is filled with memories of watching the Macy's Day Parade and mouth-watering scents wafting from our kitchen. There are many things that make this time of year so special. I could write for pages and pages. When I sat down to write this post, I intended to write about all the things I am grateful for. After a few minutes of reflection, typing, editing and re-typing I realized I had writer's block. Not because I wasn't thankful, but because I couldn't place my gratitude in a list. It didn't seem to do it justice. Then I really started to think about a few articles I'd read and recent events in my own life.

I view social media as a way to share, learn and communicate. As a blogger my hope is to inspire and engage you in some way, or at least to give you something to think about. So instead of listing all of the things I'm grateful for, I'm giving you an invitation. An invitation to enjoy now.

In an age of multitasking and communication-device overload, this is easier said than done. We have the world wide web at our fingertips. We are constantly checking our texts, emails and social media sites. The ability to connect with information and people through technology is an amazing thing, but it can also distract and disconnect us from our present. Are we even aware when this happens? There are countless times I have been out to dinner, taken a look around and seen the majority of people on their phones instead of engaging with the person sitting directly in front of them. As sad as that makes me, I know I have been guilty of this myself.  

Tonight I read a letter from a woman who recently lost her mother to Alzheimer's. She wrote about the Thanksgiving traditions they shared before, and after her mom was diagnosed with this heartbreaking disease. In addition to the care of an Alzheimer's patient, you need to be creative and remember regardless of the changes, there's still a person inside who needs to be loved. 

Her story reminded me of a simple truth. One that applies to all of us regardless of health, or age. 

 

The best way we can show gratitude to those we love this Thanksgiving is to be with them. To live in the moment with them. Let go of distraction so we can grasp the moments that matter- with the people who matter most.

 Go ahead and send your Thanksgiving tweets or Facebook posts to those you care about online, but don't become too overloaded that you miss life's ordinary moments because those are the greatest gifts of all.

I challenge you to live as presently as you can this holiday season. If you'd like to take it a step further, check out The Hands Free Campaign and take the pledge to live every day in the present.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving full of gratitude and joy.

Alone we can do so little; Together we can do so much

 "Every person living with Alzheimer’s disease depends on a team; a medical team, a team of supportive friends and a team of dedicated family. These teams are vital throughout the Alzheimer’s journey, just as our teams are vital to the success of Walk to End Alzheimer’s."

                                                      -The Alzheimer's Association

 Teamwork is an essential part of Alzheimer's care. It is an important part of life itself regardless of our age, ability or intelligence. It’s the glue which keeps people together. The oil that makes the unit work. Teamwork provides support, while pushing us ahead and prolonging forward momentum. Let's think about it. The Fab Five wouldn't have been the same if it was the Fab One. One person alone could not have saved Apollo 13. The Manhattan Project hurtled a group of scientists to the forefront of atomic discovery. Without further ado, I can't begin this post without first giving my thanks to the friends and family who supported The Walk to End Alzheimer's.

Research on Alzheimer’s disease is at a crucial stage, and events like Saturday’s walk provide funds for that work. The walk was also an opportunity to raise awareness about Legacy of Love; an organization I created to support children who have a loved one with Alzheimer's. My mom has been instrumental in helping me develop Legacy of Love over the past few years and I cannot thank her enough for her efforts.

Joined by my mom and lifelong family friends. Thank you for your generosity and support.

When I first arrived to the walk, I had to pause and take a look around. Pre-walk activities were only beginning, but there was already a large group of people decked out in purple. It was 8 am on a Saturday morning, and their spirit was larger than life. Turning Tampa purple for World Alzheimer’s Month brings the community together to honor the unsung, everyday heroes, the caregivers and families. It really is amazing to see how a community rallies for a cause and in this case, a cause that is so important to me. 

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is an opportunity to collectively remember, educate and build awareness of a disease that affects many families in our community. I am so proud of my team for embracing that opportunity.

World Alzheimer's month is over, but our efforts are far from the finish line. Together, we can make every month one of awareness and progress toward a cure.

Leap of Faith Towards a Cure

"Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not
sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” -Dale Carnegie

I recently sat down with several leaders in our community  to discuss an issue I'm deeply passionate about -- Alzheimer's disease and its devastating impact on families.

We talked about ways we can raise awareness and reduce the stigma of Alzheimer's disease in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. This meeting couldn't have come at a more fitting time. September is World Alzheimer's Month and next Saturday, September 29th is Tampa's Walk to End Alzheimer's.

We are opening a new chapter in the story of Alzheimer’s disease. We are embarking on a new era. An era of hope. An era of change. An era of action.

As our conversation continued I realized how much we still need to do, but also how far we've come.

Our country has a National Alzheimer's Plan. Advocates have been out in communities signing petitions to prioritize awareness. Medical researchers have gained a clearer picture for prevention and treatment. 

These are not steps towards a cure, these are leaps. Now we must challenge ourselves, our government and our corporations to adequately fund this effort. These funds will provide our researchers with the resources to end this devastating epidemic. It will take a coordinated effort to ensure that Alzheimer's is a national priority. 

At times, the numbers seem daunting. The task seems larger than ourselves. For those who understand just how debilitating this disease is for diagnosed individuals, their families and our economy, it can be overwhelming. I can't deny how truly devastating these effects can be. However, I can assure you that no step towards action is too small or insignificant. Whether it is sharing your personal story, donating a few dollars to research or taking the time to read and share this post. The culmination of these individual steps toward awareness and education is a societal leap towards a cure. A leap of faith in our future. As my friends at USF's Byrd Institute say, a future where "Alzheimer's is a memory".  

There's no better time to act than today. Here's a few things you can do:

-Wear purple to spread awareness.

-Share information on social media to educate others.

-Sign up for the Walk to End Alzheimer's to support those living with Alzheimer's in your community. If you're in Tampa, I'd love to have you on my team. Click here to sign-up. 

Science is ready to face this disease and I believe we are too.