Last week we spoke about dementia and the question if you have dementia and if so, then what do you do. We talked about the different forms of dementia. We also spoke that sometimes we think we may have dementia but we really do not. And, making some changes in our lifestyle and stress level may bring down the “forgetfulness.” Doing some healthy living makes the brain stronger.

Dementia is a road you cannot travel alone. You can, but eventually it will catch up with you and you’ll have other people making decisions for you. If you’re ok with that, then no sweat. Again, it is your life. You get to choose what you want to do. Step back and look at the situation and have honest conversations with your family. Don’t be embarrassed and run and hide. You can do that for a little while, but it will catch up with you.

It’s easy for me to say don’t be embarrassed and talk to your family. That will be really hard to do. You’re the mom. You’re the husband or dad. You don’t want to seem weak before your family. Yet, this may be one of the bravest things you have ever done for yourself or your family. There will be big payoffs. And, I dare say it all may not be as bad as you think it will be. Maybe the interventions you are putting in place now are going to turn the tide or hold it at bay. Making the first move and staying ahead of it will pay off big time.

You are making a difference in your future. You are planning your future just like you did when you were in high school and were planning what was the next adventure. You may have planned a vacation, time off before you headed to college or the work world after you graduated. This time off gave you time to think and decide what you wanted? Or, did it take a little bit to get your bearings and find your way and figure out what you wanted to do with the rest of your life?

Same thing now. But, now you’re just older and wiser and can see better. You have some miles on you that will serve you greatly. Be still and ponder where you’re at. Take some time for yourself to really get a hold on what you may be facing. You can see. You can see into your future. Make plans to succeed. Don’t make plans to fail. Just a surely as you plan on winning, planning to lose will get you just that...a downhill spiral.

Take one day at a time. You never know. With dementia, nobody knows. The medical professionals really don’t know how your brain is going to respond. They don’t know how you will respond to any sort of treatment or lifestyle change. Medicine is just a best guess. Your physician is just doing their best to anticipate what may be going on with you and how to turn the tide. All the diagnostic tools are being used and the information is being filtered to come up with an answer. It may be the correct one or it may not be. Take one day at a time.

As you take one day at a time, you can stand and keep believing and planning on a future filled with good things. Focus on the good things ahead. Dream about something that gets you excited. Then, think about how you could really get that dream to come true. What are the short term baby steps? Where will all those baby steps lead you too? It’s amazing how little things add up, right?

Don’t forget you are winning. God Bless you and I pray that all will work out for you and yours in the days to come. You are winning. God Bless You and God Bless the United States of America!