She has mild dementia. Some days, she remains the strong woman I've always known, telling stories and laughing with us. On other days, she pauses sometimes. Her thoughts move slowly. She struggles to find the correct words, and she can get lost in everyday situations. She sometimes repeats the same request or forgets the names of persons she cares about. It's painful to see her frustration, wondering why her mind isn't working as well as it once did.
Seeing her like this reminds me that memory is such an important part of being a human. It holds the laughter we shared, the challenges we overcame, the people we loved and the person we became through it all. Without memories, it feels like we could lose the meaning behind our own existence. There are memories I hope time will never take away from me the sound of family gatherings, the places that brought me peace, my proudest achievements and the love and warmth of the people who have shaped my life. I never want to forget those moments because they tell the story of who I am.
So now I fight to live more mindfully. I take pictures so that I can look back someday. I write things down before they fade. I value the present more than ever before because one day, I hope to look back at those experiences and smile, knowing that I truly lived a life worth remembering.
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