Good morning 👋
What’s a memory that always sticks with you?
This is a question that I love asking new people, as you never really know where their answers might take your conversation. However, for today, I wanted to use it to start a conversation around something a little different – Alzheimer’s.
This is a topic that lies very close to my heart, and I want to give it the attention it deserves; we’ll be taking a look at why that is in today’s blog.
Hello and Welcome to Sweeney’s Blogs!
September is World Alzheimer’s Month – a month dedicated to raising awareness and encouraging the support of people and families facing Alzheimer’s. For me, this takes a slightly more personal angle. If you’re new to the page, you might not know much about my story, so I want to add a little bit of context here, before carrying on:
This is Nana, or, to give her her full name, Rosemary Elizabeth Hopkin.
Nana was my best friend growing up – somebody who was always there and who I knew could sort anything out. I speak in past tense here, as Nana is sadly no longer with us, following her passing back in January 2023. Nana had Alzheimer’s, and while nobody is 100% sure about when she first developed the condition, fought it for around 9-10 years.
Last September, I dedicated the majority of my blog posts to talking about the condition, in tribute to the phenomenal grandmother she was, is and will always remebered to have been. That, of course, isn’t something I regret one bit; however, conditions like Alzheimer’s aren’t only around for a month.
What I mean by this is that months like World Alzheimer’s Month are fantastic ways to kickstart conversations in a whole number of different areas, but it’s up to us to carry them on as we move forward in life. It’s up to me. It’s up to you. It’s something we all have a part in.
Alzheimer’s is not something that my family solely face. In recent years, I’ve seen friends and family each face the condition in their own ways. I don’t want to be negative or to bring people down – this is a blog to remind each other that we can make a difference.
We can raise awareness. We can support one another. We can remind each other that no matter what happens, we’re not facing things like this alone.
Nana is no longer with us physically. There’s nothing I, or anybody, can do to change that. However, her care, compassion, wisdom and teachings remain with everybody who had the pleasure of meeting her. Her legacy still lives on, and that’s something that’ll never change – regardless of what any condition or disease says on the matter.
I only realised the other day that I hadn’t directly spoken about this topic for quite a while here with you all, and it was about time I changed that, which is why we are where we are today.
I don’t want to forget. I don’t want to hide the memories, the stories of love, the laughs, the good times.
My usual writing style would follow on to say that “I don’t want to forget about the bad times or the struggles”; however, what’s probably more accurate is to say I don’t want to forget what they taught me, how they shaped me, and how I hope those lessons can help others.
I say me in this case, or not me and my family, as I can only speak fully to my experiences – some of which I still need to reflect on and fully process. That’s all a part of being a person, though, I guess.
I would typically say here, as I begin to close off today’s blog, that “I should talk more about Alzheimer’s on the page going forward”, but I want to be more direct – I am going to talk more about it.
I’m not fully sure how that looks, how often it’ll be, or in which ways the conversations and stories will be shaped. That’s something I continually think about. What I can say is that I will be talking about it, and so many other things that matter to me, and so many others around the world.
Thank you for making it this far, and for being along for the ride.
Together, we can do some magical things. We may only be humans, but when has that stopped any of us? Let’s show what’s possible when we spread a bit more kindness and compassion into each day. Let’s do it.
Before I close out today’s blog, are there any topics, blogs or stories you’d like to see me look at regarding Alzheimer’s, or any other topic for that matter? Be sure to let me know, and I’ll do my best to make it happen 🙏
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a lovely day!
James
Sweeney's Blogs 