
Life & Alzheimer's
An ongoing series of Inspirational and informational entries with Special Guest Entries by author and speaker Nancy Nelson
Life & Alzheimer's
An ongoing series of Inspirational and informational entries with Special Guest Entries by author and speaker Nancy Nelson

Las Vegas! What a town.
Lucky us living here in Nevada. I think about what brought me here, I’m grateful…a mother starting a-new and wanting to begin again. It’s beautiful, isn’t it, this newer version of the town I came to 53 years ago? I see warmth, the glow of lights, clean, and potential. I see potential. I could see something far different, cold, tall, unfriendly buildings, a dust in the air, and the buzz of so many people. What is it you see?
Just think about people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, or any other form of dementia, or disease. There are many social services offered and provided for us. I take moments of gratitude as I work through my own frailties, and am grateful for what is around us. Find something, the blue sky, the dinner last night, the hope for today, the clean air we breathe, our families, our shelter, that we can see, hear, feel… we each have difficulties, and this, our town, offers help.
Nancy Nelson

To our Alzheimer’s Families
MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Merry Christmas!! Merry! Merry! Merry!
Go slow & enjoy your holiday in your special way from us to you…
Nancy Nelson

Ahhh, my writing respite! We all need to take time and be with ourselves.
What is it we really think… Begin to write, and don’t stop until you reach two pages.
Just write and write, pen to paper. Amazing what you find out about you.
Try it and let us know what you think! Nancy
Nancy Nelson

Did you know . . . mindfulness quiets the brain? Think about what we are doing.
Those who practice mindfulness significantly improve connectivity in the hippo-campus. So .
if a less-stressed brain can think and carry out tasks more efficiently, do you think we could give it a try?? I will if you will.
Nancy Nelson

Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart.”
Ancient Indian Proverb
Never too late to figure out what we want to do when we grow up? Never. What do you love, begin there. I know someone that has found such delight in coloring. She colors and colors . . . with a smile on her face. What fun—a project Operation Figure It Out. How will you begin? I’d love to hear that.
Nancy Nelson

“Above all, be the heroine in your life, not the victim.”
by Nora Ephron
I especially like this quote from Nora Ephron, an American journalist, essayist, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, producer, director and… My gosh! She is my hero! There is a lot to say when it comes to standing up for your beliefs; i.e. in my case, a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Being a partner in my own health is paramount for a longer and happier and active life span. I strongly want to have control and be a participant to where and why I need to make the life changes that I need to make. Heroine vs victim. Ummm…what do you think?
Nancy Nelson

“IN LIFE, changes come our way with family, friends, professionally. . .and in health. How we choose to handle these changes, lies only within each of us. Loving-kindness comes to my mind, what do you think?”
Nancy Nelson

Look for something positive in each day. Even if some days you have to look a little harder.
Author Unknown

Be Bright. Be bold. Be Amazing. Be you and I’ll be me and together we can enlighten and engage conversation about Alzheimer’s disease … and help each other.
Nancy Nelson

“Friends are friends are friends are important. Life gave me the gift of you. Humbly, I’m glad.
Nancy Nelson

“She believed She could so She did.”
Written by a very wise Unknown Person
The above sign was a gift from a dear friend and remains my shoulder on days I cannot stand tall on my own. It says to me, I am capable and I need not despair over a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, but be of help and be of service and you’ll feel better…and you know, I do. I’ve often wondered why people wear on t-shirts, the messages they wear. Look around today and see what you think? Is it inspirational ….
Nancy Nelson

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr

Be Happy
We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.
Frederick Keonig

Early Stages of the condition bring about Early stage challenges. This being said it is important to remain engaged in holiday activities but at the same maybe take a break from actually hosting events. Instead enjoy the hospitality of friends or family
ADC

An annual party at my house served 75 people. Now I am helping Jenn and Pete prepare for a Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party, but not in the same way. Life changes, doesn’t it? How has life changed for you?
Nancy Nelson

Message from Rob
My name is Robert. I’ve been reading your blogs and think I want to say. I am 68 years old. I’m sad. And I’m glad to have someone to talk to. I’m retired and I feel like I’m alone.
Nancy's Response
Hi Rob! You’re not alone! I’m sad sometimes, too. Maybe when you get sad, you could walk outside, or sit in front of a window and get sunshine on your face? That really helps me. Try it and let us know if it helps you.
Nancy Nelson

What to do next? How do I make today okay? What are you doing? Maybe if you share, I’ll get a new idea. So I’m going to walk this morning, and work on poems for my new poem book. Do you ever write? It helps me.
Nancy Nelson

Good Morning! I’ll continue telling my story, but only if you are willing to share some of yours. You may drop in at any time. My thoughts . . . we are an interactive equal opportunity space for learning. Please be the first, write to us. Share. Communicate.
Nancy Nelson

Greetings! We all have a story to tell and if it will help others, their family, and all God- Bless-You Caregivers then I say, let’s talk, chatter, exchange and find that we can make lemonade out of sour lemons. Will you? Let’s share! Let’s feel better! Engage . . .
Nancy Nelson

Hello. I’m going to continue my story now. After diagnosis and writing, I published a book called, Blue.River.Apple. an exploration of Alzheimer’s through poetry. I went public to build awareness and reduce stigma attached to Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Nancy Nelson

Pad of paper as though I was possessed. Every morning 3 to 5a.m., I’d be bright eyed and wide awake, writing. Journaling really. Figuring how what to do with the news I’d been given, how to act, feel, continue … and I did nuttin’ for awhile. Just wrote.
Nancy Nelson

How are you today? I’m still Nancy and glad to be sharing with you. What in the world, you might be thinking, is she writing about? What’s the meat of this blog? And, I’d say, “Love to tell you but I am a three-line kinda gal and so it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Nancy Nelson

Hello again. Isn’t it also true that in all of our lives, if we had a cold, flu or tonsils removed, the fading of daylight made us feel worse. In the middle of the night when we woke up, ahhh, not good. AND THEN morning time we were better. Good Morrrning!
Nancy Nelson

Hello, Isn’t it true that everything seems better when we have someone we can share ourselves with—a story, concern, helpful hint, funny tale? Communication is Key.
Nancy Nelson

Howdy! My writing came to me as though I was possessed. Every morning 3 to 5a.m., I’d be bright eyed and wide awake, writing. Journaling really. Figuring how and what to do with the news I’d been given. How to act, and feel … and I did nuttin’ about it. I wrote!
Nancy Nelson