“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you.”
~ Maori Proverb
I often think about Ground Hog Day because so much of my everyday life feels the same. Very little changes from day to day. My grief with dementia has shown me that as I live every day with my Mom challenged by this disease, Ground Hog Day is ever present.
Ground Hog Day…always the same, day in and day out. Every day can be a challenge for Mom.
There are times that I think…will today be a good day and Mom recognizes every person that she loves? Will today be the day that she can not only recognize us but engage us and remember all that is that is our family and history? Will today be the day that she is clear and lucid?
Or, will today be like so many other days that seem so sad and hard a day that she struggles to engage or know anyone.
Will today be the day that she can’t handle any of it?
Will today be the day that what was true so long ago, a day where Mom was full of life, expressing her love for all that was possible or will today be the day that she can’t articulate but just stares ahead with a smile? Will today be a day full of silence?
Will today be the day that everything changes and we have another aspect of this disease called dementia thrown upon us?
Will today be a day that what we have known up until now has now changed and we have a new normal to deal with?
Will today change everything and we are helpless to deal with it all?
Or, will today be the day that we find a way to be okay with where we are and move on from here?
Today can be the day that we recognize no matter what, we are okay in every moment that belongs to us.
Today can be the day that we focus on all that is good and right with the world.
Today can be the day that we realize as much as we can allow ourselves to believe, everything is happening as it should.
Today can be the day we focus on the love we have for those we hold dear.
Today can be the day that we appreciate our life just the way it is; to be grateful to be alive and to share another day with those we love.
With that being said, today can be the best day ever!
Will today be the day that we think not about “Ground Hog Day” as something that is negative but as something that just is. Some days the same over and over and other days full of the unexpected?
Today can be the day that we fill ourselves with the reminder of the fact that our only role in life is to be present. The only time we will ever have is right now. Today can be the day that we let go of every hurt and relax into this day and welcome all that it brings.
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