Loss of cognition has some plus points...
Most individuals suffer memory loss as the years add up. Certainly, with a stroke, this loss often increases concerns of dementia or Alzheimer's Disease. At age 87, I know too well of what I speak, and find it more complex, as my spouse is near my age with a number of serious illnesses, including memory loss. We are learning to accept these shortcomings in each other.
I try contending with this loss by imagining my mind as a tabular rasa, clear of prior impressions, upon which a sand painting is created, and upon its completion, blown away by the winds, much like those created by Tibetan monks.
Unknowingly, I often take books from the library by my favorite authors, and midway through my reading, discover a familiar passage that makes me aware that I have read this book before.But even with this awareness, I have no idea how the book ends or how it will progress.To make matters worse, I have trouble remembering the title, author and plot a few days after reading.To come to terms with this forgetfulness, I have learned that the joy is in the reading itself, and I can read a book more than once with the same initial enjoyment.
Looking through the blogs a few moments ago, I was intrigued with a posting that identified my stroke symptoms to a tee. I was amazed at the similarity, until I looked at the poster's name and realized the poster was myself, written a few weeks ago.
On my first meeting with my present neurologist, I complained about my memory loss. He tested my memory by reciting the following: "blue ball, a yellow house, the state of Utah." Twenty minutes later he asked me to recite back what he stated, which I did successfully. He replied,"You don't have dementia or Alzheimer!" This kind of thing always happens to me. For instance, before my stroke when I was able to drive, I would take my car to a repair shop complaining of a defect, just to be told there was no problem by the mechanic. You just don't know who to believe!
As time goes on, our houses accumulate a lot of junk, which becomes overwhelming. So too, our minds become cluttered with a lot of garbage of little significance. So, perhaps our memory loss is just a kind of spring cleaning!
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