This question can mean so many things to so many people. Why is it around the holidays we start to reminisce of years past? As you age this seems to be truer than not.

I am remembering times when I was younger hanging with my big extended family. You know those photos of everyone around the table and then the kids around another table generally dubbed “the kids table”. Then I would visit my other side of the family and more family time with more grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and parents. Those were what I dub the simpler times.

Why is it as you get older you long for those times again.

I also am remembering the times when kids were younger and their smiling faces at the awe of this time of the year.

As everyone is getting older over the years you just keep going, keep moving, moving forward through the years. Then those you love start to pass away and you still keep moving forward. Life doesn’t stop for loss, medical issues, etc. It just keeps moving forward. Then your parent who took care of you and you are now taking care of them at the same time you are taking care of your family. I have mentioned it before as the sandwich generation.

Especially for me this year seems so hard for me to get into the spirit of Christmas. Why do I feel this way, is it normal to feel this way? I can tell you there is no normal way to feel. You feel the way you feel and just learn the best way to cope. I am still learning the best ways to cope myself. Therapy is a good start, good friends is another and my faith with God all are helping. Key things I have learned is be true to your self, don’t sugar coat things tell it like it is and just keep moving forward through it all.

As we keep going through this adventure we call dementia I know things are going to continue to get harder in understanding the whys, but with my faith, friends and family I to can get through this too. Just remember you are not alone. Being alone can make things harder. Just know I am here.