LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
LIKE NEVER BEFORE

I want to share with you a new meaning for ASAP.  A = Acceptance, S = Socialization, A = Attitude and P = Purpose.  I have found these four things to be the foundation of my living with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) well.

ACCEPTANCE – I was able to immediately accept my diagnosis of dementia because I had seen seven other doctors in fifteen months.  I finally had something that I could hang my “hat on”.  Three months later though, I had to accept the likely path of my disease. As I was able to do this, I became able to forge ahead.  I did not want to be a statistic.  I told my wife that I would defy all statistics. Deciding that I would rule LBD and that it would not rule me became deeply ingrained in my mind and actions.

SOCIALIZATION – This is extremely important.  It is my lifeblood.  I have chosen to attend Dementia Mentors Memory Cafes every Wednesday and Friday.  Through Dementia Mentors, I have the opportunity to mentor persons with LBD all across the world. I am able to virtually meet with them as we share our disease together and help each other.  What a gift to me this has been!  My wife and I started Purple Angel Memory Cafe Thomaston on January 8, 2015.  On March 31, 2015, we will be starting Purple Angel Memory Cafe @ Cambridge House in Thomston, Georgia.  The following month on April 17th, we will start Purple Angel Memory Cafe @ Cambridge House in Newnan, Georgia. Future plans are to start a memory cafe at Cambidge House in Griffin, Georiga in a few months.

ATTITUDE – My attitude sets the stage for how I will live with my disease.  It enables me to set aside the absurdity of many LBD issues. My attitude enables me to stay focused on ruling LBD in my life and it not ruling me.

PURPOSE – It took me fifteen months after my diagnosis of LBD for me to realize that God was not through with me.  As I found my new purpose in life, I was able to forge ahead and live with LBD well!

©2015 Robert Bowles

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