Positivity, Persistence, Passion

 

I have deliberately slowed down over the past couple of years. I’ve only recently ventured out in a more normal manner and it’s been almost too much activity.  At times, I had to force myself to get in the car and go, but thoroughly enjoyed seeing people that I hadn’t seen in a long while. I will admit that these events raised my spirits, but left my body tired and my mind somewhat numb.

 

During the first week of December, life has been extraordinarily busy. In a seven day period, I attended two dinner meetings, a Christmas dinner, sang at an assisted living center, and topped it all off with an Alzheimer’s Impact Movement  (AIM) Zoom meeting.

 

The AIM Zoom meeting was a year-end celebration of our advocacy successes. It’s remarkable that we were able to continue our advocacy efforts without a forum. Advocates took to social media, email, and the occasional in-person visit to spread the news about our legislative issues and funds for Alzheimer’s research.

 

Before the pandemic, we advocates were 1300 strong at the Advocacy Forum in DC! When over a thousand advocates storm Capitol Hill wearing  purple sashes and speaking the same message, it does make an impact on our legislators. Our last forum in DC was in 2019. For the past two years, our visits were virtual, but successful.

 

The part of the Zoom meeting I enjoyed most was the Advocate Panel. Their topics were Positivity, Persistence, and Passion. The panel members each had personal, and heartbreaking, experience with Alzheimer’s.

 

Positivity is a contagious attitude. One of the panel members, Joe Arciniega from Texas shared a story about when he was asked to present a slide show with great Alzheimer’s information. He was impressed with the slides and enthusiastically accepted the challenge. On the day of the presentation, he discovered that everyone in the audience spoke only Spanish. With his rusty Spanish, he narrowed his presentation to the 10 signs of Alzheimer’s. He felt that the positivity from the audience was returned a hundred fold.

 

Persistence allows us to continue being effective advocates year round, year after year. All advocates have to be persistent to continue the fight for themselves and for others. We didn’t let a pandemic stop us from continuing our mission. Alzheimer’s advocacy is not a sprint, it is a marathon, and we want to see this thing through to the finish line.

 

Passion keeps all long-term advocates involved in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Aimee Isaac, one of the panelists, echoed my very own thoughts when she said that she felt powerless and reached out to the Alzheimer’s Association. From that point forward even small wins gave her a feeling of accomplishment. She also spoke of the importance of telling your own story when speaking to members of Congress.

 

I am positive that someday we will have an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s if we are persistent in our advocacy efforts. When we put our passion into action, we are unstoppable.

 

Copyright © December 2021 by L.S. Fisher

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