A Heartfelt Message to a Loved One.
The mother-daughter relationship is a complex tapestry, woven with threads of love, admiration, and sometimes, frustration. Each of us has a unique story to tell.
My mother and I have always shared a deep connection.
I idolized her as a child, then tried to mirror her, only to later promise myself I’d be nothing like her.
But as I stepped into motherhood myself, I began to see the similarities between us and found a newfound appreciation for her—both as a person and as a mother.
Today, I miss her deeply, even though she’s still with us physically.
The woman she was is slipping away, lost to the cruel grip of Alzheimer’s.
My mother has been living with Alzheimer’s since around 2007, and the journey has been both heart-wrenching and enlightening.
Watching someone you love fade away into the shadows of this disease is a pain like no other.
But even in the midst of sorrow, there are unexpected blessings and valuable lessons to be found.
The first and most urgent lesson was my commitment to do everything in my power to prevent this disease taking over me.
While I can’t control my fate, I can take steps to protect my mind and body.
This determination opened up a new world of learning, research, and experimenting with different methods, techniques, and habits.
These changes have transformed my daily life, filling it with energy, excitement, and a sense of purpose.
The second lesson, perhaps the most beautiful, is that Alzheimer’s, in its devastating simplicity, strips away the layers of personality and leaves behind the pure essence of who we are as human beings: love and kindness.
My mother, now free from the complexities of her former self, radiates a light that is irresistible.
Just like a newborn, she is a beacon of pure love, drawing out the same from those around her.
But the most important lesson of all is to complete your relationships with the people you love before it’s too late.
Say what needs to be said, express the deep truths that often get buried beneath the trivial.
In 2020, as my mother’s condition worsened and the world was in lockdown, I couldn’t be by her side.
So, I recorded a video, pouring my heart into a letter I wrote to her.
I knew the words might not reach her mind, but I hoped she could feel the energy and love behind them.
It was an incredibly emotional experience, but it brought me peace.
It allowed me to accept my mother as she is now and to embrace her with only love and gratitude.