Impact

You are needed in some way, large or small, right where you are. Though this timeless truth is spoken frequently in various ways, too many of us fall into the temptation of believing this is a farce. Sure, we are also needed in other ways as time rolls along. But, right now you can impact the world just as you are.

A short while ago I was speaking with a family mourning the loss of "Grandma." Though she had not been able to walk or talk for a year or more, stories from her past flowed from what seemed like an endless source. Even as this woman was affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD), she continued to contribute in beautiful ways to the world around her.

Most notably, the family credited her with teaching her great granddaughter how to walk. As many people with AD do, this woman spent many of her waking hours walking the halls. Her family realized this would be a wonderful way for her to connect with her soon to be toddling great grandchild. And, so it happened that this little munchkin learned to walk in the hallways of a memory care unit.

Though she won't remember those days, vicarious memories of Great Grandma will stick with her as she grows and matures. Hopefully, she'll realize how special those moments were as she walked alongside an old woman with a failing memory.