Dementia Narratives & Legacy Projects

DN ❤️ Letter 01 :: Courage, Rebellion, and Conversation Starters

Hello ❤️

I have an audacious fledgling ambition — rallying people around the idea that we can create positive legacies for ourselves and others by confronting the narratives of dementia. It’s a manifesto and a mission, rooted in the belief that sharing our stories is an act of courage and a catalyst for change.

My big rebellious goal is to change the narrative of dementia. Make it less lonely, less chaotic, less disparaging. Make it more hopeful, more kind, more supported. At the heart of it, creating Dementia Narratives is a pursuit of better — better understanding, better care, better supports, and better outcomes.

Love Letters

The idea of sending love letters to everyone confronting dementia in some way has lived in my head for 18 months now. It progressed from a niggling thought to a constant preoccupation, and I’ve coddled every excuse imaginable not to do it. I couldn’t seem to muster enough courage to set this idea free.

I’ve mostly been hiding behind the thought that I haven’t yet wrangled all the parts into submission, pre-producing some kind of coherent structure or roadmap for this big adventure.

Finally I am realizing that it’s not up to me to plan the destination before you and I even start the conversation. This maverick idea wants to grow and is looking for a party. It’s time to release it from its corral, send it out into the world, and see where it leads us.

A Community of Changemakers

Welcome to the inaugural letter in a series that aims to deliver inspiration and resources to help change the narrative of dementia, one story at a time.

My hope is that when you read Dementia Narratives you feel like you have a personal tour guide, interpreter, cheerleader, and confidante supporting you as you navigate the complex emotions and stark realities that are the beauty and beast of dementia.

More importantly, I hope that together we can build a community of Changemakers that thrive on camaraderie, courage, rebellious thinking, and inspired action, to change the experience of dementia.

With love,

If these ideas have sparked some thoughts, feel free to start a conversation in the comments here on Medium, or in the comments for this post at dementia.substack.com ❤️

Did you like this DN ❤️ Letter? Please share it with a friend and invite them to follow Dementia Narratives, to help our community grow.