Every Day's A New Adventure

©2011 Joan M. Newcomb

Every Day's A New Adventure is a song written for (and reflecting the teachings of) Abraham-Hicks. It's especially pertinent to me as my mother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

"Meet strange new people in strange new places, every day in the comfort of your own home!" is the joke about Alzheimer's.

Dealing with someone who has it is a great exercise for dancing in the moment.

It reminds me of the same alertness required when parenting young children.  Children are Infinite Beings in little bodies that can't fully take care of themselves.  You need to be tuned into their awareness level, and able to shift when their cognitive functions increase.  In the case of Alzheimer's, it's shifting when their cognitive functions wane.

With little kids, you want them to feel empowered, so you let them do things within the range of their capabilities.  They feel invalidated if you treat them as younger *or* older.  With Alzheimer's, it's being attuned to how much the person can do at the moment, and giving them the illusion of independence when it's outside their capability.

My mother hasn't been barred from driving but it's not recommended.  She hasn't driven since March, and she talks about getting her car tuned up (it's gone 120 miles since its oil change last October).  Since she's not up to arranging driving herself to her service station and getting a taxi back, it's a safe bet she won't do it.  But she can talk about it.

And she's constantly surprised.  By people coming to the door (that I call and remind her they're coming 15 minutes before they arrive).  Surprised she's 3 years younger than she thought she was (she turned 85 yesterday but is convinced she's 88).  Every day is a new adventure.

And for me, it's a new adventure, too.  I'm going back to DC in July for anywhere from 3-6 months to 2 years.  I have no idea.  It's like discovering you're pregnant and having to give up your skydiving business.  It's not a bad thing, just a different direction.

Viewing it as an adventure takes it away from the tragedy or the ordeal, and puts it into the realm of Creating Your Reality.  As Spirit, I create my reality.  I created this curve ball coming at me.

As Spirit, my mother creates her reality.  She created Alzheimer's.  And yet, she's not depressed because she doesn't remember the diagnosis.  I think that's pretty sweet.  She's creating me to show up for her, and other family members to show up or call.  After years of being 'needless and wantless' in the guise of independence, it's pretty nice to discover people care about you.

Whenever something shocking happens to you, whether it's a parent getting diagnosed with a degenerative, fatal disease or a spouse announcing they're leaving or your company laying you off, it's a sudden re-direct on your path.  It is never the end of the world, just the end of the world as you previously knew it.  It is almost always a doorway to expansion.  Such things always lead to greater emotional depth and spiritual expansion.

And, no matter how you might say you had *no idea* this was coming, when you look back, there were often clues you probably overlooked.  The Universe, or You, usually gives you hints about the detour coming up.

So, this week, if you choose to - reframe what ever is happening in your life as a New Adventure.  View it as a new beginning.  Be open to all possibilities.  Keep your eyes out for unseen support (it often shows up in unexpected ways). 

And watch how your life transforms!