Oh my, that AI wisdom was great!! I've noticed it a lot lately - forgetting words. Just today I'm planting some flowers for a friend and we had just been talking about her hostas. Then I start talking about deer and how I had to get rid of ..... couldn't think of the word and finally hostas came back. I remember someone told me years ago, we all forget words, but when we don't know what they mean then we have a problem. Great post.
I don't forget in the form of leaving things behind (like bananas and grapes!) but I do sometimes forget fleeting "thoughts" (important ones that I do want to remember...) if I don't FOCUS in the moment on retaining the thought... I will "lose" the thought although almost 100% of the time it "floats back in" later... I count on that!!!
I often remember those names hours later, only minutes is not so bad. But I think if I start going out with my pajamas on, or dress myself inside out, I'll worry then. So many abilities slip through our fingers, it's not surprising our brains do the same. I think the world is like a rushing torrent of water that we try vainly to keep pace with. The need to float along gets stronger in time.
I can appreciate what Chat GPT says. It always gives a perspective that widens my own fear based one. Exhaustion seems to affect my brain as well as my muscles. Yet, we all know friends who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We all wonder if it’s in our future.
You have given us all another reason to pause and not jump to conclusions. Thank you!♥️
Yes, I like it because it brings up points that I wouldn't have considered. I am hoping I stay sharp till the end. My family genes indicate that I may be one of the lucky ones.
First of all, what a very good looking pair of grand children. Yes, graduation ceremonies are long and bleachers are hard on the derriere. For a long time, I not only attended graduations, but spoke, handed out diplomas, and set them up (I was at a continuation school so everyone was expected to put in work and participate; at Adult Ed, I did a lot more). So, I got up went to the garage and said, "Uh, why am I here?" I paused, collected myself and did my self countdown -- okay, that's what I wanted. Now where are my glasses. I looked. Lo and behold on top of my head. Interestingly enough, check out the science of "going through doorways." There is something that our brain does when it prepares for a new environment. Also, I read this to my students and said, "Think about it. You said it is hard to remember things. You not only are inundated but 300 or more messages a day (you can ask ChatGPT) but more than ever, our minds are overloaded. And to boot, school kids go through doorways all day long! I read a book about a researcher who heard about a tribe that inherently had a "sixth sense." He decided to go visit. When the guide took him to the village, a man was out to greet him at the road. The man did not know he was going to visit their village. And, the people could learn things SUPER QUICKLY. Why? They had no distractions. They ate, hunted, had community, and even shared dreams as they all slept in a communal house. I have gone shopping, paid for my groceries, and then proceeded to leave. Without anything? What the heck? Am I going crazy? When I got my teaching credential, they told us we all go through "the tip of the tongue syndrome" where we can see it, smell it, but just can't bring the name to the forefront, well, until later. "The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is formally called lethologica. It describes the frustrating yet common experience of knowing a specific word or name, but being temporarily unable to recall or articulate it despite feeling like it is just within reach." Just think IF all you needed to remember was bananas and grapes and nothing else? Probably wouldn't forget. I guess as my mom told me,"It takes courage getting old." But, remember the good stuff and throw out the bad. And the last thing I just "remembered" is an older two ladies sitting on a bench. They were best friends. One said to the other, "You know when we can remember each other, we will just become new friends!" Happy Summer.
Thanks for the insight. I do agree that there is SO much going on and distraction is inevitable if we are still out in the world, so to speak, vs. a retired homebody.
Yes, being in crowds (Peopling, as Jan said below) wears me out too. I think I'd like to say I do selective event attending these days. My find my mind wanders a bit more these days too. I'll be thinking about one thing and then "squirrel" mode sets in. But, shiny objects have always caught my attention for as long as I can remember. I really LOVE to do too many things and focusing is not my super power. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face today.
Selective events! Yes, same here. I love doing so much too, and in the midst of one, another great idea pops up, sometimes several. That makes it hard to decide where to put my time and attention. The curse of the artist, perhaps.
Curse or Blessing in disguise! I do try to write down my many ideas in my journal or sketchbook. This way I never run out of things to do or try!! And YES, deciding where to put our attention is the worst part!!
Thank you, Elaine. I try not to use Chat too often, but it often has ideas or insight that I haven't considered. I won't be quoting him as much in future writings, but this time it just felt right. Thanks for being interested in my writing.
There ARE differences now in these older years. And I'm older than most of you! I know I'm older than Lesley, having been friends for years. Dealing with health issues is quite the energy-sapper and I don't like it one bit, but then I decided to adjust how I lay things out, how I do things and I just don't expect things of myself that are no longer very successful. I also don't try to do as much as before and I have mostly arrived at a sense of 'it's OK' about it all. What I am doing pleases me, so.....so far, so good!
Yes, that's a wise way to operate. I'm still having too many ideas that I want to bring to fruition, fun, but exhausting at times. The cream always rises to the top, though, doesn't it?
Thank you for sharing so honestly. I can relate to having moments of forgetfulness and being overwhelmed with too many people at gatherings. Self care is something I need to be reminded about. Your words always lift me up!!
Thank you Lesley and all others who shared that "peopleing" wears them out! I am exhausted today from hosting a lunch after my grandson's graduation and then attending his picnic party the day after. Too many people, too much food, too much fresh air (yes...there such a thing) and so much talking! Phew.....it's a quiet day for me today!
Thank you Lesley for this timely discussion. My memory has gotten worse with dementia but I was put on medication to offset the problems. And it’s helped me continue to live a full life.
As far as the CHAT response I thought it was helpful in sorting out the different ways our brains respond to aging. I found it to be comforting.
I'm happy to hear you have offset the memory problems. I hope that the older we get, the better medicine get to help us. And yes, Chat does have some pretty good wisdom, always delivered in a friendly manner.
Lesley, thank you for sharing these experiences. Yes, all common for my friends and me. It gives me comfort that you can be so honest and put it into words, yours and Chat. I keep saying deep breath and we go on holding hands and loving and supporting each other.
We are kindred souls- I always make my grocery list according to store layout, my sleep patterns are similar and "too much people- ing" wears me out- I might need a few days of not leaving the house to recuperate!
A friend once told me- it will bubble up- when we forget things and it usually does!
Here's a difference- I rarely use the self checkout because I feel they are taking away human jobs
Yes, it does bubble up, thankfully. When I was a kid my sister and I would play grocery store. My kids did the same. I think it's fun to do the self-check, but I hear ya!
Oh my, that AI wisdom was great!! I've noticed it a lot lately - forgetting words. Just today I'm planting some flowers for a friend and we had just been talking about her hostas. Then I start talking about deer and how I had to get rid of ..... couldn't think of the word and finally hostas came back. I remember someone told me years ago, we all forget words, but when we don't know what they mean then we have a problem. Great post.
It's so funny when you forget a word that you were just thinking about!
I don't forget in the form of leaving things behind (like bananas and grapes!) but I do sometimes forget fleeting "thoughts" (important ones that I do want to remember...) if I don't FOCUS in the moment on retaining the thought... I will "lose" the thought although almost 100% of the time it "floats back in" later... I count on that!!!
That's why I write all the important and juicy thoughts down...now if I just don't lose my reminders.
I often remember those names hours later, only minutes is not so bad. But I think if I start going out with my pajamas on, or dress myself inside out, I'll worry then. So many abilities slip through our fingers, it's not surprising our brains do the same. I think the world is like a rushing torrent of water that we try vainly to keep pace with. The need to float along gets stronger in time.
I've been saying for years that my memory is full. My daughter suggested I get a new memory card for my brain. 😆
Ooops....
Your Fragments made me realize why I had collected for decades vintage postcards and photos, fabrics,qoutes....all these years!
Today I found your quilt on page 63 of my summer 26 issue of Quiinspiration!
Yes we have no green bananas today! Thank you for your steady I inspirstion!
Sonja
Thank you so much, Sonja. Thank YOU for your steady following.
Dear Leslie,
Your words of wisdom are great to read. Just got my summer 26 issu of Quilting Arts and there you were on page 63!
Thank you for you inspiration though the decades. When I came upon your fragments I reali,e
I can appreciate what Chat GPT says. It always gives a perspective that widens my own fear based one. Exhaustion seems to affect my brain as well as my muscles. Yet, we all know friends who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. We all wonder if it’s in our future.
You have given us all another reason to pause and not jump to conclusions. Thank you!♥️
Yes, I like it because it brings up points that I wouldn't have considered. I am hoping I stay sharp till the end. My family genes indicate that I may be one of the lucky ones.
First of all, what a very good looking pair of grand children. Yes, graduation ceremonies are long and bleachers are hard on the derriere. For a long time, I not only attended graduations, but spoke, handed out diplomas, and set them up (I was at a continuation school so everyone was expected to put in work and participate; at Adult Ed, I did a lot more). So, I got up went to the garage and said, "Uh, why am I here?" I paused, collected myself and did my self countdown -- okay, that's what I wanted. Now where are my glasses. I looked. Lo and behold on top of my head. Interestingly enough, check out the science of "going through doorways." There is something that our brain does when it prepares for a new environment. Also, I read this to my students and said, "Think about it. You said it is hard to remember things. You not only are inundated but 300 or more messages a day (you can ask ChatGPT) but more than ever, our minds are overloaded. And to boot, school kids go through doorways all day long! I read a book about a researcher who heard about a tribe that inherently had a "sixth sense." He decided to go visit. When the guide took him to the village, a man was out to greet him at the road. The man did not know he was going to visit their village. And, the people could learn things SUPER QUICKLY. Why? They had no distractions. They ate, hunted, had community, and even shared dreams as they all slept in a communal house. I have gone shopping, paid for my groceries, and then proceeded to leave. Without anything? What the heck? Am I going crazy? When I got my teaching credential, they told us we all go through "the tip of the tongue syndrome" where we can see it, smell it, but just can't bring the name to the forefront, well, until later. "The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is formally called lethologica. It describes the frustrating yet common experience of knowing a specific word or name, but being temporarily unable to recall or articulate it despite feeling like it is just within reach." Just think IF all you needed to remember was bananas and grapes and nothing else? Probably wouldn't forget. I guess as my mom told me,"It takes courage getting old." But, remember the good stuff and throw out the bad. And the last thing I just "remembered" is an older two ladies sitting on a bench. They were best friends. One said to the other, "You know when we can remember each other, we will just become new friends!" Happy Summer.
Thanks for the insight. I do agree that there is SO much going on and distraction is inevitable if we are still out in the world, so to speak, vs. a retired homebody.
Yes, being in crowds (Peopling, as Jan said below) wears me out too. I think I'd like to say I do selective event attending these days. My find my mind wanders a bit more these days too. I'll be thinking about one thing and then "squirrel" mode sets in. But, shiny objects have always caught my attention for as long as I can remember. I really LOVE to do too many things and focusing is not my super power. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face today.
Selective events! Yes, same here. I love doing so much too, and in the midst of one, another great idea pops up, sometimes several. That makes it hard to decide where to put my time and attention. The curse of the artist, perhaps.
Curse or Blessing in disguise! I do try to write down my many ideas in my journal or sketchbook. This way I never run out of things to do or try!! And YES, deciding where to put our attention is the worst part!!
I am much more interested in *your* writing than that of a bot!
Thank you, Elaine. I try not to use Chat too often, but it often has ideas or insight that I haven't considered. I won't be quoting him as much in future writings, but this time it just felt right. Thanks for being interested in my writing.
There ARE differences now in these older years. And I'm older than most of you! I know I'm older than Lesley, having been friends for years. Dealing with health issues is quite the energy-sapper and I don't like it one bit, but then I decided to adjust how I lay things out, how I do things and I just don't expect things of myself that are no longer very successful. I also don't try to do as much as before and I have mostly arrived at a sense of 'it's OK' about it all. What I am doing pleases me, so.....so far, so good!
Yes, that's a wise way to operate. I'm still having too many ideas that I want to bring to fruition, fun, but exhausting at times. The cream always rises to the top, though, doesn't it?
Thank you for sharing so honestly. I can relate to having moments of forgetfulness and being overwhelmed with too many people at gatherings. Self care is something I need to be reminded about. Your words always lift me up!!
Thanks so much, Carol. I get excited seeing people I haven't seen in a while, so I'm basically tiring myself out.
Thank you Lesley and all others who shared that "peopleing" wears them out! I am exhausted today from hosting a lunch after my grandson's graduation and then attending his picnic party the day after. Too many people, too much food, too much fresh air (yes...there such a thing) and so much talking! Phew.....it's a quiet day for me today!
"Peopleing" - love that word and concept. I think it's back-to-back events that wear us out. Congratulations on your grandson's graduation.
Thank you Lesley for this timely discussion. My memory has gotten worse with dementia but I was put on medication to offset the problems. And it’s helped me continue to live a full life.
As far as the CHAT response I thought it was helpful in sorting out the different ways our brains respond to aging. I found it to be comforting.
I'm happy to hear you have offset the memory problems. I hope that the older we get, the better medicine get to help us. And yes, Chat does have some pretty good wisdom, always delivered in a friendly manner.
You aren’t losing it; these clear headed words of written reflection are beautifully expressed and a boost to my forgetful mind. i love you xo
Thank you my lovely. xox
Lesley, thank you for sharing these experiences. Yes, all common for my friends and me. It gives me comfort that you can be so honest and put it into words, yours and Chat. I keep saying deep breath and we go on holding hands and loving and supporting each other.
You're very welcome, Rita. Thanks for reading.
We are kindred souls- I always make my grocery list according to store layout, my sleep patterns are similar and "too much people- ing" wears me out- I might need a few days of not leaving the house to recuperate!
A friend once told me- it will bubble up- when we forget things and it usually does!
Here's a difference- I rarely use the self checkout because I feel they are taking away human jobs
Yes, it does bubble up, thankfully. When I was a kid my sister and I would play grocery store. My kids did the same. I think it's fun to do the self-check, but I hear ya!