Right now, heading into winter, is a good time for me to do a life recap.
My book, My Voyage with Dementia, covered the period of 62 months from November 2017 to the end of December 2022. This column covers the first one-half of my life to date – just the major memories. Something that I use in order to keep track of my life.
Right from the beginning, I had very attentive parents to take are of me. My father was already a Type 1 diabetic, so I was born into a family with a strong health focus. The result: I lived well, good nutrition, lots of exercise, etc. The rules were easy to follow and my mother made sure I had all my vaccinations and regular visits to my doctor so that I grew up quite healthy. Yes, I also got all the vaccinations required before entering the school system.
Most of my personal health care could be categorized under “Self Care.” As I grew up, I both depended on the medical system and me to look after me. An example: I did a lousy job of taking care of my teeth, resulting in lousy teeth. I played sports instead of exercising. I didn’t practise art nor music, both of which my parents encouraged me to do. I did enjoy life. In hindsight, I should have been more disciplined in my activities. But, I had fun.
I went into high school as a typical young lad with lots of energy and, for most part, more interest in sports than academics. I managed to pass through Grade 13 with average grades. I was on the school’s swim team, and made my school letter in swimming. I played a lot of badminton and worked out often in a private club. Life was good. I was spoiled and my parents basically let me have my way.
Health wise, I was in good shape with only hives and swelling affecting me at starting at 12 years of age. These hives and swellings, according to the doctors were due to an allergy. I believed that they were something else which was fixable with adrenaline injected from the outside or produced internally. I favoured the latter. The hives and swellings stayed with me on and off for the rest of my life.
After finishing high school, off I went to university – The Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Printing, in Rochester, New York. Here, I was to immerse myself in learning what to do and how to run a printing company and to grow up (maturity-wise). Most other students were in the same boat as me – coming from a printing company. They were here, as I was, to learn the business and then return to their company in a management position.
I graduated with a bachelor of science degree and returned to work at Murray Printing. I had my degree, good health and a girlfriend that I soon married. Within six months at Murray Printing, I was sent out to Vancouver to help a sister company relocate. Vancouver was a great experience for both work and living experiences.
In Vancouver, I developed my “Seven Pillars of a Good Life.”
Three Pillars for the Body: Lifestyle, Diet and Exercise.
Four Pillars for the Mind: Awareness, Connection, Insight and Purpose.
Much of this I got from the five Blue Zone areas in the world. Their life is what I would call “natural.” They depend on the sky, the air, the water, the earth and the land for the tools to achieving a “good life.” I put their practices into my life in order to achieve my own “good life.” I wanted to live to be old as my family’s oldest, who died at 100. Many Blue Zone individuals lived to over 100.
The following are a number of instances that I should have been aware of before the doctors pointed the problem out to me. Self-care and self-assessment became a priority for me as I entered my 40th year:
- hives and swellings became an issue when I was young (12 years old);
- a lousy memory and the necessity to cram before exams;
- poor hearing, which was evident from a younger age – about 30;
- depression became evident in my early 40’s after job loss and divorce;
- what is now known as dementia was evident in my 50’s – brain scan confirmed;
- I felt that I had a high intelligence, but I was too lazy to use it;
- how did I do in school? Good enough – passing, but that is all.
I was in Vancouver for two years and returned to Murray Printing. The rest of my life (more than 40 years), so far, is quite different and I will cover that in my next column.
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Bob Murray is retired from the graphic communication industry, living in Seaforth, and was diagnosed with Dementia in 2013. Follow his blog – https://myvoyage553264702.wordpress.com.
