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Questions about a task that should be simple—but somehow isn’t
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/16/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/16/25

Questions about a task that should be simple—but somehow isn’t

Can I chalk up my delay to everyday procrastination? Maybe.

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Marking the one-year anniversary of Evelyn’s move to memory care
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/9/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/9/25

Marking the one-year anniversary of Evelyn’s move to memory care

I’ve sometimes been surprised by what we’re experiencing and what I’m learning. But the bottom line is a good report.

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Another first for me: two weeks away to the other side of the world
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/2/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 4/2/25

Another first for me: two weeks away to the other side of the world

Even if your spouse is living in a memory care center, you might consider the opportunity to travel to the other side of the world. I’m glad I did.

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A caregiver’s plea for help: ‘I feel bad about feeling bad!’
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 3/19/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 3/19/25

A caregiver’s plea for help: ‘I feel bad about feeling bad!’

A reader asked for advice, and even though this is not an advice-giving blog, his question reminded me of some experiences that may help him.

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Thanks to a reader who’s helping me understand ‘quality of life’
Reflections, Shared Story Mark A. Taylor 3/12/25 Reflections, Shared Story Mark A. Taylor 3/12/25

Thanks to a reader who’s helping me understand ‘quality of life’

When we stop to consider “quality of life,” whose life are we thinking about most?

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Everything’s different, but little changes: is this worth noting?
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 3/5/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 3/5/25

Everything’s different, but little changes: is this worth noting?

Another Alzheimer’s caregiver I know kept a journal at first, with notes and stories he thought he might share sometime.“But after a while I didn’t have as much to write,” he said. Not that much was changing. Not that much was new. That’s how it is with me now.

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Two days with a stomach bug: the good, the bad, and the lonely
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/26/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/26/25

Two days with a stomach bug: the good, the bad, and the lonely

Here’s what’s good when you’re sick and you live alone. But it’s not all good. Not at all.

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Not perfect, of course, but really, we’ve had a very good week
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/19/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/19/25

Not perfect, of course, but really, we’ve had a very good week

A day-by-day chronicle of the good things coming our way. We’re doing as well as possible.

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‘She is not here.’ Reflection on good times with other people
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/12/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/12/25

‘She is not here.’ Reflection on good times with other people

‘I’m truly glad for times like these.
I’m not alone. But . . .  she’s not here.’

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Rethinking what has really happened when I say God is blessing us
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/5/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 2/5/25

Rethinking what has really happened when I say God is blessing us

Some of the abundance that makes our distress less difficult should be classed as privilege, not blessing.

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Writing to a new friend about the journey he’s just beginning
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/29/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/29/25

Writing to a new friend about the journey he’s just beginning

Three of my conclusions that seem worth sharing with a new caregiver: ‘Seize the day.’ ‘Claim your mission.’ ‘Move forward.’

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A new reader prompted reflection on where I am in this journey
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/22/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/22/25

A new reader prompted reflection on where I am in this journey

His email reminded me of fears and frustrations I encountered when I was where he is today. It’s good for me to think about how I’m doing now compared to then.

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Finish Line Faith, 3: Learning how to tap the superpower within
Reflections, Monday Meditations Mark A. Taylor 1/20/25 Reflections, Monday Meditations Mark A. Taylor 1/20/25

Finish Line Faith, 3: Learning how to tap the superpower within

Have you ever asked yourself where you can find the strength to deal with your difficulties? In 2 Timothy 1:6-7, Paul gives the answer.

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Out of the house, out of ourselves, receiving as much as we gave
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/15/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/15/25

Out of the house, out of ourselves, receiving as much as we gave

We discovered new meaning in advice we’ve heard for years: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

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Meditation on a snowy morning: Coziness brings some comfort
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/8/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/8/25

Meditation on a snowy morning: Coziness brings some comfort

Was I anticipating coziness in an effort to experience what Evelyn and I enjoyed when she was here?

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Pondering a year just past, wondering about the months to come
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/1/25 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 1/1/25

Pondering a year just past, wondering about the months to come

I certainly wouldn’t have predicted all that 2024 contained. So I’ll not hazard many guesses about what we'll see in 2025.

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‘Different’ has become our new normal, so Christmas is different too
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/25/24 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/25/24

‘Different’ has become our new normal, so Christmas is different too

Christmas is different this year—again! But there was nothing typical about the first Christmas, either.

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My challenge: Learning to walk through the valley of in-between
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/18/24 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/18/24

My challenge: Learning to walk through the valley of in-between

I’m engaged with Evelyn every day in one way or another. And yet in many ways, I’m living my life without her. It’s a surreal valley, and I’m trying not to stumble.

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Facing the holidays, reflecting on the year we decided to go public
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/4/24 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 12/4/24

Facing the holidays, reflecting on the year we decided to go public

Three years ago, when we first announced our situation, I wouldn’t have dreamed what it would look like today.

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Of all my many reasons to be thankful, these people top the list
Reflections Mark A. Taylor 11/27/24 Reflections Mark A. Taylor 11/27/24

Of all my many reasons to be thankful, these people top the list

This Thanksgiving I’m choosing to concentrate on the people—so many people—encouraging me on every step of the journey.

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