Brain Dead

Have you ever walked into a room on a mission only to find you have no idea why you came in the first place?

For me it's a constant occurrence. I find myself blind often, my glasses misplaced on the top of my head. The car won't start because I've lost my keys, usually in the black hole I call my purse. Midway through countless stories, one of my four children is bound to roll their eyes and loudly interject that they've already heard that one before, a million times. My four children are close to disowning me for this, and many more forgetful habits I've developed. But, by far, my worst offense is I never seem to get their names straight.

Sure, every parent does this from time to time. We get caught up in a tirade and our tongues spit faster than our thoughts do, but sometimes I wonder how its even possible to forget the only one male nestled among three sisters? I'm sure being called Jenni for several years could give any growing male an identity crisis, and possibly even make therapy necessary later in life.

I wonder if I'm totally losing it. Once upon a time I was sharp. I could dot my "i's" and cross my "t's." But as mid-life crept in, my brain seemed to be swept away on a mother ship for galaxies unknown.

On my worst days, I'm fearful I'm developing Alzheimer's. But when I think of what I deal with day-to-day, I'm shocked I remember anything. Between my job's check-off list at Alain Pinel Realtors, caring for my 94-year-old father, calming my children's occasional emotional out bursts, and my own personal challenges, I'm shocked I can think at all. So what's a woman to do before her family completely disowns her because of something she can't control?

Then it dawned on me. Just like every other muscle in our body, I needed to exercise my brain before it atrophied. Unfortunately, I can't take it out of my head, throw it on a treadmill and retrieve it forty-five minutes later all pumped up. To make my mind look like Super Woman, all I had to do was stimulate it with thought.

I began with reading. Then I took a writing class. Before I knew it, I found myself in the middle of heated conversations regarding politics and religion. Talk about a mind marathon! But, I soon discovered that the best place to pump my mental iron was trapped in my car. Now whenever I'm driving, I turn off the radio and just let my mind wander. To my past, how I feel about life and, finally, to what I truly want. These quiet moments help connect me with me and when there's a traffic jam, I have no time for road rage. I'm too busy solving the problems of the world.

Technology helps us stay informed, but what about keeping in touch with the most important person in the world - yourself? Learn to let your mind go. Relish your memories and allow yourself to dream. With all the mental over-stimulation we all face everyday, who knows what you'll conquer. You might even be able to remember your children's names.