Recently someone near and dear to me was diagnosed with stage two dementia and her memory has slowly declined in recent months as well as having her mental state slowly fade as well. I had just gotten off the phone with said person
and I had a large smile on my face even though i had a few tears in my eyes when one of my friends spoke up and told me that they were sorry that she was going through her current ailment and they asked me how I could keep smiling and acting happy while all this was happening.

I told them the secret to it all is to keep smiling, no matter how much you hurt you have to keep smiling. There might be days where the world will drag you down beat you slap you leave your body and soul outside in the rain for hours on end but you have to keep smiling. Even if its something as simple as making somebody smile for five brief seconds out of the day. It means you've changed their day in a big way no matter how small the gesture, no matter how slight the smile its put their day on a different path/way-point than it was before. And as for your memory, you make friends you make them laugh you make people smile and they will do the same in kind.

The memories you make will become other people's memories therefore your memory will never fade. And even if your memory fades on a personal level you still are in the memories of those in life you have touched and affected. The happiness the sadness. The good times the times you were downright depressed all changed somebody's life in a personal way and don't ever forget. Your memory will always be there as long as you make memories with people. Be it your friends or complete strangers always remember.

Please, Keep smiling you never know what memories will be made, or who's life you with change

Love, Kibbers