Becoming an Advocate - Shell Shocked.

Well, I really have to say that over the last few months I feel as though I’ve been standing in place, motionless, and in shell shock of what has transpired over the last few years, and I’ve been in this battle for more than 5 years. At the same time I feel paralyzed and find myself procrastinating over what I need to do over the next few. But, who am I to feel any differently from other people, don't we all get this way sometimes? I’ll push myself through it, I always do.

There are a thousand ways and a thousand reasons for people to feel shell shocked, but let me talk about the shell shocked advocate.

Remember the times when everything was perfect? No one you cared for had Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s Disease. They were innocently fantastic times. Who knew any of this was coming? As long as you and your family weren’t caught up in the complicated life then who really had a care in the world.

Maybe it was all a blind sided surprise you never saw coming. To your knowledge, it’s possible no one in your family had ever been struck. Or, maybe instead of being blind sided you closed your own eyes and chose to ignore the possibility that this could land at your feet. Right now the how’s and why’s about how you got here don’t matter..

BAM!
You, your friend or your family just got hit! Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s just dropped in on your life like a bomb, and you’re shell shocked.

What you choose to do next just may save you, save your friends, save your family, and save us all. Choice is a powerful thing.

You could stand still shell shocked feeling hopeless, not caring, not knowing, not doing anything to help yourself, your family or the cause. There are a million reasons and excuses to come up with about why you can’t do anything about it. You might not be rich enough to make a difference. You might not be well known enough to make a difference. You might not have the time to make a difference. You might not this, you might not that. You might not be a doctor, or a politician, or a researcher, or a movie star, or a singer.

You might just be one person living in a little town in the middle of nowhere no one knows, or maybe you’re just one person in a sea of millions living in a great city in the middle of somewhere everyone knows. You might have a thousand directions to take for your first move but you’re not going anywhere. Why? You’re shell shocked, shy and intimidated by a disease you don’t know much about other than it’s just impacted your life.

That’s your welcome to Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

In this world you can be your own greatest Allie or worst Enemy. Will you build a bridge over the ocean to a world where the rising sun glows like hope on the far side. Or will you burn the bridge, sink the ships and stand on the shore facing West to watch the last rays of the setting sun run away with your dreams. It’s a big world, and while you might feel alone and isolated as if you and yours are the only family experiencing the impact of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, let me tell you that you are not alone.

Let me show you what an Army of Change can look like.

The Average American Family has 3.14 people in it. In a family with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's that would be one person with the disease as well as the primary caregiver and a son / daughter who also acts as a caregiver. The family is impacted as a unit, is it not?

The average number of people in the world who have Parkinson’s Disease is 6 Million.

The average number of people in the world who have Alzheimer’s Disease is 24 million.

That’s 30 Million people who actually have Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. That’s a big number.

So now let’s be very conservative and use the American Family size as a multiplier, keeping in mind that no one is above getting Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and in many third world countries these diseases also exist but the average family size is much higher than 3.14. So here we go...

3.14 x 30 million people = ...Ok sit down for this one... 94.2 million people.

That’s 94.2 million people who have been impacted just like you. That’s 94.2 million people with a choice just like you. Parents, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives, children all in the family. Will they remain alone, isolated and do nothing to fight these diseases? Or will they stand up for themselves, the ones they love and the cause, and say I’m going to fight back.

What will you do?

Imagine what 94.2 million people could do if they worked together. Now, that’s one hell of an Army if you ask me! Even in comparison the US Military only has 2,932,400 (2.93 million) people in it which includes both active and reserve personnel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_armed_forces
We’ve got 32 times more impacted people to fight for us, than the US Military has. We need to harness this energy, stand up for ourselves and fight for a cure in the Army of Change.

But never mind all those numbers for a minute and let’s get back to you and your struggle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

I know it’s not fair, we didn’t ask for any of this to happen. No one wants Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s in their family. It’s definitely ok to cry and get upset about it. You can even be afraid of it or get mad about it here, we’re all an extended family. Sometimes the emotions run close to the surface, and sometimes you can hide them down deep. But, to sink to the bottom chained to your sadness and to wallow there, or worse to give up forever is a big, big, big, mistake in my book. I want you to be fueled and inspired by any emotion that will drive you to make a difference in this battle against these diseases, but never be held down by them. Let them move you into the arena armed with a passion to conquer, and when you step into it come out swinging.

So, you decide that enough is enough. While this disease came to you and your family, you don’t need to take it lying down. You want to fight back. You want to become an advocate. You want to become a part of this nebulous force we call “The Army of Change”. The next step is to become an Advocate. How?

Ah don’t we all wish there were an instruction guide on how to be the perfect advocate. I know I’ve fallen on my face so many times while trying to learn how, that it hurts just to think of it. The guide doesn't exist, but the good examples are all around us.

Over the next few months I am going to meet with, talk to, and collect ideas, tips, and advice from the best of the best advocates I can find. I’m going to learn what makes them tick, what got them into this, and what they think is important. And finally, I’m going to condense it all for you to learn exactly what makes them so good at being an Advocate in the conquest of Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.

After all, we only live once. We need to cure these diseases now, there are no do over’s in life.

I can’t make you become an advocate. I can only tell you this is your chance to re-write your own destiny. This is your chance to help find the cures yourself. I can only hope to learn the way in time to show you the way. The Army of Change is moving out. The choice is always yours. Doing nothing should not even be on your list of options. Join us. Make a difference like I believe you can.

What will you do? The choice is yours.
The world is depending on you.

World up,
Enzo