I’m not sure why it took me so long to do this.

May 30, 2019 (Chapter 6 Living with a Memory Impairment and Chapter 18 Problem Solving in my book)

I recently moved and while I was unpacking some boxes, I found a couple of electric candle warmers. I have always loved the smell of candles and I have used them in my home. Somehow finding these candle warmers made me really think. I thought about living with a memory impairment and how that changes how I live my life. I thought about lighting a candle in my new apartment but then I thought about the “what ifs”. What if I leave my apartment and forget that I have a lit candle? This could happen so easily, especially if I don’t see it before I leave. I’m not really sure why I haven’t thought about this before now but I’m glad that I’m going to address it. I was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment almost fourteen years ago.

Since there is no way for me to be one hundred percent sure that I will remember that I have a lit candle, I have decided that I won’t be lighting any candles. Instead, I will be using the warmers. I have gotten rid of all the matches except for one box. I will keep those in case I lose power during a storm. Now I can still enjoy my candles but I am making sure that I’m being safe!