In the process of finding meaning after the diagnosis of dementia, I have learnt more about patience and faith in myself and others. It has been important to believe that no matter how small the changes seem, from one small seed can grow enormous oak trees. I watched a wonderful short movie many years ago The Man Who Planted Trees (film) (French title L’homme qui plantait des arbres), also known as The Story of Elzéard Bouffier, The Most Extraordinary Character I Ever Met, and The Man Who Planted Hope and Reaped Happiness. It is an allegorical tale by French author Jean Giono, published in 1953, and tells the story of one shepherd’s long and successful single handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the Alps in Provence throughout the first half of the 20th century. The tale is quite short, only about 4000 words long, originally composed in French, but first published in English. Elzéard Bouffier is a fictional character, and in writing this short book, Giono’s goal was to make trees likeable, or more specifically, to encourage the planting of more trees. It was adapted as an animated short film by Frédéric Back and released in 1987, and earned a number of awards including an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. In 2006, it was adapted for the stage and puppets by Richard Medrington of Puppet State Theatre Company in Edinburgh, Scotland. The original book has inspired a 2012 book on the same theme: The Man Who Planted Trees: Lost Groves, Champion Trees, and an Urgent Plan to Save the Planet by Jim Robbins. Robbins work cites Giono’s work and goes on to consider the modern-day work of David Milarch, a Michigan nurseryman. I wonder if Giorno had any idea of where his short inspirational book would lead others to.  I have faith that through speaking out about dementia, and with others around the world doing the same, we will help to make changes to policy, funding, and age appropriate services for people with younger onset dementia. In the process we will make positive changes to aged care in the community both and in residential settings. I absolutely believe this. Together, we can make a difference as we focus on the assets we have, not the deficits many see in us. When we are tested for cholesterol or blood pressure, we are not told we have ‘failed’ the test, merely given the results and an action plan (medication, lifestyle changes, etc). When we score low on a neuropsych test for dementia, we are more often told we have ‘failed’, and then we are told to disengage from our current lives and plan for our demise, rather than given action plans to facilitate emotional or physical healing and well being. It has been important as a person diagnosed with dementia not to let my whole life collapse around me, and to hang on to the parts of myself that do still function well, even if I have had to modify how this can happen. Believing the sowing of seeds will be part of the flush of a new crop for change is imperative for me to keep up my own ‘fight’ against the symptoms of dementia.