ADI Taipei 2013 Memory Walk, Alzheimer’s Australia
The Memory Walk yesterday hosted by Alzheimer’s Taiwan was nothing short of spectacular. This picture is of some of the Aussies there, including our CEO, Glenn Rees, and Maree McCabe, the CEO of Alzheimer’s Victoria. There were over 4000 people from many countries around the world. One chap representing Hungary, two delightful girls representing Prague, and many Taiwanese families, elders, small children, every single member of their family included in the walk. The Head of State, the President of the whole of Taiwan was there, the Mayor of Taipei was there. They began with speeches and Lion dances, and ended with food, and music like it was a major festival. The local Taiwanese were generous, excited, enthusiastic and incredible hosts.
It made many of us feel just a little ashamed about the lack of enthusiasm Australians show for events like this. Somehow, it seems, we have been quieted into an embarrassed submission or silence, too afraid to show our emotions publicly, almost afraid to be excited and enthusiastic in front of others. I wondered, what has happened in our society where it is frowned upon to be publicly excited and enthusiastic, almost politically incorrect? Sometimes if there is music in a shopping centre or supermarket, I start to dance or even hum or sing to it. My husband is amused, but doesn’t tell me to stop. Others look away, or look embarrassed. No-one ever joins in. Whatever happened to dancing in the rain or singing in the streets! As one mantra on my blog says; It isn’t about how you survived the storm, it’s about how you danced in the rain.
I will go home with a renewed enthusiasm for life, and hopefully a greater generosity of spirit and heart. The Taiwanese people have reminded me of the importance of kindness and helping others, and of love and joyfulness. We have not had time to be tourists in this interesting city or country, but do have a desire to find a way to come back and visit again. The food has been fabulous too, with lashings of it every single day! And if I can work out how to add a slide show, I’ll add post all of the photos, which you can find on my Facebook page if you want to see them now!
I love the T-shirts, Kate! Was that memory walk 5km? Mine was 5km. I loved doing mine in March and sooo looking forward to doing mine next year-it was fabulous! My shirt is white and i have written lots of lovely and heart warming messages on mine-just wish there were more memory walks on offer! Wow, 4000 people is amazing-i think there were about 300 at the Auckland one-both good turnouts.
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It was a fab day… though I have no recollection of how far!
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I’m a supermarket dancer/singer from way back! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your trip and will come back with renewed energy!!
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hahaha ms Fabs… hard to believe this will happen today as I am ‘stuffed’!! X
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Ah yes my friend…We have been brainwashed to not be ourselves! Do not dance or sing or express yourself. That gives us an individuality and we can’t have that, everyone must be the same dead brained zombie for then we can be manipulated. Dance Kate!!! Sing your lungs out!!! Eventually people will catch on how dumb they are not you, to have fallen for this crap. We all need to be who we are and do what we desire and express what we feel. We are all different and unique and wonderful and the world is lacking our presence when we remain subdued. Go for it! Have a safe trip back and so glad you made the journey. Hurray!!! Love….VK
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Thanks my friend… I will definitely keep dancing, especially in the supermarket. Of course, if I lived in a secure dementia, this sort of random behaviour would most likely be medicated! I think we need a meeting of like minds somewhere in the future, so we can dance and sing together. With love and hope, always.
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How wonderful that would be!!! A weekend of laughter and dancing and singing together…We’ve all been through so much together it only seems fair to celebrate at the end of all this….And yes you are correct, dancing in the supermarket could easily get you locked up or medicated in this crazy world! You are the sane one my friend! Have a happy….VK
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Joyfulness, particularly in public is glorious! I often jump for joy, frequently sing in inappropriate places (often inappropriate opera arias which have lovely tunes but sad lyrics) and would certainly dance more often if people would stop commenting negatively. I would join a choir or dance group if I had more discipline/time/skill. Whenever I try to formalise my joy it seems to take the edge off it. So I am happy being amateur. X
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Stick with amateur cos I suspect professional dancers end up too stressed trying to be in perfect step to have any fun anyway!!? X
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…….Dearest Kate………what are your feelings in regard to what this meeting in Taipei has achieved for Alzheimers/Dementia sufferers worldwide..?….
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There is a blog brewing on this… but it will take me time to write something truly reflective and hopefully positive (for PWD) about the conference. In reality though, I suspect not very much.
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