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A Turbulent Mind: A Poetry Collection of a Mother's Journey with Alzheimer's
Creating Moments of JoyAmid Alzheimer’s storm are rainbow moments that lead to pots of gold and flashes of sunshine that push dark clouds away. The 39 poems in this collection were inspired by the authors experiences and interactions with her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s.
The most useful thing those of us on the outside of this disease can do is live in the moment and embrace the moments of joy that still pass through every day.
Jay Artale has created a memorable collection of poems that scratch the surface of Alzheimer's and make you aware of the multifaceted impact of a disease that is both cruel and unkind. She takes you on a journey through denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and acceptance. But she also doesn't forget one of the most important elements - moments of joy. Her wry humor is sprinkled within this collection adding the emotional highs of the roller coaster ride she takes you on.These moments of joy are something that Jay discovered after reading Jolene Brackey's book "Creating Moments of Joy", and they are the backbone of her coping mechanism she uses to navigate her caregiving interactions.
It's a collection of lighthearted, but impactful, poetry (inspired by Hilaire Belloc) that deals with a difficult topic in a unique and adventurous way - making it easy for a poetry sceptic to love. As well as getting a glimpse of Jay's current relationship with her mother, we're also awarded glimpses of the mother she once knew. The woman who was strong, determined, and always pragmatic. By adding this view into their past Jay manages to heighten the level of emotional response we experience while eavesdropping on their current reality.
Who is this book for?For any carers, especially daughter and sons of dementia or Altzhimer's sufferers, this collection pulls back the covers to reveal what it is like to embark on a journey into the unknown, and how the see-saw of emotions you encounter along the way cannot be planned for or pre-empted. Take a moment from your hectic life, and the challenges of your day, to immerse yourself in a daughter's journey with the mother she loves. Jay's experiences are not unique.
There are many other families going through the same scenarios and some much worse, but what is unique is Jay's poetic take on her relationship, experiences, and the impact on those around her.We hope that this book creates a moment of joy in your life, and brings you some solace and comfort while caregiving for your aging parents. Embrace your role and thank those around you who make the journey more comfortable and bearable.
swipe through these pages
to discover a tale
of Alzheimer’s rhymes
that fully regale
an enticing life,
of loss, laugher, and pain
and my mother’s memories
that can’t be regained
it’s a daughter’s attempt
to soothe a charred soul
which burns & then smolders
beneath her new role
tread gently inside,
on this journey of hope
with a balance of words
to he
The most useful thing those of us on the outside of this disease can do is live in the moment and embrace the moments of joy that still pass through every day.
Jay Artale has created a memorable collection of poems that scratch the surface of Alzheimer's and make you aware of the multifaceted impact of a disease that is both cruel and unkind. She takes you on a journey through denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and acceptance. But she also doesn't forget one of the most important elements - moments of joy. Her wry humor is sprinkled within this collection adding the emotional highs of the roller coaster ride she takes you on.These moments of joy are something that Jay discovered after reading Jolene Brackey's book "Creating Moments of Joy", and they are the backbone of her coping mechanism she uses to navigate her caregiving interactions.
It's a collection of lighthearted, but impactful, poetry (inspired by Hilaire Belloc) that deals with a difficult topic in a unique and adventurous way - making it easy for a poetry sceptic to love. As well as getting a glimpse of Jay's current relationship with her mother, we're also awarded glimpses of the mother she once knew. The woman who was strong, determined, and always pragmatic. By adding this view into their past Jay manages to heighten the level of emotional response we experience while eavesdropping on their current reality.
Who is this book for?For any carers, especially daughter and sons of dementia or Altzhimer's sufferers, this collection pulls back the covers to reveal what it is like to embark on a journey into the unknown, and how the see-saw of emotions you encounter along the way cannot be planned for or pre-empted. Take a moment from your hectic life, and the challenges of your day, to immerse yourself in a daughter's journey with the mother she loves. Jay's experiences are not unique.
There are many other families going through the same scenarios and some much worse, but what is unique is Jay's poetic take on her relationship, experiences, and the impact on those around her.We hope that this book creates a moment of joy in your life, and brings you some solace and comfort while caregiving for your aging parents. Embrace your role and thank those around you who make the journey more comfortable and bearable.
swipe through these pages
to discover a tale
of Alzheimer’s rhymes
that fully regale
an enticing life,
of loss, laugher, and pain
and my mother’s memories
that can’t be regained
it’s a daughter’s attempt
to soothe a charred soul
which burns & then smolders
beneath her new role
tread gently inside,
on this journey of hope
with a balance of words
to he
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 21, 2017
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Jay Artale
19 books7 followersOriginally from the flatlands and big skies of rural Norfolk in eastern England, Jay Artale is a British Expat currently living in Los Angeles.
For the last couple of decades Jay has juggled her day job as a project manager with her passions for writing, photography and international travel.
In 2008, Jay bought a holiday home on the trendy Bodrum Peninsula along Turkey’s beautiful Aegean coast. Despite its popularity with Turkish and international visitors, and a destination of choice for thousands of expatriates looking for their place in the sun, well-researched and comprehensive guides to the Peninsula were thin on the ground.
Jay decided to plug this gap and enthusiastically set about capturing the local area in words and pictures. In 2010, Jay launched the ‘Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide’ website to share her knowledge and experiences with a wider audience. What began life as random facts and observations, hand-written in little note books has grown into a well-respected and popular travel site. In 2012, Jay began publishing free location-specific Quick Reference Travel Guides for the area.
A full-blown guide seemed to be the next logical step. ‘The Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide: Turkey’s Aegean Gem’ was published on Kindle in May 2013.
The following year, her next guidebook "The Gumusluk Travel Guide: Bodrum's Silver Lining" was published.
Together, these two travel guides are the go-to guides for any traveller to Turkey's Bodrum Peninsula.
Jay runs a Content Marketing & Social Media Management business, and provides social media strategy, planning and management to entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information visit her website at www.jayartale.com.
She also blogs about her Expat Adventures at her personal blog www.rovingjay.com.
For the last couple of decades Jay has juggled her day job as a project manager with her passions for writing, photography and international travel.
In 2008, Jay bought a holiday home on the trendy Bodrum Peninsula along Turkey’s beautiful Aegean coast. Despite its popularity with Turkish and international visitors, and a destination of choice for thousands of expatriates looking for their place in the sun, well-researched and comprehensive guides to the Peninsula were thin on the ground.
Jay decided to plug this gap and enthusiastically set about capturing the local area in words and pictures. In 2010, Jay launched the ‘Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide’ website to share her knowledge and experiences with a wider audience. What began life as random facts and observations, hand-written in little note books has grown into a well-respected and popular travel site. In 2012, Jay began publishing free location-specific Quick Reference Travel Guides for the area.
A full-blown guide seemed to be the next logical step. ‘The Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide: Turkey’s Aegean Gem’ was published on Kindle in May 2013.
The following year, her next guidebook "The Gumusluk Travel Guide: Bodrum's Silver Lining" was published.
Together, these two travel guides are the go-to guides for any traveller to Turkey's Bodrum Peninsula.
Jay runs a Content Marketing & Social Media Management business, and provides social media strategy, planning and management to entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information visit her website at www.jayartale.com.
She also blogs about her Expat Adventures at her personal blog www.rovingjay.com.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 6, 2018
Jay Artale’s poetry reflects the spiraling confusion of Alzheimer’s disease. A Turbulent Mind reveals the pain of loss as a mother’s personality shifts and her ability to communicate with words diminishes. Yet, there is a playfulness in these poems that mimics the world of dementia. If readers stay present with the looping of words, rhythm and rhyme, they will catch a glimpse of the joy and beauty that resides in each moment before it passes away. A deeply touching collection of poems!
November 13, 2020
When rolls become Reversed
I must start by saying that poetry is not my normal reading genre so I had no idea what to expect when reading this book, but the subject and concept tugged at my heart for a variety of personal reasons, so I grabbed the book and began to read.
The author has a smooth heavenly flow to her writing style, it just flowed like a gentle breeze as I made my way through the very personal journey Jay Artale experiences while caring for her aging mother who is mentally and emotionally fading away from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's. The pain, love, loneliness, and longing for her mother back is so clearly portrayed by the author and felt by the reader. The forgetting of memories, failure to recall simple words, the change in mood and personality that a person with Alzheimer's experiences (even anger, rage, and violent or aggressive behaviors) were all accurately communicated in a loving and clear way within these poems.
Such a heart-felt piece! I recommend everyone read this collection of poems by Jay Artare, you will surely be blessed by it!
~ Lisa Jo Symonds
I must start by saying that poetry is not my normal reading genre so I had no idea what to expect when reading this book, but the subject and concept tugged at my heart for a variety of personal reasons, so I grabbed the book and began to read.
The author has a smooth heavenly flow to her writing style, it just flowed like a gentle breeze as I made my way through the very personal journey Jay Artale experiences while caring for her aging mother who is mentally and emotionally fading away from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's. The pain, love, loneliness, and longing for her mother back is so clearly portrayed by the author and felt by the reader. The forgetting of memories, failure to recall simple words, the change in mood and personality that a person with Alzheimer's experiences (even anger, rage, and violent or aggressive behaviors) were all accurately communicated in a loving and clear way within these poems.
Such a heart-felt piece! I recommend everyone read this collection of poems by Jay Artare, you will surely be blessed by it!
~ Lisa Jo Symonds
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews