A New Season of Showing Up

This year will open with a shift I didn’t fully expect. My mom is with me for a month and while I’ve been preparing for the subtle indicators that come with aging, nothing compares to the moment when preparation becomes practice. Life has a way of rearranging our plans, our pace, and our priorities often without warning. During the summer, I attended a workshop with Dr. Macie P. Smith, and I am glad that I did.

Dr. Macie P. Smith is a nationally recognized Licensed Gerontology Social Worker, Alzheimer’s and Dementia educator, and caregiver advocate with more than 20 years of experience working with aging and vulnerable populations. Facebook

C. Malone (left) picture with Dr. Macie P. Smith

This season looks nothing like my etiquette‑training days or the time I spent booking the former Celebrations Event Center. It doesn’t resemble the calendar I imagined for myself, or the rhythm I thought I’d be moving in. But it does reflect something true about me: when the assignment shifts, I shift with it.

Caring for someone in mid‑stage dementia has taught me so much in just a month. It requires patience that is active, not passive. It demands structure, gentleness, and a willingness to repeat the same reassurance as many times as needed. It calls for dignity that must be protected fiercely and consistently. And yes — there are moments of unexpected comedy, spun from the innocence of the moment itself. Sometimes, you just have to laugh.

And as an only child, it calls for a kind of strength I didn’t know I had still, until I needed it.

The journey is a little familiar -- too familiar. But here’s the part that matters, I am still raising awareness. I am still committed to heart‑health education. I am still showing up for the mission that built Chip'n Away @ Heart Disease.

If anything, this season continues to sharpen my understanding of why awareness matters. Heart disease doesn’t just affect individuals. It affects families, caregivers, communities, and the systems that hold us together. I mean it is not just about one diagnosis; it’s about the network of people and structures that respond to the need for care.

My past experiences, the losses I have witnessed, and the stories I’ve carried and shared have shaped me into someone who advocates with power, not fear. With clarity, not panic. With purpose, not pressure.

So yes, this year will look different. My time is stretched. My responsibilities have multiplied. My days require more intention than ever. But forward is still the direction.

I’m showing up in a new way maybe a little slower in some areas, stronger in others, and deeply aware of the importance of caring for the heart, the body, and the people we love.

This is a new season of showing up. And here I am.

To Your Health, Cynthia