Brain Fitness Debrief #8

The only time that the topic of the future has risen in conversation with S was regarding Alaska, a place that he previously visited, truly grew passionate about, and now wants to return to. I asked him what was holding him back from going again, and he replied with "Well I don't know... I'm just not there yet!" In this way, I have recognized an emphasis on the present moment from S's point of view. His personal fight with dementia seems to be a struggle with grasping long-term events. Recalling moments from the deep past or deep future is generally out of reach from his mind, where planning for the future seems to be his weakest area. The strongest conversations we have held have revolved around the present moment, where the most time spent thinking and slip up in speech have occurred when recalling something. Every single time I have asked him about something regarding the future, he is completely unable to form an opinion about it. It's funny because now that I think about the things we have discussed when looking at most of his photos, are the funny elements of the photo itself, not necessarily a story or background behind the image. In this way, we have been taking past moments, and still operated in the realm of the present moment, by focusing on what we are seeing, right then, not necessarily the cultural or historical significance of it. This has not ALWAYS been the case, and there are definitely times where he draws on past ideas and events, but for the most part, he is very in the moment. This then encourages and exemplifies the importance of considering how I am taking photos of these photos, and their formal elements as being something he will surely notice.