I swear, I forget things left and right these days. My pain level consumes me, even on a good day and if you know about chronic pain then you understand how difficult it is to stay focused.

I used to be able to multi-task, had a great memory, and even when surrounded by chaos I was able to get things done efficiently. Even when I worked full time and was running on empty most of my days off, I was still in control. The girls I worked with often commented how I was “on top of things” or “had it going on.” I was asked one time, “How do you hold it all together with kids and work and everything else?”

Those days are freakin’ gone. G.O.N.E.

Just gone.

This morning I left the house to go to town (28 miles away) and I didn’t notice until I got there that I had forgotten my phone. My only concern was if I had a problem, I would have no way of calling for help.

Saturday, before Dad and I left for our weekly lunch excursion, he asked if I needed the grocery list. I told him there were only 3 things on the list so “how the hell could I possibly forget them?” Guess what? I remembered 2 of those items but never did recall the 3rd until we got home.

I need both hands to get out of a chair. I have to set things down before I can get up. Well, if I forget my water bottle/coffee mug/phone or whatever else one more time I think I might scream! It’s just seconds! If I didn’t have to sit them down, I wouldn’t walk off and forget them!! It doesn’t help matters any that I walk with a cane so I only have one hand available to carry things. I have started keeping a tote bag next to my chair so if I have more than one item, I can carry them all!

A lot of people forget what they have entered a room for… I do this nearly every time I get up and walk into another room! I stand there scratching my head until I remember what it was I got up to do. Sometimes, I just go sit back down until it comes to me!

And trying to remember what the name of the movie was we just saw 2 nights ago or what we had for dinner last night or what day was it when _________? (Fill in the blank!) Lost cause. I have started keeping notes in a composition notebook. I call it the C.R.S. book.

In case you haven’t guessed it, C.R.S. stands for Can’t Remember Shit…because I can’t remember shit!

I even keep a notebook in the car to keep track of where we go and the date. I have notes and notepads all over the house to help me remember things. If I don’t write it down, it’s LOST! I sync my desktop calendar to my phone calendar to help me keep track of appointments, birthdays, and other important dates. I’m lost without all of my note keeping aids.

Do you have a good or bad memory? Do you have any tricks or tips for helping you remember things? Please do share, because I am a FORGETFUL MESS!