We were lucky to catch up with Shamiah Johnson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shamiah, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

I started Our Memories to bring awareness to Alzheimer’s disease after my mother was diagnosed with Younger Onset Alzheimer’s. As a full-time caregiver in my 20s, it was difficult to find other family caregivers that could relate to our journey. My mom and I have always been very close. Since I can remember, we’ve always had kitchen concerts while we cook dinner, clean the house, or got dressed to go to the mall. Music and shopping has always been our joy. Following the diagnosis, I felt like I was lacking resources and answers on questions I had. I needed to talk with someone who had experienced this. The purpose of Our Memories is to have merchandise and events that are relatable, sentimental to our journey, and brings awareness to Alzheimer’s and other related forms of dementia. We donate a portion of our proceeds to organizations that are supporting caregivers with respite care, transportation, and resources. The organizations that we have gifted are very meaningful to me. The great people working behind these organizations helped me when I felt stuck after my mom’s diagnosis. I want more people in my community to have access to this information and hopefully feel less alone.

Shamiah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At 26, I created a business that would help me find my tribe, and give me time with my mom as things progress. I love to go to concerts, festivals, and watch rom com movies. I also love to create! Each design is made from an emotion, a memory, or something that relates to our journey. We want our donations to give caregivers time to take care of themselves and resources to help them care for their loved ones. I never imagined that at such a young age I would be caring for my mom in this capacity. She’s still so young and this disease has changed our lives. I knew there were other caregivers out there and I wanted to connect with them. This journey comes with sacrifices, major life changes, and a lot of grief along the way. It’s hard, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I would care for my mom in any lifetime. What a lot of people may not see is that you still have time to create new memories, you still have joy as you see them smile each day, and the honor of being able to care for them with love. I am working on hosting my first event for dementia family caregivers to take time for themselves and find community. I am proud to be able to have a brand that celebrates the love behind this disease that can so often bring so much heartache. I want to celebrate the joy and the memories we hold for them when they are not able.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A very important lesson that I had to unlearn is keeping the diagnosis private and educating others in my family. A lot of people prefer not to share or acknowledge when something is wrong, definitely concerning health. It can be scary and feel isolating. I noticed my family would brush things under the rug in hopes that it will go away, or get better. Unfortunately, that is not the case for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease at this time. I learned that it is best to educate those around us so that the environment is more comfortable for our loved ones. Early on, we kept things to ourselves. I began to let close family know, especially before family gatherings. I found this helpful for everyone. It avoids people doing things that are triggering or uncomfortable. This way they are informed and you can create a safe space for your loved one to enjoy. My biggest tip is to remind people to introduce themselves with a smile, give time for a response, include them in conversation while keeping sentences short and clear, and try not to quiz such as “remember when” or “what did you do yesterday?”. Everyone is learning so be kind to yourself.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

This year has been eye opening. With the help of my amazing husband we’ve attended over 20 markets. I’ve met so many new customers that are previous or current caregivers. I believe that sharing our story with so many people in person has created a warm environment for others to begin to share as well. They tell us beautiful stories and reminisce on memories with loved ones that they have cared for. I love meeting new customers and getting to keep up with them on social media. I’ve met people from different walks of life that have encountered Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia. I look forward to connecting others caregivers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://embracingourmemories.com/
• Instagram: @embracingourmemories
• Facebook: Our Memories Apparel

Image Credits

My personal photo upload was taken by Justin Gordon