Enjoy the ride
Mark Breslaw, member of our Lived Experience Partner Program, shares how his personal motto, “Enjoy the ride,” has taken on deeper meaning following his diagnosis. Through family traditions, cherished memories and everyday moments, Mark reflects on choosing joy, connection and presence while navigating uncertainty.
My name is Mark Breslaw, I live in South Surrey with my wife, Shonna, and our eight-year-old son, Michael. We’re fortunate to have our adult children, Mackenzie and Jacob, living nearby. Family has always been at the centre of my life and over the years we’ve built traditions that have become the moments I look forward to most. I’ve always loved the changing seasons but fall holds a special place in my heart.
For years, I took a vacation day every October just to decorate our home for Halloween. Friends would laugh, but it was never really about the decorations. As a kid, there was one house I couldn’t wait to visit each October. I don’t remember every detail, but I remember how it made me feel. I hoped our home might become that house for another child. I realize now I wasn’t just decorating for Halloween. I was trying to recreate that same sense of excitement and wonder for my own children, for the kids in our neighbourhood and for anyone who stopped by.
One phrase I’ve carried with me for years is, “Enjoy the ride.” To me, it means trying not to become so focused on the destination that we miss the meaningful moments along the way. Our family’s favourite memories weren’t the ones we planned most carefully. They were the unexpected moments in between.
I didn’t choose “Enjoy the ride” because it sounded good. Over time, it quietly became the way I wanted to live.
When I was diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease, those three words took on a deeper meaning. A diagnosis like this has a way of making life’s uncertainty feel much closer. More than ever, “Enjoy the ride” reminds me to focus on the meaningful moments still to come, rather than allowing uncertainty about the future to take too much of today. It doesn’t change the reality of this disease, but it helps keep my focus on the joy, connection and experiences that truly matter.
As fall arrives, I’m reminded to slow down, cherish our traditions and embrace the moments that become the memories carried by the people we love.
Enjoy the ride.