Executive Function Malfunction: Where Did I Put My Nouns?

I used to pride myself on my vocabulary. I was articulate. I was quick-witted. I could complete a sentence without needing a lifeline.

But lately? My brain feels like a browser with 47 tabs open, three of which are frozen, and music is playing from somewhere but I can’t find the source.

Welcome to the era of the "Noun Shortage."

It usually happens at the most inconvenient times. You are in the middle of a serious point, and suddenly, the word for refrigerator vanishes. It is just gone. Erased from the hard drive. So, you stand there, gesturing wildly, calling it "the cold box where the milk lives."

It’s the "Executive Function Malfunction."

We spend so much time worrying that we are losing our minds. But I like to think of it differently. Our internal hard drives are simply full. We have spent 40+ years storing data, managing schedules, remembering birthdays, and keeping track of where everyone else put their stuff.

It is no wonder the filing cabinet is a little jammed.

So, if you find yourself walking into a room and immediately forgetting why you are there (the classic "Threshold Amnesia"), or if you have recently referred to your car keys as "the go-vroom starters," give yourself some grace.

You aren't broken. You are just buffering.

And honestly? "Thingy" is a perfectly acceptable noun in this house.

Keep thriving, Tribe.

Tracy 💗

💭 Reflection: What is the most ridiculous description you’ve used recently because you couldn't find the right word? (I recently called a spoon a "soup shovel.")