When Jackii Mudge was diagnosed with geographic atrophy (GA) in 2024, she was already navigating life with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in both eyes. But even with vision loss, she has found ways to stay grounded — and even joyful.

A wife, a mother, a dog lover, and an athlete, Jackii is passionate about rock climbing and skiing. She focuses on three powerful ways to take her mind off GA: immersing herself in something fun, paying attention to nature, and staying in the now.

1. Immersing Herself in Something Fun

For Jackii, rock climbing isn’t just a hobby — it’s therapy. “When you’re climbing, you’re in a little 4-foot space and you’re solving a puzzle: How do I balance on this vertical or overhanging bunch of rock and stay in balance?” she said. “You’re not thinking about your GA, you’re not thinking about your bills — you’re not thinking about anything.”

Climbing keeps both her mind and body fully engaged — and for Jackii, that’s pure joy. “It’s scary, but it’s scary and fun at the same time,” she said. “It’s like dancing in a vertical world. You dance up the rock, and it just frees your mind of everything else that’s going on.”

Even when GA makes it more challenging, Jackii figures out how to adjust: “I’m learning to adapt to the fact that I can only see out of one eye.”

2. Paying Attention to Nature

Jackii’s adventures often involve road trips with her husband and dog in their converted camping van. Spending quiet time outdoors helps her feel grounded, and she encourages others to also find a way to take a mental break.

“Find something that could distract your attention. Listen to music. Sit out in the yard and listen to the birds. Watch the squirrels,” she said. “Do anything you can just to take your mind away from what’s going on.”

Mindful moments in nature don’t erase GA, but they offer a powerful shift in perspective. “It’s still important. It’s still there. You still have to recognize it,” Jackii said. However, she believes that recognizing GA doesn’t mean letting it take over your mind and your life.

3. Staying in the Now

For Jackii, learning to live in the present has been one of her most powerful tools. “Being in the now is really important,” she said. “When I climb, the only thing I’m thinking about is climbing.”

Living with GA isn’t easy. “It’s hard for me, and it’s hard for everybody else that you’ve got this disease,” Jackii said. “It’s there with you constantly. It goes to bed with you at night, and it wakes up with you in the morning.”

But each day brings a new chance to practice being fully present. You can choose to pay attention to having fun, getting out in nature, or doing whatever brings you joy. AMD is always there and needs to be acknowledged — but as Jackii put it: “It doesn’t have to control your life.”

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How do you take your mind off geographic atrophy? Let others know in the comments below.