What do you talk about at
the bridge table or when you get together for an evening with friends? Too often senior conversations center around
what medications, aches and pains and what surgeries they are recovering
from. The most vibrant seniors that I
know introduce snippets of information gleaned from the newspapers, book clubs,
and home work assignments from classes ranging from languages to current
events.
Intellectual stimulation is
what often lacking in the adult world.
Unless you work in the world of academia your world narrows considerably
after you graduate from high school or college.
Many folks seem to be so glad that they are out of school that continuing education is the last thing
that they want to think about.
Fortunately, more and more
people are going back to school. The
number of students ages 40 to 64 has jumped 20% in the last ten years. Taking classes can be a challenge and a
little daunting for some, but adult
learning doesn’t have to mean going back to college.
You can find courses
especially geared toward senior interests at local community colleges, classes
at your senior center, even on-line classes.
Wouldn’t it be fun to perk up gray cells by attending a lecture on a subject
dear to your heart? A friend of mine has
been auditing Polish classes for years.
I haven’t a clue as to whether she has learned to speak Polish or not
but she does her homework faithfully and keeps going back for more. I suspect
she is doing better at it than she will admit.
I certainly admire her tenacity.
You may not be aware but
recent studies show that doing things to maintain your mental abilities can
improve your memory, slow the aging process and combat depression so there is
no downside when it comes to learning new things. You can find classes on
topics from archeology to zoology, and everything in between. Isn’t there something that you have always
wondered about? Arthritis Today magazine
(May/June 2010) suggested going to www.ocwconsortium.org
for a listing of free on-line classes but if you like a classroom setting check
with local colleges and senior centers.
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