OUR BRAIN HEALTH

         Sunday morning, I was feeling very good and thinking that in a lot of ways, it’s nice to not have company, invited or drop by. That’s because I was looking around at what I would need to do if company were coming. Then, I read the April/May 2020 AARP Magazine, the one with Phil Donohue and Marlo Thomas on the cover. I’m not sure how close to me they are in age, but let me tell you, I think money definitely allows folks look younger.

          I believe this magazine went to press shortly before the pandemic was announced. There’s one page by the AARP CEO that informs subscribers about what AARP is doing on our behalf. It has an article by Dr. Sanjay Grupta about brain health and function, an excerpt from his new book due January 2021. It's titled, Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain At Any Age. As part of that article there was a subset that said, “Do These 4 Things Every Day.” I’d like to address those 4 things here.

1.     Spend time with friends and family; engage your brain by discussing current events or new ideas. Considering we have the pandemic it is rather difficult to do this every single day. Yes, we can talk on the phone, text, email, or as I was able to do last Friday, entertain friends outside on the deck maintaining a safe distance. I also walk every day with a neighbor and we do talk about current events and new ideas, but let’s be honest here, current events and new ideas (drink bleach) tend to leave us a bit horrified as opposed to uplifted. CNN sends me an email every Saturday that contains GOOD news only…I love those. 

2.    Read or Write.  I do both of these on an almost daily basis. I actually think writing this blog has helped me tremendously with the pandemic and my thoughts and attitudes about being optimistic. And, I love fiction and am so grateful for my new I-pad so I can download as many books from the King County Library as I want. 

3.    Exercise, even if it’s just a brisk walk. I do this Monday-Friday every week, most days anyway. I begin with the physical therapy I learned when I had my shoulder surgery. It’s not just for my shoulder and my entire body looks forward to those child poses and back stretches. Then, as I mentioned above, I walk with a neighbor. I may not walk briskly for the entire hour, especially when my calves begin to tighten up and hurt a lot. But I power through until I can take a little one-two minute rest on a bench midway. So, I’m actually combining #1 and #3. 

4.    Practice a new skill, particularly something that involves creating with your hands. This could be gardening, playing an instrument or tying flies. Writing is not a new skill for me and neither is gardening, so would they count? I don’t know. I’m certainly not going to take up tying flies even though I have a surfeit of fishing tackle available. I can’t, right at this moment, think of a new skill to practice. Maybe something will come up that will allow me to do #4...like painting rocks??? 

There you have it readers, what is being recommended to help with your brain health. I know some of you have been sewing masks right and left and making them available to a wide variety of family, friends, or strangers for free. Sewing isn’t necessarily a new skill for most of you, but you’re all putting it to a new use. Others have volunteered to help feed or provide groceries to those who cannot get out. And, let’s not forget about all the people who are painting and leaving rocks all over, the jokes, riddles and happy messages chalked onto sidewalks and streets. I love those.

There will come a time, undoubtedly, when we can drop in on a friend, meet in a restaurant, take a class that’s not offered online, and do a number of things we’ve been unable to do since February. I’m really looking forward to being able to do those things and many others. I also think when that time comes I may have to learn a new skill or begin the practice of an old one…cleaning house.