Health & Wellness Article - June 2010Dare to seize the day
“Devote today to something so daring
even you can’t believe you’re doing it.”
You may have seen The Bucket List or other movies about people achieving long-held “want tos” that often go to the bottom of the list because of “have tos.” It isn’t always a financial limitation that causes us to postpone that great adventure or effort at new learning. Sometimes it is putting others’ needs first, feeling we are too old, believing we don’t have the skills, or other excuses.
Lifelong learning can and should be filled with adventure and fun. Although it takes a lot of dedication and practice to learn a new language, take a class at the community college with 20-year-olds, or pick up a paint brush for the first time, the risk of “not good enough” is definitely worth the reward.
Grandma Moses, Einstein, Beethoven, and a long list of others achieved goals that many people thought were impossible with their various limitations, including being older adults. In fact, the research shows that although older adults may learn more slowly, lose some of their vocabulary, and have sensory or medical challenges, they are more skilful at learning complex new information. In addition to that attribute, they have the benefit of their wisdom and life experience.
Lifelong learning opportunities are one of the many features of the Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment Program at Touchmark. If you have ideas, knowledge, skills, or talents to share—or you would like to know more about the possibilities of new learning programs—contact a member of the Life Enrichment/Wellness team. Your dreams are welcome!
© 2008 Touchmark