At our stage of Life, it feels good to lay back and rest. It feels good - but it can be a slippery slope.
Seems our bodies and brains have reached, or are approaching, a stage where cells dieing off are about on a par with those new ones being created. And maybe, we've already reached the point where the race is being slowly lost.
As brain cells die off, so do some of our memories and skills and abilities. While our bodies may be losing the race, there are ways for each of us to keep the pace up for an extended period of time - years. By learning new things - new knowledge and new skills - we establish new connections in our brains and can keep pace with the loss of older memories.
Paddling and camping can be a vehicle for this stretching. But, maybe not in the old, familiar places where we don't have as much opportunity to see and learn new things. Travel to new places, paddle different waters that travel through far away lands. Camp with people who are new to you. Learn some new skills or applying old skills in new situations.
And, of course, we can go out and learn completely new skills and knowledge. Our local schools often run Adult Education programs. Local colleges and community colleges have classes in interesting subjects. Who gives a damn if we get an A or a D? We get exposed to new stuff and new people! That is stimulating - and THAT is the goal.
Geezers arise. A spectre haunts our land. It is called dementia and it isn't good for us. It's only critical.
Seems our bodies and brains have reached, or are approaching, a stage where cells dieing off are about on a par with those new ones being created. And maybe, we've already reached the point where the race is being slowly lost.
As brain cells die off, so do some of our memories and skills and abilities. While our bodies may be losing the race, there are ways for each of us to keep the pace up for an extended period of time - years. By learning new things - new knowledge and new skills - we establish new connections in our brains and can keep pace with the loss of older memories.
Paddling and camping can be a vehicle for this stretching. But, maybe not in the old, familiar places where we don't have as much opportunity to see and learn new things. Travel to new places, paddle different waters that travel through far away lands. Camp with people who are new to you. Learn some new skills or applying old skills in new situations.
And, of course, we can go out and learn completely new skills and knowledge. Our local schools often run Adult Education programs. Local colleges and community colleges have classes in interesting subjects. Who gives a damn if we get an A or a D? We get exposed to new stuff and new people! That is stimulating - and THAT is the goal.
Geezers arise. A spectre haunts our land. It is called dementia and it isn't good for us. It's only critical.
