By Mary Layton
It’s so refreshing to learn something new. The other day I watched a friend learn Spanish online. It looked like he was having a lot of fun. I realized that I knew quite a lot of words myself and I now want to see whether I can make some more progress. Of course, any time we learn a new language we learn so much about the culture of the people, how things are communicated in that language. In California knowing how to speak Spanish can increase your chances to get hired. The idea to travel to Mexico and actually be able to make conversation with people will make for an entirely different travel experience!
To keep learning new things keeps us feeling younger. Actually the brain needs to be exercised, like any muscle, no matter what age you are, to function well. Just as the body may need a variety of nutrients and food to perform well, the brain works even better when it is exercised in various ways. Some people say that doing cross word puzzles helps them with memory function and creative thinking. Learning new skills, using tools you have never used before, like for example a bow and arrow, or learning how to play an instrument, learning how to dance Salsa or Tango – whatever it is we learn from scratch can help us to get a break from habitual kinds of thinking patterns. Part of learning is to listen well, to concentrate, to be fully present. Suddenly we stop worrying about the past or the future. Learning something new takes patience. We need to keep at it, keep doing it. The more we stay with it, the more our understanding and peace of mind increases. This Spring go for it and learn something new!
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