Optimal Aging - Lifelong Learner of Life, December 2012

As the population of the world and the United States ages, patterns have started to emerge around what optimal aging looks like.  As we know, there is no “right path” to aging that works for everyone.  However, there are ingredients of success we can observe and learn from. This series of articles aim to highlight those ingredients.

The recognized concepts of human wellness include caring for our physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual wellbeing.   Nourishing these needs by taking a lifelong learning approach to life is a good starting point to optimal aging, that is seeking ideas that stimulate and support our wellness needs.   Lifelong learners open their senses to a vast array of outlets like music, poetry, dance and philosophy.  The key is to dive into learning without having it overwhelm you.

An optimal aging idea that cuts across cultures, religions and geographies is starting the day with an individual practice such as meditation, prayer, reading, movement or playing a music instrument, practices that lead to a peaceful inner state.  For some people deep breathing exercises, morning walks and praying to God, for example are great way to welcome a new day.

In the Great Lake Bay Region, several opportunities are available to lifelong learners. They range from enrolling in some of the 200 classes of Saginaw Valley State University’s Osher Life Long Learning Institute (OLLI)  http://www.svsu-cbed.net/olli/ to participating in the Saginaw and Midland chapters of People to People,  an organization founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to promote international understanding and friendship through educational, cultural and humanitarian activities. 

Lifelong learning can be wonderful way to stimulate intellectual capabilities.  Research on Alzheimer’s has shown that a brain-healthy lifestyle may prevent Alzheimer's symptoms and slow down, or even reverse, deterioration.  Lumosity.com is a great website that enables individuals to improve brain health and performance through various exercises.  Lumosity founders have worked with researchers from several universities including Stanford and John Hopkins to create games and exercises that improve core cognitive abilities and enable users to remember more, think faster and perform better.

Another universal wellness concept is helping our fellow human beings.  As the Dalai Lama said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”  A simple act of kindness not only connects us with a fellow human being, it usually has a multiplier effect that improves our lives and of those around us.  So let’s engage in at least one act of impromptu kindness today, and make it a habit to do so each day.-------------------------------------------

K. Rumi Shahzad, who aspires to be a lifelong learner, is a co-founder of New Hope Valley, an Assisted Living Community in Saginaw, MI and Lori LaBrie is the Executive Director of New Hope Valley. Rumi can be reached at rumi@newhopevalley.us and Lori can be reached at lorih@newhopevalley.us