Keep your brain well-oiled

I am writing this note to you from a barn in the beautifully green countryside of Western North Carolina. Feliks’ horse, Rigby, needed new shoes, so we met the farrier here as he put the shoes on her.

I don’t know anything about horses, but I am learning. Feliks bought me a used copy of something called a “horse encyclopedia” at a library sale and I am making my way through it. And I am asking really basic questions of anyone I can, much to Feliks’ mortification.

It is so good to learn new things. In the past few years, this has included taking fiddle and mandolin lessons for me. And now it means learning everything I can about horses. I do Wordle and the NYTimes crossword puzzle daily. On June 6, Feliks and I will start a beginning knitting class together. And I am once again trying to learn American Sign Language.

Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family—among the women. The men die too young for it to affect them. And John’s mother is also showing all the signs. So I have for years paid attention to neuroscience and the need for brain stimulation. Dancing is supposed to be great for brain stimulation. And exercise of all kinds. Movement. Here are some other ways to stave it off.

When is the last time you put yourself in a position to learn something new? May it never end. Insatiable, child-like curiosity is called for.

So, what are you actively learning? Keep your brain well-oiled.