Talk About What You Are Learning

I got a little pamphlet from Blue Cross a couple of weeks ago and I finally had some leisure time to read it. On one of the last pages there was a little note that said:

“Sharing what you’re learning not only reinforces the knowledge, but can also make a really interesting conversation. Taking the time to reflect on how you’re feeling and connecting with others will help you improve your overall well-being.”

As well there was another “Habits of connection” which said that every morning one should take 10 minutes to learn something new. “By building this habit into your morning routine, you start the day a little wiser and with an open mind.”

I am no slouch at talking in general and I often share my tidbits of new thoughts, ideas and philosophies as I go through my daily routine. Mom and John are probably the biggest beneficiaries of these moments but as my readers know I end up blogging about a lot of these things as well.

The worst thing anyone can do for themselves is to have a closed mind and be unreceptive to new ideas, thoughts or even conversation. On the other hand “when you connect with others in order to broaden your mind, learning becomes a lifestyle.” (Another quote from the last page of the Blue Cross pamphlet).

Mom also got the same pamphlet and she asked ‘what do I have to do with this?’ and I said ‘read it, that’s all you have to do’. I suspect that this did not happen so I am going to put it on her pillow tonight in order to raise the red flag. I am also sending out the red flag to my readers . . . ensure that you learn at least one thing every day, however tiny that one thing may be!

·         YouTube a recipe, technique for cooking (like say an omelette) or other learning lesson

·         Pinterest has great ideas for making mini gardens, cards, scrapbooks, all types of art, knitting, sewing, etc. There is bound to be something here to pique your interest

·         Read, read, read – whether it’s a magazine or a book, reading will always teach you something

·         Watching documentaries, nature channel, news, parliament news or even a blooming soap opera – if you have an open mind you will always learn something new

·         Listening to different types of music also opens up the mind

·         Meditation – open up your mind by being still, you will be amazed at what is inside yourself

·         Talk to your friends and family – the social interaction IS SO IMPORTANT – pick up the phone because someone is sure to be glad to hear from you

·         Stay positive and active

Meditation Benefit

“There is a fountain of youth; it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” — Sophia Loren 

It always amazes me when I get my invitation to the Oprah – Deepak 21 Day Meditation that the theme is so timely for my circumstances. The one we are currently doing is Youthful Energy and the emphasis is on the body-mind interconnection and how that energy can be youthful. We have the resilience and mental dynamism to bounce back from setbacks. As with all meditation it is necessary to eliminate stress and negative influences whether they be emotions, work or people.

Today we learned that those who age well have 7 things in common:

·         Regular meditation

·         A wide support system

·         Close familial relationships

·         Daily multi-vitamin

·         Good sleep combined with daily activity

·         Lifelong curiosity

·         A willingness to take on new challenges

He said to note that only one thing on the list was food related (the multi vitamin) while the rest of the things on the list are physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. The daily activity goes back to what he suggested yesterday; he advised that once per hour one should walk around for about 5 minutes, throughout the day.

I know it is extremely difficult for most people to sit still to meditate for even 5 minutes and his practice is closer to 15 while the recommended meditation time can be up to 30 minutes. I am happy to report that I am able to do the full 15 minutes but I confess as well that my mind frequently goes elsewhere and I have to repeat the mantra to get myself back on track. Meditation is a lifelong practice and when we sleep we just have to remind ourselves to get back to mental stillness. Don’t be discouraged or feel that you have failed because while you were “meditating” you were thinking about painting the kitchen!

The reason why I am writing this today is to encourage everyone to take a little time to be still and just let your mind rest. In today’s toxic world it is very important to give our minds a proper rest from everything that is negative (and there is so much today). I recall that after being retired for about 6 months I suggested to Mom that we should eschew watching the news one day of the work week (we never did watch the news on the weekend). I think it is time to bring that practice back into being!

It is not wrong to “be in the know” with respect to news but at the same time we ought not to feed on it. It is more important for our personal wellbeing to work towards the positive in ourselves; we cannot control the outside world but we can control our own emotions and thoughts with purpose.

Namaste.