Brain Health: Keeping your brain active

Posted by John, Volunteer Mentor @johnbishop, Jul 30, 2020

One of the things I really admired about my wife's mother was her humor and her really sharp wit even at the age of 90+. She lived with us for the last 7 or 8 years while she was alive. It was no secret how she kept her mental sharpness – she loved crossword puzzles and worked on various puzzles during the day. Crossword puzzles could be found laying around the house that she had started but not finished. Woe be to you if you penciled in any answers in one of her crossword puzzles. I occasionally like doing puzzles but they are not on my regular diet. My wife, much like her mother, loves doing crossword puzzles.

I recently ran across a free online lesson on How to Promote Brain Health from McMaster Optimal Aging Portal – How to Promote Brain Health: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/e-learning/how-to-promote-brain-health — Discover six ways you can promote brain health and reduce your risk of developing dementia.

What do you do to keep your brain healthy and active?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 31, 2020

In reply to @merpreb "@johnbishop - Am on the free online lesson. Just off the bat I would think that..." + (show)

😂🤣

1oldbuck | @1oldbuck | Jul 31, 2020

Like so many others, I do the puzzles each day in the local paper. From 2006 thru 2018 I wrote about 300 silly rhymes. Published 4 books of about 40 rhymes each. Sold 1 copy of my first book. My younger sister didn't realize I was sending her a free copy and ordered one. :o) Since March 2018, I've written 2 rhymes. One about cheese curds because I had them at a local sandwich shop and face masks because the are such an issue right now. I'm loosing my mind quickly now but from what I've heard over the years, I won't be out much. I won't go looking for it because I probably couldn't find my way back. :o) oldbuck

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 31, 2020

In reply to @0616 "Thank you so much for the information on brain health. However, keeping socially active these days..." + (show)

@0616- You seem to have found a remedy for being in contact with friends. I hope that you all wore masks too.

Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jul 31, 2020

In reply to @1oldbuck "Like so many others, I do the puzzles each day in the local paper. From 2006..." + (show)

@1oldbuck- Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you found us. You have quite a sense of humor. Do you mind sharing some of your rhymes?

1oldbuck | @1oldbuck | Jul 31, 2020

In reply to @merpreb "@1oldbuck- Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad that you found us. You have quite a..." + (show)

My Mentor is My Friend

There was a time not long ago
Where I felt I had no friend
I thought if I stopped moving
In the trash can I might end

I felt so easily over looked
Disrespected, even mocked.
But then he came along
I felt my life had been unlocked.

He wasn’t like all the others
With some agenda on their mind
Full of probing questions
To see what they could find

He came with “can I help you?”
Are there places that you struggle?
Now don’t hastily misinterpret
My mentor don’t sit and snuggle

In fact it’s just the opposite
He’s like Santa with his pack.
He arrives so well prepared
It’s almost an outright attack

I’m doing better with my lessons
Even I can see the progress
Tests are easier with few surprises
But maybe here I now digress

Well not entirely I must admit
My mentor is for school work
To walk me through my paces
So I don’t grow up a silly dork.

My mentor has become for me
A lighthouse, a beacon of sorts.
To keep me on the narrow path
Maybe even get me into sports

If I seem to be getting ahead of myself
It’s because of why I feel this way
I look forward to his helpful visits
That move me forward day by day.

How does a mentor become a friend?
Because he shows he really cares
If he see’s I’m troubled and grumpy
He moves on, he’ll leave it there

But if I bring up the subject
He makes time to listen carefully
He offers help if he feels he can
Never oversteps “their” policy

He wants me to learn to handle things
To follow rules thru “chain of command”
Go to adults and leaders politely
Not pouting or with loud demands

He’ll go along if I ask him too
Or stay behind with a hushed “go get’em”
He tries to prep for what may happen
“They can’t upset you, unless you let’em”

As I now think about my mentor
The key to our friendship is trust
If we have a misunderstanding
We don’t let it fester or rust.

He helps me face it like it’s important
It’s never “a phase I’m passing through”
I’ve grown to understand the fact
Mistakes can happen and often do

Well I’ve gone on here quit a spell
I’ll hand this in ahead of time
So my mentor won’t see it right away
This project to write a meaningful rhyme

About someone that’s in my life
That I might turn too in times of strife
Like the guy my dad has at work
When troubled by a nagging wife. :o)

Sorry mom. . . . .

Written by oldbuck
Jan 26, 2018

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jul 31, 2020

In reply to @1oldbuck "My Mentor is My Friend There was a time not long ago Where I felt I..." + (show)

@1oldbuck