Let's Learn Something New!
Nurses Get Things Done--
“A mind is a terrible thing to waste,” was a fundraising campaign slogan of the United Negro College Fund. The memorable tagline was created by an ad agency and the Advertising Council. The phrase was introduced in 1972 and more than fifty years later, the sentiment is even more important.
It is not just for college-bound students, our mature minds shouldn’t be wasted either. My friends in Arizona play word games on their phones every morning. The husband and wife share their scores. There is the act of playing the puzzle, which engages the brain, and then the social aspect of sharing their achievements with others. I spend downtime playing a crossword puzzle game on my phone.
Wordle (think, Wheel of Fortune-ish) was played more than 4.8B (yes, billion) times in 2023. Maybe word games are not your activity of choice. What do you like to do? My cousin in Atlanta plays Quiz Planet, a multiplayer game with questions from 19 categories. I haven’t played this game yet either. It has millions of players across the globe, its FB page has 353k followers.
Whether it is an online game, learning a second language, playing an instrument, or trying a new hobby, learning something new has benefits. I’m not sure there is a definitive answer on whether crosswords, trivia challenges, and puzzle games have brain health benefits. Although my grandma in Dayton, Ohio kept her mind sharp with word search books. She was within months of her 97th birthday when she passed away and could easily complete two books in a day.
Ask yourself this: When was the last time I did something for the first time?
Do you have any dreams of places you want to go or activities you would like to try? Instead of putting up roadblocks as to why it can’t happen, try to think of ways to accomplish your dream, idea, or goal.
In the late 1990s, my great-aunt, a registered nurse, was nearing the end of her life. She always dreamed of going to Arizona. A fellow RN had retired to Phoenix and they talked frequently. Auntie suffered a stroke and couldn’t live independently, she used a walker, and her speech was halting. She maintained her mind, her positive attitude, and her determination was fierce. Two years before her death, she surprised the entire family, when she organized (with the help of a travel agent) an 80th birthday trip to Arizona including transportation and assistance at O’Hare airport (no easy feat).
She returned after a week, glowing and filled with stories of her adventures. I asked how she organized a trip without me or my mom knowing what she was planning. Auntie gave me a mischievous smile and said, “I’m a nurse, I’m used to getting things done. Plus, all you need is a phone and a credit card!”
Another good one Brenda! I am ALL IN on learning something new and going to places for the thrill of the experience. I'm newly retired ya know. I play scrabble and do picture puzzles on my phone.
Great article