Last year, one beautiful Spring evening in May, just as the whole world was settling down and beginning to get used to the Covid-19 lockdown, my hubby and I went for a long walk. We chatted about what new activities we could start doing together to continue to build the strong bond between us. Now, I’m not so sure where this popped out from, but we decided to learn a new language together. Tag- Spanish was it! Our motivation quickly became – learning Spanish so well that we would visit Spain sometime in the future to speak it fluently with the Spaniards.
No time was better than to start immediately. So, before we went to bed that night, we both downloaded the Duolingo language app and we have not looked back since then. All it takes us is between 5 to 10 minutes of practice each day and we are amazed at how much Spanish we can speak in just seven months!
As my hubby and I continue to learn this new language together, I often recall a graduation ceremony I once attended where the University’s vice chancellor encouraged the audience to engage in life-long learning, because it keeps the brain stay in top shape as one grows older. She gave the specific example of her own mother who had just finished learning a new language and was about to start another one at the age of ninety! Wow!
According to an article by Harvard Health, the plasticity of your brain enables it to learn and grow as you age but you’ve got work to do. You must train your brain on a regular basis to reap these benefits. Think about it like building up your brain reserve, since the cognitive skills you have built up through the years begin to wane, which makes thinking and memory more challenging as you grow older. Challenging your brain with new activities forces you to think and learn and with consistent practice, you keep your brain healthy for the long haul. Brain training also helps you guard against typically old age diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Studies show that in addition to learning a new language, other brain training activities can include learning a new instrument, expressive writing, solving puzzles, painting, and even some physical activities which incorporate problem solving, concentration, attention to detail and memory recall.
Taking care of your brain, by optimizing its function, is an important way you can love God, because you are keeping your mental faculties healthy, so that you can diligently love others, as yourself, for as long as there’s breath in you. Moreover, as you walk your way into your eighties and nineties, you will have the mental capacity to interact with you grandchildren and great grandchildren (and maybe even beat them at a game of chess!) which improves your overall quality of life. What fun is life if you can’t fully engage with it?
- So, what new brain training activity will you be picking up TODAY to start you on your way? Pick just ONE.
- As soon as you have picked your brain training activity, get the app or register for the class or buy the books, tools or equipment you need to get you started on your activity.
- Finally, and most importantly, get to work. Schedule a practice time that you can commit to daily. You can start even at five minutes a day and focus on consistency at first. As you begin to build the discipline, you can adjust your time commitment to meet any goals that you set for yourself.
These are the three steps that I took until learning Spanish became an important part of my daily routine and I do look forward to learning many more new languages in the future.
Ten un buen dia!
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Very inspiring….started Spanish with my children….will revisit and be consistent at it. Thanks for injecting fresh fire.