By Rajgopal Nidamboor
Most people, especially in their so-called sunset years, feel, or accept, that certain indispensable abilities, such as memory and analytical thinking, ‘drop’ with time. This may be true in certain cases, where illnesses hamper one’s memory, cognitive abilities, or skills. The good news is such a possibility can be recompensed by keeping one’s motivation and interest levels far above the ground. Quality reading nurtures the mind. It also rejuvenates the soul. Likewise, holding one’s interest levels elevated with crossword puzzles, or word games, keeps one’s mind in good shape. It will not lead to what is called ‘psychosclerosis,’ or ‘wasting of the mind’ — or, accumulation of negative thoughts, or feelings, which barricades the path of wisdom, or consciousness.
Research evidences that buoyant mental activity can hold-up, or turnaround, memory disorders like Alzheimer’s. What does this suggest? That it is never too late to develop new interests, or add on to old interests and activities. The more this is molded, synthesized and galvanized, the merrier it is for the mind, body and soul.
This is like getting into the merry-go-round of life afresh — or, looking at the world from a spacecraft, or, maybe, voyaging in the reverse direction, or coming to terms with the fact that aging is inevitable, but 'avertable' — in the mind, if not body. The inference is simple. Don’t ever let go of the opportunity to develop something new that is within the ambit of your grasp. In other words, one should think that aging is a ‘born-again’ chapter, encircled by a fascinating world, where everything looks brand new.
Rajgopal Nidamboor, PhD, is a wellness physician-writer-editor, independent researcher, columnist, author, and publisher. His published work includes hundreds of newspaper, magazine, Web articles, essays, meditations, columns, and critiques on a host of subjects, aside from four books on natural health, two coffee table tomes, a handful of eBooks, and an encyclopedic treatise on Indian philosophy. He calls himself an irrepressible idealist. What he likes best is spending quality time with his family and close friends, and in reading, writing, listening to music, watching cricket/old movies, and mindful meditation. He lives in Navi Mumbai, India.
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