| A Health Club for the Mind, Body and Spirit | |||||
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Imagine the excitement of exploring the historical and cultural treasures of the Tuscan countryside, the thrill of taking part in a lively discussion about the life and works of Vincent Van Gogh, Thanks to a vast array of opportunities available in the lifelong learning world today, we now have the chance to make our later years far more exciting than we ever dreamed possible. Incorporating lifelong learning into our After-50 years means our minds will be more stimulated, our bodies more active, and our spirits more fulfilled. A healthy Mind/Body/Spirit connection is critical to getting the most out of life at any age. As we age, however, this connection becomes even more important. Lifelong learning, as older adults are discovering, can help strengthen that connection. There are many different ways, both formal and informal, to engage in later-life learning. Reading a newspaper, a good book, or working crossword puzzles are all considered informal ways of learning. So, in many ways, just about everyone is, to some degree, a lifelong learner. A study conducted for AARP by Roper Starch Worldwide, Inc. in 1999 bears this out. It showed that over 90% of surveyed adults age 50 and over do plan to continue learning as they age. When asked why, participants said they wanted to keep up with what’s going on in the world. They also wanted to continue their personal and spiritual growth, and have fun by learning something new. Although informal lifelong learning takes place regularly, we are focusing here on three of the more structured or formal ways to reap the numerous benefits of later-life learning. For example, you can take non-credit classes on almost any topic at local lifelong learning programs. You can also learn and explore the world through educational travel programs. Or, you can choose to give back to your community by using your skills and experiences to help enrich the lives of others through meaningful civic service. Later-life learning is really all about ways to keep your mind, body and spirit stimulated, challenged and fully engaged in your After-50 years. 
There are good reasons to do so. Research during the 1990’s, a decade of pioneering brain research, proved that a stimulated mind promotes a healthy brain. The studies were conducted at many research facilities including Harvard, Duke and Johns Hopkins Universities, and showed that keeping brains stimulated helps retain mental alertness as people age. The brain’s physical anatomy actually responds to enriching mental activities. Scientists have discovered that the brain, even an aging brain, can grow new connections and pathways when challenged and stimulated. 
These studies point out the value of incorporating lifelong learning into our later lives. Albert Einstein, Claude Monet, Arturo Toscanini, Hume Cronyn and Pablo Casals, as well as many others, were all productive and vibrant well into old age. Every day that they used their skills and talents to produce great works, they were learning. In the words of Dr. Paul Nussbaum, Director of the Aging Research and Education Center in Pittsburgh, PA, “…every time your heart beats, 25% of that blood goes right to the brain. But while exercise is critical, it may be education that is more important. In the 21st century, education and information may become for the brain what exercise is for the heart.” Just like the human heart, our brains need to be nurtured through the health club known as later-life learning. Along with keeping brains alert and stimulated as we age, everyone knows the importance of keeping our bodies active. Lifelong learning programs offer ways to incorporate activity into our daily lives. For instance, spirituality, meditation, stress reduction, yoga, exercise of all types, walking clubs, and outdoor programs are but a few of the many opportunities available. If learning through educational travel sounds more appealing, then be prepared to actively explore new and different places, not just ride from place to place on a bus. Later-life learners who travel are out and about, taking part in spirited discussions, talking with the locals, and examining unique places up close and personal. Lifelong learning through work within the community is yet another way of staying active, interacting with society, and keeping connected to life. Dedicated volunteers are not watching life pass them by through their living room windows. They are actively making a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. Learning later is not only a health club for the brain, but for the body, as well. Regardless of your level of involvement, later-life learning promotes necessary activity which is especially valuable as we age. Finally, learning in later life engages our spirits. It provides the needed social interaction Making learning part of our later years also fosters a sense of personal empowerment and increased self-esteem. It ensures continued growth and intellectual stimulation, leading to a more fulfilling, enjoyable and enriched lifestyle. So, learning later is a health club for our spirits as well. Those who participate in more formal programs of later-life learning discover their intellectual, social, spiritual and physical horizons have expanded far beyond any previous expectations. David, a later-life learner from New York, concurs. “We have a fantastic program for personal discovery,” he says. “We base everything on the belief that our capacity to learn and grow does not decrease as our years increase. In fact, through learning and the adventures we embark on, we actually embrace self-fulfillment.” Continuing to learn after age 50 is vitally important. It helps develop our natural abilities, immerses us in the wonders of life, stimulates our natural curiosity about the world, increases our wisdom, enables us to use our experiences to make the world a better place, and helps us face the inevitable changes of society. Without a doubt, learning later is truly a health club for our minds, bodies and spirits. Using this health club every day ensures that our lives will be richer, more fulfilled and far more satisfying. They say we only live once, but in the words of Kalil Gibran, “To be able to look back upon one’s life in satisfaction, is to live twice!” A Word from Nancy In the coming months, we’ll take a look at later-life learning in much more detail. We’ll explore the who, what, where, when and how, as well as learn about the many benefits to be gained from indulging in lifelong learning in our After-50 years. Along with that, we’ll view videos from actual lifelong learning programs, and hear first-hand from people who are using this tool everyday to create richer lives for themselves. Your questions and comments about lifelong learning are also welcome. The new Forum section will be the place for you to ask those questions and discuss learning in your own life. Your feedback is very welcome as we begin creating a useful resource for you that is sure to enrich and fulfill your After-50 years. I look forward to hearing from and working with you in the coming months. Thank you. Next Month: Learning Later: A More In-Depth Look About Nancy Merz Nordstrom “Being back in school made me feel alive, younger and more vigorous,” she says. “I know first-hand that a stimulating academic environment can make a profound difference in the lives of older adults.” Nancy now lives in central New Hampshire with her second husband, Maurie. She is the mother of four and the grandmother of three.  |
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or the satisfaction that comes from helping a reluctant student discover the value of education. There’s no doubt such experiences would spice up your life. The good news is all this can be yours by indulging in later-life learning. 
that is often lacking as we age. Older adults join lifelong learning programs as much for the social aspects as for the learning. Outdoor programs, field trips, luncheons, parties, and travel far and near, give mature adults the opportunity to make new friends, engage in stimulating give-and-take discussions, and share in life’s ups and downs with like-minded people. Life gets a little overwhelming at times. How better to get through these challenges than by sharing them with other later-life learners? 