Tag: existentialism

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    Dr Braccio & Mike Austin of 1320 WILS discuss HOW TO ENHANCE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AS WE AGE

    HOW TO ENHANCE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT AS WE AGE June 20, 2023 A major concern persons have as we age is to keep our mental alertness and cognitive thinking abilities as finely honed as possible. Even though Alzheimer’s and dementia take a toll on millions of persons as we age, there is no reason we need to rush the process or try not to do whatever we can to keep our cognitive abilities to the highest level possible so we can live an independent life as long as possible. It is important throughout our lives to be active and using our brains. Even though an organ and not a muscle,the brain is like any muscle in the body and functions best when actively used. There is nothing worse for a person to do than to do nothing, and simply wait for life to come to them as they do not keep active physically or mentally. The person becomes like a dry leaf in the wind being blown from one place to another with no fixed direction. The obvious solution is to be active physically with a solid exercise routine, eat nutritious food, get enough sleep, and always be doing things to keep the mind active. Examples would be volunteering,maintaining employment,meeting with friends and family, church activities, social activities, card games,reading,learning classes, and any other activity that keeps us involved with people and keeping our mind sharp. These are the things we need to be doing. In reality,it is quite simple. But for too many persons, they choose what one might call “The road of least resistance”, and do not keep their minds in tiptop shape. My advice to them from a mental health perspective, which also impacts on them physically,is to keep both the body and mind in constant use as much as possible. While age can clearly have an impact on us physically,and as I stated earlier, there is no need we have to rush along the process; and as a result, lose years of life that could be filled with learning and enjoying life to the fullest. As I have often said, life is a one time shot for us to use the time that makes up our individual lives as best we can with the primary goal to be as effective and happy as possible.

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    Dr Braccio & Dave Akerly discuss WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL AGE IN A PERSON’S LIFE? 4-13-21

    This is a question many persons have pondered and debated over the centuries. These thoughts will hopefully trigger some thoughts in you. I remember a random discussion I had in the late 60s with a wise older woman from the Philippines teaching Spanish in Compton Schools, California. At that time, I was working in Compton as a School Psychologist. In our discussion, she said in the Philippines there was a saying or belief that indicated a 40-year-old had the opportunity to look backward as if on a mountain peak at the previous life experiences and with this view could look forward and anticipate what the future would be, based on what had been learned in those 40 years. . That conversation still intrigues me and I think of it often. I have observed over the years that if wisdom and appropriate skills are developed, it is true the second half of one’s life would be predictably meaningful and good. If not, then it would predictably not be true for that person. It is totally dependent on what the person has learned in those first 40 years…I think meaning for a young person from high school until 40 is about finding purpose in life and setting out with goals and dreams to be accomplished and trying to build the life skills to accomplish them. That can be a very meaningful age for the person. From ages 40-60, the person is attempting to accomplish those goals and will begin to keep track of what is being accomplished and what is still desired to be accomplished. That can be a very meaningful age for that person. As a person is into the 60s and later, it is time to review the life the person has lived and hopefully find meaning and satisfaction on what has occurred. That also can be a very meaningful age for that person. The satisfaction and meaningfulness during these age periods will be determined by what has been accomplished and still desired to be accomplished. The overall point is that satisfaction in life does not relate to any particular age period. The course of one’s life may make periods more meaningful or not. Hopefully, each period will be meaningful with youth filled with great energy, middle years with the implementation of dreams with later age being one of reflection and satisfaction…For emphasis, I believe it to be true that there is no one better and more meaningful age. It totally depends on the person who is leading the life and what satisfaction and meaning are occurring at any particular time. Overall successful persons are happy at any age and find meaningfulness in what they are doing and desire to accomplish. I might add, young persons can also gain satisfaction and meaningful thoughts from what occurred earlier in their lives.