Earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, unfathomable loss of lives, radiation leaks that have already reached New York, 3 wars in the Middle East, under and un-employment, cost of living sky-rocketing, anger, fear and distrust at an all time high -- do you think there are villains running rampant throughout our lives? You bet there are! So, what's a well-meaning person, trying to keep his or her life together, to do? Bust some blocks!
As more and more baby boomers approach their senior years, they often share with me their concerns about dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other mental disabilities. They often want to know, “is there anything I can do to stay mentally fit as I grow older?” Fortunately the answer is yes. Let me give you the details.
Two important studies on the mental deterioration associated with aging were conducted years ago. The studies were called “The Baltimore and Seattle Longitudinal Studies On Aging,” and what they discovered provides the answer to the problem you are seeking. The studies analyzed individuals who were 80 years old or older. You are going to like what it revealed.
The story showed that people who read books on a regular basis had a much lower frequency of both dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. While the frequent reading of books did not cure Alzheimer’s it did slow down its progression. The same was true with dementia. More interesting was the fact the individuals who hadn’t been reading were able to reap these benefits by starting on a regular reading program. Here is the reason why they believe this occurs.
If you are over thirty years old, then your brain is losing thousands of neurons every day. This is a normal part of aging. When your approaching eighty then years of losing neurons can begin to affect your memory. However, people who read books stimulated their brains. This extra stimulation made the existing neurons form more connections. Connections that helped to compensate for the neurons that were lost. As a result they had better mental acuity even at advanced ages.
What is the lesson to be learned from this? If you are a baby boomer and you want to keep your brain mentally fit, then you need to exercise it regularly. The best exercise is to continually read as you grow older. Your brain will reward you for doing this by staying focused and sharp as you grow older.
Howard Berg Speed Reading Speed Reading And Learning Resources For Succeeding In Today's Information-Rich World. http://www.howardbergspeedreading.com
Mantra has been defined as “a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation”. The power of a mantra is the power to create our own destiny. Ancient cultures have used mantras for thousands of years. Wayne Dyer in his “Meditations for Manifestation” CD talks about variations of the same sound found in countless religions: RAM, GOD, ALLAH, BUDDHA all share the ahhhhhhh sound when repeated slowly. These sounds have been repeated over thousands of years by millions of people, they have taken on a force that you connect with when you repeat them in your living room. There is power in sound and there is great power in our words, which is why mantras can be so instrumental in changing our perceptions and belief systems.
Take slow, deep breaths through your nose. Feel the air flow over your top lip into your nostrils. Feel the hair on your skin move slightly to the gentle current created by the inhales.
We are all making efforts these days to be friendlier to the planet. And while Fido is not always friendly to your rose bushes, there are plenty of eco-friendly ways for you to help reduce your pet’s carbon paw print.