Training my brain
A recent article on adult learning in The New York Times made the following statement: "Brains in middle age, which, with increased life spans, now stretches from the 40s to late 60s, also get more easily distracted." I was certainly distracted by that statement. If middle age now stretches all the way to the late 60s, then I feel positively young! Young as I may be though, I have to admit to some of the problems that are delineated by the article. Yes, I'm familiar with the experience of reading a book and then six months later being able to remember very little about it. Same thing with movies I've seen - even movies that I've liked. And then, of course, there are people. Specifically, people's names. I like to think that I never forget a face - but names? Fuhgeddaboutit. I usually do. So what's a young person like myself to do? How can I prevent my brain from ossifying and teach it to be more nimble? There's actually some good news in the...