Make new friends

A 2007 University of Michigan national study led by Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR), found that 10 minutes of conversation can improve your memory as much as brain exercises.

"In our study, socializing was just as effective as more traditional kinds of mental exercise in boosting memory and intellectual performance," said Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist at the U-M Institute for Social Research (ISR) and a lead author of the study.

According to Dr. Ybarra, the findings suggest that visiting with a friend or neighbor may be just as helpful in staying sharp as doing a daily crossword puzzle. The study also calls attention to the negative effects of social isolation. At Wiser Now, we have long been preaching the importance of social interaction as a means toward cultivating a cheerful attitude, which contributes to healthy aging, so get out there and make new friends or visit with the old (One is silver and the other gold).

Source: http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/7-10-29-TenMinutes.htm)

Choose to have fun.
Fun creates enjoyment.
Enjoyment invites participation.
Participation focuses attention.
Attention expands awareness.
Awareness promotes insight.
Insight generates knowledge.
Knowledge facilitates action.
Action yields results.
-Oswald B. Shallow