Lifelong Learning: A Powerful Antioxidant

There is an old saying that is often attributed (incorrectly) to Henry Ford; “You don’t stop learning when you get old; you only get old when you stop learning.” His version was not quite as eloquent as this one, but his meaning was just as poignant. 

These words never felt truer than when I was at a dinner party the other night with some old friends. We gathered to see one of our ladies, who moved to the U.K. a few years ago with her family, one of the many to recently fly the SB coop. As we got caught up, one thing became crystal clear. Many of us were embarking on new paths. All of us have kids between middle school and college and are starting to see our futures as empty nesters looming before us. Some view this period as needing to “fill the gap,” and while that can also be true, it didn’t feel that way for us. This felt like more like trying to find new adventures to embark on.

Part of being a health coach is having a “beginner’s mind.” Originally a Zen philosopher’s term, it is now used in different practices to illustrate the wisdom of “not knowing.” This allows us to really be curious about our clients, about what we are learning from them and opens the door to all possibilities. Think about a child the first time they watch a balloon being blown up, or why their rubber ducky floats in the bath. They shriek with joy, they are amazed, they are in awe-they learned something new!

This same excitement is accessible to us all. And not only is it fun, but it turns out that lifelong learning is also good for us.

For most of us, our learning starts to decline after the age of 30 and really takes a dive after 60. But it doesn’t have to be that way. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), middle-aged and older adults can be just as agile as younger people when it comes to learning new things. This is where the health benefits come in. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Research suggests that education helps the brain develop more synapses, which are the junctions between brain cells that relay information … more synapses boost cognitive reserve, which may help prevent dementia.” Studies also show that learning can lower stress, help with depression, and decreases anxiety.

The real benefits can be found in the learning itself. You can do a crossword puzzle and keep your brain agile, but it is possible that you might plateau with this kind of stimulation. Learning something new however, that is where you get the most value synapse per synapse. Learning something from scratch requires the ultimate beginner’s mind. The wide-eyed discovery, the Indiana Jones-Type Brain Quest, the “I CAN DO THIS!” of it all. Learning can also clear the cobwebs of monotony and increase confidence. 

While not everyone is able to “go back to school,” there are many ways to stimulate those neural pathways; go to a lecture, watch a documentary, learn a new language on an app, join a book club, watch a how-to video on YouTube, take a docent-led tour at the museum. These are all ways to stimulate that part of your brain. You know when kids go back to school after summer break how it takes a while for their brains to wake up again? 

That is kind of what we are experiencing in this stage life. Most of us haven’t really learned too many things from scratch in a while. 

Yes, the not knowing can be frustrating. The first time you pick up a golf club you aren’t going to know how to hit the ball. The first time Duo talks to you in French like you are supposed to know French can be très frustrating. Even the idea of learning to knit makes me break out in a sweat. And then the light goes on, it may flicker for a second, but we have lift off. The awe, the delight, the self-confidence – the “I did it!” – which ignites our desire for more. 

I spoke with Ozlem Arconian, Mathematics and History instructor at Cate School in Carpinteria. Arconian has her PhD in Economics and while she had previously taught at undergraduate and graduate levels it had been a few years since she was at the head of the class. I asked her what that was like, needing to brush up on her topics before she went back to teaching last year. “It is interesting because it is like picking it up in a different way, even if it is a subject you know already. Learning how to convey it in a way that is relevant and exciting to high school students.” She was very animated when she shared this and clearly loves what she does. She said it is her “Ikigai,” which is from the book of the same name and is a Japanese expression that roughly translates to your reason to live, your passion each day. The book offers that we all need one to lead a full and happy life. 

And while taking a Samba class might not be your thing, there are a million ways each day we can be learners. Removing the stigma of “school” can be a big start as the word alone may not always have positive connotations. But learning? Piece of cake. It can be on your own, in a class, formal or informal or even a combo platter. The goal can be for personal growth, intellectual curiosity, professional development, community engagement or just to get your youthful spirit back on board.

The idea isn’t how you do it, but that you are doing it all. You might want to give it a try. Who knows? You might learn something.