Like many of you, I imagine, it’s becoming more difficult to remember certain things. Such as people’s names, for instance, or
trying to recall a word when writing a post, an email, or speaking. I’ve
always been a poor speller, but it is getting even more difficult with age. I’m
saved by word check for the most part, but not when sending a text. The other
day I texted a friend and said that if he found himself bored this weekend
that maybe he could begin writing an intro for an idea that we’re brewing.
The problem is that when I went to write the word “bored” I wrote “bord”
instead. I knew “bord” wasn’t correct, but in the moment, and in my haste, for
the life of me I couldn’t remember how to spell it.
“I’m losing my mind,” I half-thought.
My brainwaves are definitely short-circuiting.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that in many ways I feel, like many of you
probably do, that some of my thinking is clearer than it has ever been. Perhaps
this is partly the wisdom of aging, but I also read recently that some areas of
our brain aren’t fully developed until we are 45-50 years old. How great is
this? So it’s not just that we have more life experiences to draw from as we
age- but also that we’re able to access associations more quickly than ever
before.
Amen.
In particular the brain’s prefrontal cortex doesn’t finish
developing until mid-life. Among other things, this area of our brain is
responsible for organizing thoughts, problem solving, considering the future,
making predictions, as well as inhibiting inappropriate behavior, initiating
appropriate behavior, controlling impulses, and delaying gratification.
Maybe because of this older people are more apt to grasp the
big picture. Maybe this is partly why that at social occasions I am drawn to
talking with them.
It is also why there is a group called The Elder Wisdom Circle. This network has more than 600 advisers, age 60-105 that offers free
one-on-one advice online.
It’s great to know they are there- the next time any of us
are in a bit of a quandary.
Light bulb photo by Digitalart
