AARP Rewards Community Learning & Earning Contest August 2022

I have always loved all kinds of puzzles but logic problems, word games, and math puzzles help to keep my brain active. 

I watch documentaries on TV whether I do it on sat TV or streaming. I have purchased several GREAT COURSES programs. I research subjects online such as genealogy and follow the trail to places my ancestors have lived. And since I discovered the GAME SECTION on AARP I try to do several of these a day. I enjoy them and they challenge me sometimes and give me a "warm up" on my mousing and typing. There is never a boring day!

Keeping engaged with other people is more challenging when you work from home. I volunteer for a food pantry weekly. Also I opened up my backyard as a Mini Dog Park to neighbors with small yards and under socialized dogs.My dog Turner has a new girlfriend now.

I sign up for free online classes from universities across the country. Sometimes I find a class that I may have never been interested in back in the day to be very interesting and informative!

I sign up for free art classes on Facebook Live-(buy supplies at the dollar store)-I'm not very good, but I have fun!

I have become a very active library user and besides finding new books to read, I will check out the cookbook sections and learn a new cuisine. Right now I'm working through Indian cooking. Delish!

I always sign up for Community Ed exercise classes, especially for those over 50. I'm doing yoga at the library and this fall I'll be learning to belly dance! To heck with those inhibitions!

I read books ,and I go for long walks, I do some form of exercise every day .I also make sure I get enough sleep, drink water and eat well.

When I, dramatically, failed a sleep study test in 2018 I gave no argument to going on a CPAP machine.  It was simple logic.  When you are waking up, even when you don't realize it, every few minutes your brain is not getting the rest or the proper amount of oxygen it needs during your sleep cycle to keep it healthy.  I've also put away the calculator and do all the math for my checkbook and other purposes manually, in the manner I was taught way back in grade school.  I have a clear path from the front of my house to the back so even when the weather is bad I can walk laps for 20 or 30 minutes without stopping everyday.  I've also learned that in your sixties fleeting thoughts, are exactly that.  If you decide to do something really focus on it for a few moments, so when you get to the room you're going to do it in, you're not asking yourself "What did I come in here for?"  

Crossword puzzles have interested me since I learned to read. I have decided to learn to work the puzzles with the calm patience I used with my students for 38 years. Starting slow and celebrating every correct word makes crossword puzzling fun for me!

I am a supposed "boomer," here saying goodbye to 60.  I am going easy on myself as I age (maybe 10%).  I won't beat myself up when I forget something.  I pause, take a breath, and slow down.  I spend at least an hour a day reading news and doing quizzes.  I also have to work on my daily to-do list to free up my brain to focus on individual tasks. 

I had a problem with my chemo that makes it hard to remember things on a daily basis.I find I have to write notes a lot. I find that doing a lot of puzzles and reading to keep up on everything really helps. Also staying busy with regular exercise and taking care of the yard (mowing,flowers,etc.)helps a lot.I can't do a lot like drive because of neuropathy in my hands and feet but for 65 I feel that I'm doing great!

I like to do things that are outside of my comfort zone.  Next month I will be heading to a Flint Knapping. This month I cooked for 45 people for 4 days, 3 meals a day for an annual event which I have been cooking for 8 years. I menu plan, create the shopping lists, shop and run the kitchen during the event even though I have no formal training. I love to walk and do puzzles on AARP games. I have a fish that keeps me responsible for another living creature.