AARP Rewards Community Learning & Earning Contest August 2022

I keep my brain active in many ways.  First I volunteer with the USO at Hobby Airport 4 times a month and participate in training new volunteers.  Second, I love to do puzzles such as jigsaw, sudoku, word and trivia on a daily basis. Third, I take part in activities in my community several days each week.  And last, I do a lot of reading and crochet which the majority gets donated to charity.  Keeping busy is important.

To keep my brain stimulated at age 63, I play word games, create crafts of all kinds, mow my own yard, volunteer at my church and am the Director of our Women's Mission Unit. I also help a friend at his scrapyard by performing office duties weekly. I love to stay busy and spread The Word of Jesus! Smiles go a very long way in making someone's day!

I am 69 years, after 2 strokes, I keep busy by watching Jeopardy every day. I subscribe to Brain and Life magazine and listen to Brain and Life podcast once a week. The games I play on line include Lumosity for speed, attention, flexibility, memory and problem solving every day.  Other games include solitaire, mahjong, trivia puzzles and games from AARP.

I volunteer my time as a robotics team mentor and helping folks to get involved and vote.

Wow. My mind is abuzz at 80! I read and watch documentaries, attend Osher Lifelong Learning classes. I exercise and am a member of the Ten Toes Walking group. I travel with Road Scholar. I play word games and do crossword puzzles. I watch many zoom lectures through the local university and One Day University. I do some occasional online work scoring essays for Pearson Education.  I’m in between volunteer gigs since I’ve moved but look forward to finding new opportunities. I attend the symphony the opera and the theater. I have many far flung friends that I keep up with. I do yoga and walk my grand dogs. I keep my body as active as my mind. Thoroughly enjoying myself!

I ran and was elected to my HOA Board of Directors.  This keeps me engaged with my neighbors and  active attending committee meetings.  I also find my brain stimulated by researching and learning Federal, State and Local laws and covenants as well as vetting and verifying contractors and businesses.  You get a chance to practice your math skills with Finance issues and Language skills with writing proposals and preparing speeches and presentations.  It also offers a sense of meaning, accomplishment and self actualization in life.  M. Coyle

I walk for at least 1 hour a day and use Will Shortz's Sudoku, Jumbo Easy Crosswords,

Variety Puzzles Book 3, and Variety Brain Game Puzzles volume 1.

I read and play AARP games every day (about to do that now).  Social interaction a couple of times per week is good, too.  Finally, the care for and company of pets helps.  Moderate exercise (stairs, walks, chores) makes a difference.  So does a cheerful outlook and even temperament.  As Spock on Star Trek was fond of proclaiming, "Live long and prosper."

I read AARP articles as well as others. Take your quizzes & watch the videos.I watch educational TV or programs that make me think.

To keep my brain actively engaged, I do all of the following:  Eat well, most of time, incorporating colorful fruit and veggies high in antioxidants, limit meat consumption and aim for mostly plan-based food.  I'm a voracious reader.  I'm an active pilates/reformer participant.  My bright and sunny home/work environment helps bring energy and beauty to my brain.  I choose to feed my brain with everything that stimulates and is positive and productive from movies to music.  I believe in the power of a spiritual life.  Sleep, for me, is a priority and necessary competent to my brain function, and daily interaction with all that AARP offers for the aging  and partakes assist in the health of the brain and subscribe to as much as I can from video presentations, dance, cooking demonstrations and just reading the wealth of life supporting information.