Is It Too Late to Learn?

A recent article in The Wall Street Journal discussed the fact that many people, as they age, lose the capacity to learn despite popular beliefs to the contrary. There are countless examples throughout the world of older people taking on new challenges traditionally considered beyond them because of the person’s age.

Do you like to travel? Maybe you have your heart set on visiting Paris. Before you go, enroll yourself in a French language course. Because of your travel plans, you will have an incentive to commit yourself to learning something new. With that attitude, your chances of success are excellent and you will feel a sense of accomplishment that will brighten your spirit and encourage you to take on yet additional challenges. That motivation can be applied to a number of activities from acquiring or improving computer skills to boning up on current events.

And, if your health permits, the challenges need not be confined to mental activities. Even if you have never skied before, you can learn basics very simply and enjoy an invigoration outing in the wintertime. Learning to ski doesn’t mean you are undertaking a course to prepare for the next Olympics, after all!

And for warmer times of the year, how about golf? If you can swing your arms and walk without pain, you are certainly a candidate to try. And although you can get about in a golf cart on the course, golfing gives you the opportunity to get some simple walking exercise in beautiful surroundings as well.