Marty Floyd’s Weblog

Gather The Day Seems like every day I find more information about the brain. I guess it is a little like what happens when you buy a car. Everywhere you go there is another car like yours that catches your eye where none seemed to exist previously.

Anyway there are more and more articles and stories about the benefits of exercising the mind and body to keep healthy. I am reminded of the old saying that you need to “use it or lose it.”

It makes even more sense when you think about how many people stop getting enough exercise to keep strength, muscle mass and tone as they age. More and more other things take over you time such as extended work hours, home maintenance, or children’s activities like sports, scouting, and other “extra” curricula activities.

If you are not mindful you slip into a “me last” on the never-ending “to do” list. It is important to make some time to take care of you. Even for a few minutes exercise has been proven better than not exercising.

The same holds true for mental exercise as well. There is also a large body of knowledge that states that mental exercise helps you stay sharper. Here is one that is pretty good.

Go back to the link at the beginning of the entry and click on it. You will then be sent to my reaction time test page. The objective is to click the down arrow key every time you see the picture like “Starry Night”. Keep pressing the down arrow key each time you see the picture. If you press the down arrow key too soon you get penalized. When the exercise is over you will see your score. You can practice to raise your score and keep getting sharper too!

According to SEDLAR & MINERS, an executive search and transition coaching firm, I have derived the following self-assessment of my drivers from the 85 drivers they developed as motivators for working people.

 I would suggest getting and reading their book, “Don’t Retire, REWIRE!” for anyone trying to develop a personal roadmap of what matters and what you really want to do with the rest of your life.

It is an easy read and a good “prompter” for a critical assessment of where you are in your life and what makes you feel that zest for personal contribution in living the rest of your life on purpose.

Living on purpose makes everything matter.

Now for my motivators or “drivers” -  

Accomplishments

Bigger  Focus

Control

Creativity

Experiment

Financial Independence

Goals

Lifestyle

Obligations

Personal  Reward

Problem-solving

Respect

Satisfaction

Service

Skills and Talent

Structure

Time

Value

Take the time to make a list of your accomplishments. Then pull out what it was that “felt right” about them. Moreover, are there more of the same, or other accomplishments, you want in your life? Make a plan to have them and work that plan for the fullness of your life.

Did you know that the brain (mine included) has the storage capacity of 6 million years of the Wall Street Journal? There are over 100 billion neurons in the brain - about the same as the number of stars in the Milky Way.

If you take a piece of brain tissue the size of a grain of sand and look at it there are about one hundred thousand neurons and one billion synapses. Moreover, they are all talking to one another.

The brain is at the center of all human survival, emotion, behavior, and activity. Why would anyone not take care of the most complex organ in the universe?

What differentiates human beings from the rest of the animal kingdom is the human brain’s capacity to hold and express profound thought.

You can get a good appreciation of this from looking at Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker”. The actual statue is very overpowering. I believe I just looked at it for over an hour and still was in awe!

The best sources of stimulation for the brain:

• physical exercise
• mental exercise
• social bonding

I take care of mine. Make the effort to take care of yours for your own mental health and unique experiences.

One last “food for thought” - the first law of thermodynamcis basically states that we do not create energy. Does that mean that we always exist?

I just returned from a seminar by Dr. Tony Attwood that was for hosted for information on Asperger for professionals and parents.

Dr. Attwood is one of the best speakers I have ever listened to for any length of time as he imparted his expertise on such a far-reaching topic with knowledge, facts and humor.

This is a great resource for anyone interested in friendships, relationships, and human development. He discussed how important childhood, teen, and early adult interactions can make a tremendous difference in people’s lives.

He also discussed how important exercise and work are in human emotions and self-worth. The human condition can be such a positive journey with proper knowledge and experience guiding a child’s development into a confident, self-assured person of value!

Knowledge and understanding are of tremendous value when working with an autistic or asperger child as a teacher, sibling, parent or friend!

For those interested in further information from one of the best I have seen or read on this topic please refer to Dr Attwood’s web site at    http://www.tonyattwood.com.au/   

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Thank you.