News Taffy

Some people take up space on earth but never really live. It makes me sad to see people who are content to stay at home and watch TV, who never take risks, never try anything new, never travel, never do anything. I’m not sure why some people fall into a pattern of just existing. Maybe they are afraid of failing, being embarrassed or getting hurt. Perhaps bad health stops them from participating in certain activities. Maybe they just lack imagination.

Humans thrive on facing challenges and doing something new. Your brain gets a workout and your confidence gets a boost when you master a task. Your mental health improves and in turn, so does your physical health. A few years ago, my husband and I took Latin dance classes and came to enjoy it immensely. Once my husband learned to lead and the steps, he felt confident on the dance floor. We still enjoy dancing and learning new steps.

This past week, I finally learned to snorkel. I had trouble in the past with a fear of deep water, using fins and learning to breath with the mask and snorkel. Though I had tried many times in the past, last week marked the first time I was able to actually snorkel successfully. I was able to go out with everyone else and see the beautiful sea creatures myself instead of just hearing about them. It was a wonderful experience and I look forward to the next time. At the end of the week, I even tried scuba diving with my family. We signed up for an intro class and had an excellent, patient teacher. I was not able to get comfortable enough to dive with my family in the short time we had, but I did learn to breathe with the respirator and followed along on the surface while we swam out to a depth of 33 feet. The water was clear and I could see much of the same things they saw on the bottom. This was a big accomplishment for me and I’m glad I tried.

Mental health is as important as your physical health and your brain is a muscle that needs exercise. Learning and trying new challenges keeps the brain sharp and functioning better as we age. There is no point to life if you are not going to live it. Think of the things you’ve dreamed of doing, your bucket list, your top ten before you die, pick one and take the steps to actually do it. The feeling your accomplishment brings, no matter how small, expands through everything you do. Don’t put off what you can do today, you might not have tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be as adventurous as climbing a mountain; perhaps you always wanted to play the piano or learn to skate. Challenge yourself to start one thing on your list by June 1. Plan that trip, find a class, or like the slogan says, “Just Do It”! No more excuses. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Until next week,

Lisa