Don't let your brain become dull. It's up to you

Use it or lose it. Sad but true.
One of the advantages in having so many older people is that lots of research is being carried out and many of the results are very useful to us. Re exercise, it is not necessary , or even advisable to run marathos. By all means, if that is your thing, and keepit to yourself. However, it is essential to keep moving -in a variety of ways, so go on, put on the Abba cd, gathering dust and dance.
It is the same with food. Keep a varied diet. Lay off the stoge
And then there is the mind.
Luckily, I have 2 great suggestions here.
Trinity College Long Room hub. tlrh@tcd.ie offers a wide range of talks, lectures and papers. The subjects are varied sometimes a bit obscure, but always well researched. They are also at the practical times of 13:00 or 17:00. Luas and Dart nearby. They ae held upstairs in the Lond Room hub.
There is an excellent university in the United States and in their desire is to provide and promote a full classical influenced education, They provide free lectures, on line at www.hillsdalecollege,edu
These lectures are 5/6/7 lectures in a series, They even have multiple choice quizzes, but more importantly, they have a reading list for each series, if you would like to pursue your learning. The lectures last 35 minutes, which is perfect.
They are particularly good on the American Constitution, Democracy, English Literature,Bible Studies and Music.
There is a very good talk: Is Democracy Dead? Thought provoking.
While they ae free, they do send appeals for donations, but you can decide what you might like to give or just decide not to. I send 100$ every now and then because the courses are so well done. The American constitution is particularly well done, as is the History of Classical Music, which is based on mathematics and the highly gifted musician who demonstrates why some chords sequences are more satisfying than others, is wonderful. There is an accompanying set of CDs with this course which would be very helpful to any student of music. Or just anyone who is interested. Milton's Paradise Lost is a gem. I had forgotten all about it and Satan is a complex, scary, fallen angel. A Christmas Carol by Dickens should be read by all Leaving Certificate students as it shows how to analyse a text in all its complexity and yet Dickens is so readable.
We live in times of cognitive overload and while here in Ireland the STEM subjects get all the attention, for a functioning society, people should be engaged in the whole process of how we are governed. We know we are easily manipulated and influenced, but often by suspect forces. Our society has a large numer of people who are not able to manage to organise their lives, who get annoyed at the slightest set back and whose tolerance for different opinions grows narrower and narrower. Mental Health issues are a huge concern.
The antidote is to occupy the mind with wonderful, stimulating thoughts, looking at Art, listening to music and understanding it. And to accept, that there are stumbles along the way. People make mistakes. There are such things as accidents. We cannot control everything. but , somehow, we survive.
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