My brother-in-law Tim is always in search of an adventure. When Tim is around, you can be sure that there will be little, if any, down time. Tim is an experience-waiting-to-happen kind of a guy and if you’re with him for the better part of any given day, you will be encouraged to join in the fun. This is precisely why I’ve spent the better part of the last week sore.
I’ve not ever officially learned to ski. Before this winter’s trip to Wyoming, I’d been on skis twice as a teen (for single day ski trips with my church) and once as an adult. The day after Franklin and I married, we froze as we bumbled our way down a bunny slope 3 or 4 times before throwing in the poles. Lesson learned – proper snow gear is imperative.
I’m pretty sure Tim started planning the minute we agreed to come for an extended stay. When we arrived Tim had 4 days of skiing and possible tubing and boot packing excursions planned. It mattered not in the least that Caden and Emma had never been on skis nor did it worry Tim that I’m particularly out of shape right now. I’m so glad he threw down the gauntlet because Learning New Things Really Does Matter.
I’ve always loved school. I worked hard, wanted to excel, and rarely had difficulty with new content. Activities that required physical agility were quite a different story. As was learning a second language.
My husband and I spent 2 weeks in Guanajuato, Mexico 3 summers ago. We participated in a Spanish immersion program and I was the bottom of the class. Nights were restless as my mind wrestled to make sense of each day’s lessons. I was an emotional wreck at the end of the 2 weeks (and I’m a bit of a physical wreck after 4 days of skiing) but again, the challenge of learning something that required real effort was significant.
While human brain plasticity will never be as great as it is from birth to age 4, it is imperative for children and adults to be challenged every day. I don’t mind sharing that I loved watching my students wrestle with a problem that required real thought in the classroom. I was never one to give too many hints without first requiring true effort. That struggle is where true learning happens. I’m sure they hated me saying, over and again, “If it were easy, it wouldn’t be worth much!”
Our brain continues to make new connections (neural pathways connecting brain cells that lead to improved memory and processing) throughout our life as we mentally grapple with novel and complex challenges. Those new connections keep our brain strong and healthy.
Not only does new learning chemically strengthen our brain, but our body physically responds to the satisfaction that comes from constantly developing and challenging one’s self. With a greater sense of purpose and personal growth, our body physically responds with lower cortisol levels, better immune function, and more efficient sleep.
What kind of new learning have you participated in lately? What would you recommend this 40 year old new-to-skiing homeschooling mom mentally grapple with next? Join the conversation by replying at the top of this post.
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