Lifelong Learning: Mental Exercise Is Just As Important As Physical Exercise

I want to share two brief stories that inspire me when I'm feeling a little lazy in the personal development department.

First:
I used to work as a Sales Manager for Staples, the office supply store in North America and one evening I had the good fortune to meet a great woman that was in a store buying a software package to learn computer programming. In our brief conversation she told me that her fellow classmates were impressed she was interested in the new career as she had just turned 81 years old... When I asked what her motivation was she said "well, what's my alternative, let my brain die from inactivity?!"

Solid response.

She went on to tell me that she is always learning new things and will continue to do so for the rest of her life. That was 14 years ago and something tells me she's out there somewhere today, learning about FinTech applications. Godspeed.

Second:

I called my Grandfather last year on his 83rd birthday and asked what he was up to. He said he was at his work bench hard at work designing a new lure for fly fishing that he plans to have in the local shops in Colorado within the year. He said in his (vast) experience in fishing, he thinks the market was in need of a change... so he took it upon himself to see that change happen. He then told me he was in a conversation with his cardiologist who offered the thought "Jack (my Grandfather), maybe your heart is a bit too old to take on the stress of starting a new business". He had a similar response to the Lady I met in the store years prior; "well if Im not keeping my mind learning and developing something, I might as well not be here at all then?!". To note, my Grandfather was a stubborn man, and remained to be so right up until his passing a number of months later.

My point in sharing these two - don't give up, don't stop learning and please do not ever fall into the trap that you're too old or too anything not to follow your passions and learn something new!

Happy learning :)

Josh "charity adventurer" Stinton
www.outspire.org