Loving the dark
roasted bean ...
roasted bean ...
the teaching ...
and the learning ...
and, one day, the earning ...
and the learning ...
and, one day, the earning ...
Map reading? What's that? In today's day and age where Google Maps and Mapquest exist, do we really need to learn to read a paper map? The answer is, if you want to keep your brain active, Yes! According to an article in the Boston Globe, "Historically, humans always had to work hard (if largely unconsciously) at this problem, paying close attention to their surroundings and assembling pictures in their heads that were populated with an array of landmarks, roads, intersections, and boundaries that, in sum, helped them figure out how to get where they wanted to go." This active engagement with their environment allowed for individuals to have mental maps of the areas they traveled in. Relying on GPS alone can decrease your natural ability to navigate in your world. Think about it. Whenever you let your navigation app tell you how to get to a place you've never been, are you able to get there the next time on your own? I know that I can't. In fact, I've always had a wacky sense of navigation. Growing up in NYC, where driving was unnecessary, I walked mostly everywhere. Whenever I walked somewhere, not only was the route I took very firmly etched in my memory I was also able to take alternate routes if for some reason my original route was unavailable. (If you've ever lived in NYC, you know that there's always construction somewhere and where there is construction sidewalks are often blocked off to pedestrian traffic.) Even now, after decades of living out of the state, I can still visualize every area where I've ever walked in NYC. Granted, the buildings may have changed over the years, but when I visited a few years ago, I simply knew that I could find my way to where I wanted to go--and I did! However, when I lived there, if I took public transportation or was driving I had a very poor recollection of how I got to where I was going, unless I actively made it a point to notice the landmarks I was passing. And even then I couldn't be certain. So, I'm operating at a disadvantage because my map-reading skills are fair at best and unless I've walked the route, I can't guarantee that I'll remember which way to go. Reading a paper map and learning to navigate that way, will build those necessary mental maps. And, at the same time, it will build on your brain's spatial awareness of your surroundings. How can you learn to read a map? Well, you can print out maps of the areas you're interested in. Also, many states have vistors' centers or tourist centers that provide free paper maps. And instead of letting the map sites navigate for you, you can look at the roads and plot out a course to try when you're out walking or driving--when you're not in a rush to get where you're going. If you need work on your map reading skills, there's a simple starter course on reading a map on thoughtco.com and on howtowilderness.com. Or you can get involved in Orienteering, a competitive international sport that combines racing with navigation. Any way you choose to do it, start learning to navigate on your own and you'll be building mental maps and enhancing your brain as you learn. Thanks for reading!
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I bet you're thinking I'm going to say that using a Bullet Journal can teach you how to manage your time, keep yourself on track, remember appointments, work towards goals and the like. And, yes, it can help with all those things. However, my experiment with Bullet Journals has taught me something I didn't quite expect. Let me preface this by saying that I am self-diagnosed ADHD. I say "self-diagnosed" because I'm over 50. When I was growing up the term ADHD didn't exist. I had what I used to call nervous fingers. So, instead of fidgeting like other classmates, I would draw, write stories or poetry or create complex paper games, all in the margins of my notebooks. At the same time, my vivid imagination would weave alternative lives for me to lead (aka daydreaming) as I was sitting in whatever classroom I happened to find myself. That was my way and it worked for me.** Back when I was a kid, the other kids who were visibly hyper always got in trouble. I never did. If you sat in your chair and looked at the teacher and could answer when the teacher called on you, you were pretty much left alone. That was me. My super power was dichotomous hearing so I could easily do that. I was also lucky enough to have a drive for excellence. I did well and I always got good grades. However, back then my time-management skills appeared to teachers to be a joke. I was very resistant to planners. I hated them. They always were home to lists of things and the days and times they had to be completed by. Planners could only contain those things and nothing else. Those were the rules of planners then. They seemed to impose a schedule on me that I didn't welcome. They made me feel trapped. I had my own time for things and I still do. I balk at rigid time constraints (as happens sometimes with ADHD). So, I abandoned many a well-intentioned, teacher-provided planner because I just didn't like them. I didn't even care why they didn't work. I mentioned in one of my previous posts about time management (Learning about Time Management and Awesome Free Planner Pages) that I thought I'd give keeping a planner, or more specifically Bullet Journal, a try. And, I started my Bullet Journal in February of this year. I was so enthusiastic about it at first. I added embellishments, song lyrics, artwork, doodles and it was fun. I diligently wrote down all the important stuff I wanted to keep note of: appointments, blogging goals, ideas, work-days, bills due, exercise days, etc. However, I've been working on and off lately and that left me with little down-time. There were so many things I had to do, the Bullet Journal was the last thing on my mind. I found that on the days I came back home from the city, feeling exhausted from the journey and from work, I didn't even think to look at my Bullet Journal. After a day or two, I'd remember, "Oh yeah, my Bullet Journal. Gotta check-in with that." And when I opened it, blank pages stared back at me. I found myself having to go back and try to capture what I'd "planned" to do, to add to it, to record my daily goals or accomplishments that I'd mentally planned for and completed from days ago. It felt like I was playing catch-up with my life. In fact, I felt like I'd failed. I didn't like that feeling. In trying to diagnose what made me "forget" about it, I started testing theories. Is it me? Am I that undisciplined? Is my ADHD that much in command of me? Did I just get bored with it all? Maybe, maybe not. I thought back to my very productive school years. In school, I did my best work when I was imagining, doodling, and writing in those notebook margins. My focus was razor-sharp when my creative self was also being paid attention to. My ADHD is such that my hyper mind craves that kind of engagement. Could it be that to continue to be engaged in using a Bullet Journal I can't put aside the creative aspect of it? Perhaps that's what I was doing. What with working and traveling to and from, I felt that I didn't have time to be creative with my Bullet Journal. I was focusing on the same thing those teachers used to focus on: writing the "important things" down and nothing else. I understand now that if I wasn't drawing in it, or writing in it, or making it pretty in some creative way, I really didn't feel like using my Bullet Journal. In order for it to have meaning to me, I can't just gloss over that creative tie for the sake of expedience, or exhaustion, or laziness. My experiment with using a Bullet Journal has not only taught me, or reminded me, about who I am but how I am. It's like introspection--which is a good thing. Introspection is the system of checks and balances of the mind. It keeps you aware of not only the path you are on but questions you about whether it's the path you should be on. While I fully expected that using my Bullet Journal would teach me about time management and organization, help me to get things planned for and done, what it ended up doing is teaching me about myself. So, I've decided to continue using my Bullet Journal. I feel that it is a worthy pursuit. When I look back on the pages that worked for me, where I was most productive in capturing the details of my days, there is a feeling of pride in those accomplishments. It gives me a feeling of being organized and on-top of the things I needed and wanted to do. I just also need to keep in mind that my creative self needs nourishing too. That perhaps time-management and creativity are not mutually exclusive. And they can't be. Not for me anyway. I wonder what other things about myself it's going to teach me along the way. I'm actually looking forward to finding out. **Note: for me the H portion of the ADHD I channeled into my hands. If my hands weren't working, my foot was tapping or shaking (which was more quiet and less noticeable). For great deals on Bullet Journals click here: Bullet Journals. Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Ohayo! Wouldn't it be nice to be able to speak a different language? Well, what are you waiting for? Think it's too difficult? Well, maybe. But every journey begins with the first step. And, when you want to keep your brain sharp and working for you, doing new things can achieve that goal. In my previous Fun Friday posts, I've discussed ways to keep your brain in shape. Learning a language is a great way to do that. As you may know I am very frugal, so I try to find ways to do things for free whenever possible (or at least very, very cheaply). So if you feel the same way, let me give you a few suggestions for how to learn a language very inexpensively. My current favorite way is using Duolingo. You can use Duolingo on your computer via your web browser, on iOS or on your Android device. I use Duolingo on my smartphone and, as of this writing, there are over 20 languages I can learn. Right now, I'm actively working on Spanish, French, and Japanese, and sort of puzzling out Portuguese and Danish. I love the way the Duolingo learning method uses both audio and visual learning strategies. Having the audio examples makes it easier to pronounce the words correctly when you see them. The lessons put the words in context as well so not only do you learn the vocabulary but you learn how to use it. The learning is broken up into lessons with activities that I find fun. You get to speak your answers to some of the exercises as well so you can practice your pronunciation. The comment sections let you discuss the activities with other learners of various skill levels and, for the most part, everyone helps one another learn. This is a nice, convenient alternative to a formal classroom setting and you can go at your own pace. It's absolutely free. And, if you choose to opt for a paid plan you can help others learn for free. I love Duolingo! I've also tried using my public library's language learning resource: Mango Languages. The lessons use audio and visuals to help you learn. And just like Duolingo, you can practice your pronunciation by using your device's microphone. So far, they offer over 70 different languages including American Sign Language, Chinese, Tagalog, and Swedish. And if you have a valid library card this resource is absolutely free! In the past, I have also paid for and used Innovative Language. (I used to run an affiliate link here, which has lapsed in recent years.) I love their method for learning Japanese: Japanesepod101.com. I started every day by driving to work listening to the Japanesepod101 podcasts. They were fun, informative and filled with both vocabulary and cultural lessons that have stayed with me to this day.
They also have tons of free YouTube videos where you can learn for free and their website offers many free podcasts as well. Their paid version is pretty economical, especially if you catch it on sale. And I've used that as well. It comes with the line-by-line transcript of every podcast so you can see the language as you're listening to it. So, please check them out as well. Whichever way you choose to learn a new language, please know that it will indeed help exercise your brain and help keep it active and vibrant no matter what your age!! Thank you for reading. Au revoir and Enjoy! |
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