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Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 10:57 AM   #1
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Use it or loose it, a mind question

I like to think that I am a thinker, I don't even allow my mind to idle for a moment, am always thinking or working out something. I am yet to RE but recently slowing up quite a bit with w*rk, sometime it frustrate the h*ll out of me that I am not doing or thinking as much as I used to. How many here feel the same way and how do you cope with it after RE?

Mach1
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 11:27 AM   #2
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

At all of 56 I have noticed I am not processing things as easily or quickly as when younger. Much of this is quickness of memory. It seems pretty natural and has not been disfunctional as there is a natural age adaptation process as well. I do Suduko and puzzles and I think it is good to keep the mind active. AFAIK it is more important to do different things with the brain than staying up in some area.

That being said, I have also calmed down as I age and come to understand that the intellectual "life of the mind" is not the most important thing in life. By that I mean that a person who has 200 thoughts in an hour is not better than one who has 100 thoughts in an hour. And getting my mind less cluttered with "Doubblemint" ads, commercials and some political/social mental structures is "a good thing" (as Martha Stewart would say). So I find that physical excercise, meditation, eating right and resting have me fresher mentally than just trying to keep up with all the cultural and political current events and doing other mental excercises.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 11:46 AM   #3
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach1
I am yet to RE but recently slowing up quite a bit with w*rk, sometime it frustrate the h*ll out of me that I am not doing or thinking as much as I used to.
I'd blame burnout and chronic fatigue.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach1
How many here feel the same way and how do you cope with it after RE?
Afternoon naps!
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 11:50 AM   #4
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Mach1:

Shhhh, caffeine.

I have mostly seen things from a two stroke methodology :. First, during the non-retired portion one primarily experiences the outward stroke of life, job, family--all the activites and social interaction required to make things go well. Much of this falls away after retirement, kids are gone, no required work, etc. This leaves far more time for the inner stroke, that of self discovery and, hopefully, time to delve into those more charming aspects of life that previously had to be put off. Now is the time to pre-examine that transition so you're ready and the permanent shift is comfortable.

So the 'pause & reflect' was an important step for me. What had I missed doing in my younger days? Is it possible now? Do I still want to? Do I now have time or interest for a hobby that sounded interesting years ago?

At a deeper level for me, I returned to reading. I enjoy my mental activities more than I should, perhaps. I solve all the world's problem in my head. I solve Demon Wife's problems all the time (but not those she wants solved, necessarily). I range far and wide looking for all the answers to my youthful questions that were interrupted previously. I get better answers too, I hope.

I think finding "charm" is most important. By that I mean finding something inside one's self that starts to generate more calmness, ease, comfort AND liveliness too. You know it when you experience it. It's positive and life supporting. It makes your spouse happy too.



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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 11:59 AM   #5
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Apocalypse
I solve all the world's problem in my head. I solve Demon Wife's problems all the time (but not those she wants solved, necessarily).
I've learned that when I'm solving my spouse's problems that I should also restrict their promulgation to my head...
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 12:20 PM   #6
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords

Afternoon naps!
Oh come on Nords, you're still a young pup.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 12:49 PM   #7
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

I'm considering starting this thread's cousin topic:

Use it or loose it, a body question
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 12:58 PM   #8
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

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Oh come on Nords, you're still a young pup.
Ah, grasshopper, you have so much to learn...

Never save naps or sex for old age.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 01:36 PM   #9
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
Ah, grasshopper, you have so much to learn...

Never save naps or sex for old age.
Remember Grasshopper, there are 3 secrets to life:

1) Never save naps or sex for old age,
2) Never tell all you know,

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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-06-2006, 05:42 PM   #10
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by pfpelican
Remember Grasshopper, there are 3 secrets to life:

1) Never save naps or sex for old age,
2) Never tell all you know,
There are three kinds of people in the world:
1) Those who can count,
2) And those who can't.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-07-2006, 04:59 AM   #11
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

There are 10 kinds of people in the world, people who understand binary and people who don't.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-07-2006, 08:35 AM   #12
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
So I find that physical excercise, meditation, eating right and resting have me fresher mentally than just trying to keep up with all the cultural and political current events and doing other mental excercises.
I agree with yakers. When I was on the treadmill of life I had health problems that seem to pile up too fast for my age (33). After I cut back on work I started exercising more, meditating, and eating right. You still have stress but it changes from the work environment to life situations.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-07-2006, 09:51 AM   #13
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

I always prided myself on my great memory but over the last few years i have noticed i cant rember stuff as easly anymore.

My wife said she noticed the same thing too. After speaking to a neroulogist we are friends with we learned the following.

As we age we loose brain cells and while when we are young everything is like long term memory and stays with us the fact is as we age our short term memory is like an echo. Its only there until the echo stops.

We have to make a concious effort by saying things to ourselves, writing it down or calling special attention to anything we want to remember and shift it from short term to long term memory.

The fact that we forget where we put the car keys or where we parked is not A problem. FORGETTING YOU HAVE KIDS thats a problem.

When you finally find the car in the shopping center,you go of course i parked here.
THATS NORMAL

Going how did the car get here? ..thats a danger sign
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-07-2006, 11:00 AM   #14
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Try memorizing something new every day. A poem is a good choice. It will exercise the most important and most fragile part of your mind. Suduko will help with pattern recognition but that is a different part of your mind.

Remembering things takes technique. Dale Carnegie has some tricks that make it easier.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-09-2006, 06:14 PM   #15
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nords
Ah, grasshopper, you have so much to learn...

Never save naps or sex for old age.

Yes Master, I will follow by your example. Now Master, if I ask that you help me to see the invisible, to learn about nature and the mystery of thought. If that is beyond my comprehension, then I ask if I will ever have the wisdom to learn everything you know about investing.

Grasshopper. aka MD.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-10-2006, 08:50 AM   #16
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by riskaverse
There are 10 kinds of people in the world, people who understand binary and people who don't.
And the remaining 8 kinds are...?
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-10-2006, 09:53 AM   #17
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

"10" is written in binary--one "two" and zero "ones." See?
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-10-2006, 10:15 AM   #18
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by FlogBlogger
There are three kinds of people in the world:
1) Those who can count,
2) And those who can't.
Actually, the only two types of people are those who know the definition of tautology and those who don't.
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-10-2006, 12:20 PM   #19
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by astromeria
"10" is written in binary--one "two" and zero "ones." See?
Thank you astromeria, it's funny that software guy like me can't figure that out

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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question
Old 10-10-2006, 12:42 PM   #20
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Re: Use it or loose it, a mind question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach1
Thank you astromeria, it's funny that software guy like me can't figure that out
Mach1
I made your mistake, too, until I realized she wasn't talking hexadecimal...
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