Keeping Your Brain Active

Beauty and Health
Avatar of Fran LewisBy Fran Lewis
6

Keeping Your Brain Active

Keeping Your Brain Active

HOW DO WE KEEP OUR MINDS ACTIVE AND ALERT?

There are so many ways we can keep our minds and body active. There is a lot of research to help support the many ways that people can keep their minds aware, alert, and active. I decided to sidestep the research for a minute and ask people what they do to vary their daily routines and keep their minds and body sharp as a tack.

In a survey that I did of 50 seniors that live in my apartment complex, I found that many of them watched television at least four hours a day. About 20 liked to walk to the supermarket, and the stores on the avenue, and often take a long way home.

The average ages of these people were 55-65, and they were in fairly good health. None of them complained about having arthritis, fatigue, or heart problems to prevent them from taking a 15-20 minute walk each day.

An older group of people ages 70-75 (about 10 people) had trouble walking down the block, could not walk the stairs when the elevators were out, and would huff and puff just walking up the street into the building. Many of these people complained of many illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis.

Some of these people were smokers, drinkers and spent their mornings eating donuts and coffee with a lot of sugar.

Before losing weight, I fit into that second group, not age-wise but the rest. I never smoked, I do not drink, but I ate a lot of fried foods, junk foods, was really overweight, and never realized what I was doing to myself.

I had retired early from teaching when my mom was diagnosed with AlzheimerÕs, and rather than doing something else, at first, and keeping myself in shape, I ate, sat, complained, and pigged out. I had a thyroid problem and was on medications that caused weight gain. But, when I did not have to take the medications anymore, I thought this was my chance to eat anything I wanted, and I would lose weight. NOT SO and NOT TRUE!

The morning my doctor called and told me that I needed to lose weight and that my cholesterol was high, I got the wake-up call (at 6:30 A.M.) in the morning that I needed. I then proceeded to wait until his office hours and asked for help.

I needed a plan, not a diet, to guide me on what I should and should not eat. I did the research and struggled for a long time until I devised my own weight plan and finally lost all the weight I had gained. But that was the first step. The next was to create a career for me to keep active, to feel important and not useless, as I was beginning to feel.

I started taking long walks every morning for about an hour and felt invigorated when I returned. I even took the stairs halfway up in order to continue and try and strengthen my leg muscles. Reading and reviewing books written by other authors keeps my mind alert and really on target. Some of the books I have been reading are different from what I would normally take out of the library or buy in the bookstore.

Some of the books are medical, self-help, murders, metaphysical, true crime, and more. There are times I have done research based on the topic or content of a book in order to understand what

Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs: Which Describes Your Brain – the author has written and what his/her message might be. But, there are so many other ways to keep your mind active and alert. That is the purpose of writing this book and hopefully helping you and other readers keep your minds from going to mush.

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Avatar of Fran Lewis
Fran Lewis

Born in the South Bronx, I grew up with people from many ethnic backgrounds. I learned to play and work with children in my school that came from other countries and different places.
I was always over weight as a child and got picked on a lot by the other children in my class and even my teachers. I found it hard to do many of the sporting activities that my sister and cousins could do. I learned at an early age that kids can be mean and I promised myself that I would never retaliate or do mean things to other kids in return.

When I decided to write my short stories I realized that I had a lot to say about my youth and in both of my books I tell about a ten year old girl named Bertha who learns to deal with real life issues kids face today at home and in school.

As an educator I the New York City Public Schools for over 36 years, I realized just how unique and precious our children are. I was the reading and writing staff developer in my school and the dean. I loved the children and had the respect of my fellow teachers and parents. Teaching children to read was really very rewarding and introducing them to writing and creating their own stories was exciting for the students. I love reading different kinds of books in many different genres. I have started reviewing books of new authors and those that are more established. I love giving them great reviews and saying wonderful things about their writing. I have three Masters Degrees and PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently I am a member of Who’s Who is America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children’s books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's Disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a Cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s story. My second Alzheimer’s Book is called Sharp As A Tack or Scrambled Eggs Which Describes Your Brain. This book should be out in June 2010. I was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the School’s newspaper. I write reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina.

Other accomplishments:
Book reviewer
Radio show talk host: book discussion with Fran Lewis and authors all over the US and the world- how cool is that I get authors that even request a review.
Would love to become an interviewer.
Caregiver and expert on Medicaid and medicare Author of five books and writing number six
The sixth book is based on a true story but will be written as a fictional memoir.
Worked in the same school for 36 years as the reading and writing staff developer I was the dean of discipline and assisted the Principal and AP when needed I was the test coordinator for the school and instructed teachers in testing procedures –administrated the tests and oversaw the reading, math and other tests to make sure that everything ran smoothly.

I am an expert in the ELA or any test prep for reading and writing
I can take an author’s book and even if it is not five stars write a five star review for them by looking for the soul of the book and for something positive. I am a member of Who’s Who of America’s executives, teachers and professionals and belong the Cambridge’s Connect and Pen with Sword
I would like to take my three children’s book plus the fourth one and put them together in one book. I played the piano as a kid and the violin.
I was in the Bronx Borough Orchestra. I played the piano in Carnegie Hall –that was scary. I do consulting for some of the teachers in my school when they need help with lesson plans. I love writing for Robins Falls Magazine.

I love writing reviews in my own style. I even find time to help my nieces and nephews with their homework over the phone.
Email: riffyone@optonline.net

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6 Comments
  1. Avatar of Barbara Ehrentreu
    Barbara Ehrentreu says

    Fran,
    Great article and so true. Once you lose the ability to move around and enjoy yourself physically then I think you feel truly old. Old is a state of mind and I hope I never get there.:)

    Reply
  2. Avatar of Ray Shoop
    Ray Shoop says

    I agree wholeheartedly. Keep active, not only physically, buy mentally, keep sugar out of your diet; it’s a killer. Most elderly people have already had enough of it in their life time for ten people. It’s addictive especially for old people. Thank you, Ray Ray

    Reply
  3. Avatar of Eileen Thornton
    Eileen Thornton says

    So very true, Fran. A really good article, which explains the pitfalls of old age. A little more exercise does work wonders.
    Thanks for that. Eileen

    Reply
  4. Avatar of Bart
    Bart says

    Great article – all true – all your suggestions seem valid!
    I, for one, will keep an eye on your future ramblings.
    P. Bardem

    Reply
  5. Avatar of Clay Ballentine
    Clay Ballentine says

    Terrific thoughts Fran, these ideas can work for anyone, but especially us who have a bit more “experience.” Thanks.

    Reply
  6. Avatar of Joyce White
    Joyce White says

    Best of luck regaining your true soul when you transformed back into your true body.

    Reply
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