The next on our list of preparation steps is the step of keep mentally active.
Have you ever heard the cliché: “Idleness is the devil’s workshop.”? This may have just been a saying around where I grew up, but it does apply to our mental acuity. An idle mind does go to waste, but there is no one to blame but myself if my mind is idle.
Keeping mentally sharp, aware or acute relies solely on me and no one else. If I become lulled by television to thinking I *need* to be entertained, that is no one’s fault but my own. The ‘off’ button is right there and takes no more effort to turn than the ‘on’ button. If someone else is watching something I’ve no interest in, I can read a book, do a craft or write a letter while enjoying being in the room with them, or I can go elsewhere.
Keeping our minds active is about learning new things. This can also engage our bodies in learning skills. If in a sequestered or solitary state of being, you can keep your mind active if you simply decide to do so.
Practice this habit rather than rely on entertainment to fill the gaps of time spent. Practice keeping your mind sharp with a variety of things: News, word puzzles, regular puzzles, board games, good conversation, reading, researching, crafts, hobbies, and so many more things that enhance your mental acuity.
A mind IS a terrible thing to waste. Don’t wait until you need a sharp mind to work on it, by then it will be out of practice. Keep exercising your mind as you would your body!
Best Blessings and enJOY the journey!
Donna Miller
