Page 39 - The Brain Health Guide
P. 39
THE BRAIN HEALTH GUIDE
friends and family is part of the fun. Remember, being
with other people is good for your health.
• Be a planner. Every day, plan some activity that will
allow you to talk to other people — in person if possible.
If you have the mobility, go to a shopping mall and chat
with people who work in the store. Shopping (even
window shopping) is a good way to strike up a
conversation about products and items in front of you.
• Try new ways of meeting people. Join a book club,
a card group or a church — you could even volunteer at
a local hospital, shelter or food pantry. Anything you
can think of that gets you out of the house and
enjoying the world around you is a benefit to
healthy aging.
The Phenomenon of Friends
While you are focusing on your social life, you may find yourself
making some close friends. Since the beginning of time, we
began forming friendships with others—creating special bonds
with individuals outside the family unit.
Considered one of the most basic of human traits, becoming
a lifelong friend with someone else is right up there with our
capacity to feel love, compassion and loyalty. Having this kind
of relationship with another carries no expectation, no “you
scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” mentality. It’s an unspoken
34 ChapTer 7
