About Me

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Thankful for now

I am thankful for my life exactly as it is now. I heard the example of everyone sitting in a circle and God told them to throw their worst problems into the center. Then he/she/the force asked them to pick from the center....they each picked their own problem!

No such thing....

No such thing as waiting for the right time to do something! Now is the time! Don't wait, move forward now!

Mental edging with Mind aerobics

At Alexian, the three hour workshop cum dinner was attended by 13 people yesterday. I am happy with the experience, I am comfortable with the half-day workshop format now.

Paula got an aha when I talked about memory being like a jig-saw puzzle and not linear. She had an identical experience when she started playing the flute after a long time. The first time she picked the flute she had no idea what to do and similarly the next couple times. Then, one time she picked up the flute lined up with her arm out straight in line with her eye and placed her fingers comfortably in the correct positions. From then on she was fine and she was able to remember from her past lessons ...those lessons were many, many years ago.

Lee got an aha from the saying out loud recommendation. He did not remember it right away but towards the end of the class, he recalled that once his shop was robbed and he was able to remember the license plate of the getaway vehicle by yelling it out loud several times until he could talk to the police.

Enjoyed having Dot in class....very energetic! Also enjoyed Kathleen, Jo, Dee, and Marilyn. Marilyn had attended my four-week class about two years ago. Ilsa was there too!

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Cedarburg

About 40 people at Cedarburg Women's Club today. "Brain Jogging" from 12:45 to 1:45 pm. Lois is very alert, I enjoyed meeting with her.

Barbara told me that my enthusiasm rubbed off on her. Katie was very thoughtful in her appreciation. Several of the attendees complimented me.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Cuddahy - Feeling Good is Your Right

Purpose and passion; socializing; and hope were major points of discussion in our "Feeling Good is Your Right" presentation yesterday. Though Barbara and I had not rehearsed for about two months, we were quite spontaneous and connected with our group of 16. There was plenty of discussion and there were a couple of poignant notes: (i) one attendee has not heard from here son after Katrina...though she and husband continue to be hopeful, and (ii) another attendee has macular degeneration and fears that she will go blind soon. Made me wonder how we can claim our right to feel good if we have such disturbing news in our lives.

I hope that our presentations are helpful in putting things into a bearable context. One lady in the audience, Jan, said that she would like to see everyone feeling good about life. I like that comment a lot! Thank you Jan!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

WPSC

My fans: Maggie, Mabel, Marlene, Mark, Mary, Norm, Malinda, Kay and Tom were all there today. I emphasized concentration and taming of anger today and then did the day-dreaming exercise. Pat, Loretta, and Ruby were first timers today. There were about six others present today.

I learned from Pat that it takes 20 seconds to the birthday song twice ....she had heard that on Oprah...you are supposed to wash your hands for twenty seconds....I emphasize 20 seconds for the working memory to modulate the memory into a short term memory. Now I have tangible way to describe 20 seconds! Thank you to Pat, the newcomer at WPSC!

I got a WOW! from Jodi, she ran the Chicago Marathon for the third time this year. Her time this year was about 3 hrs and 45 mins. Last year she took about half an hour more. So this year was her personal best.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Gina and Wally

At Barnes and Noble, Racine, I had a nice group of about 12 people attend the "Brain Jogging" discussion. Most of them had read about it in the Racine Journal Times.

Gina and Wally were my special guests. They are both in their 80s. It turned out that they are long time students of the Silva Method. Their conviction in the method has renewed my interest in using the method. For the last ten days I have not done my Silva morning meditation. I plan to start after I return from India on Oct. 31st.

It's starting to sink in finally, I am headed to Hyderabad to visit Amma in memory of Nanna's 5th anniversary. I feel a deep sense of satisfaction about doing it.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Moments from last week

About 40 teachers and counselors stood up and sang along "Feeling Groovy" by S&G during my "Brain Jogging" presentation for Racine Unified School District! I enjoyed meeting Lisa and Debbie from Jerstad, Lisa and Martha in the front row, Katie helped with the handouts, Samantha and Kim were a pair. Jan Hanson was in the front row with Delaine Moe. Linda asked about the concentration exercise. Sheila from Barnes and Noble was there! (the one whose name I could not remember). We have become friends, she told me that the concentration exercise helped her emotional disturbed students.

At Covenant's Reimann Center, I connected with 17 attendees. I would particularly like to remember Tamara, Dawn, Doug the teachers in the second row. However, would also like to remember, Ruth, John, and Marlene in the first row, Sherry in the second row. Wendy, Katie, and Jill in the third row. Mary and Jan in the fourth row. Diane and Jill in the fifth row, and
Chris and Ruth in the last row and finally Kris the coordinator. Wendy had on the Harley clothing. First row Ruth recognized the "As Good as it Gets" movie from the cues Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. Tamara, Dawn, and Doug are teachers are very engaged in my presentation.

The check-out lady at Piggly Wiggly and I connected with "Down Town" on the air. "..don't hang around and let your problems surround you..."

Monday, October 10, 2005

Can you bare your heart to someone?

I am having a tough time baring my heart to anyone. But I have identified one or two people that I trust to talk to about my problems.

Do you have a tough time expressing your problems? Well, you are not alone. Welcome to the club!

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

Trinity Troopers

48 in attendance.

Gloria had attended my presentation and Racine Public Library. It had been more than six months and I recognized her face bu did not remember her name.

Martha had attended my presentation at UW-Parkside about eighteen months ago. I did not remember her at all.

Sue said that her doctor told her not to eat dark green vegetables because it is not good for her heart condition.

Dorothy said that she has learned how to use her left hand now that her right hand had some surgery. She was excited she was able to learn how to use it!

Friday, September 30, 2005

Barnes & Noble, Racine

I had invited Marge Engelman for book signing - she arrived at Barnes and Noble in Racine by 6:30 pm. I got there at 7 pm and presented Brain Jogging. It was attended by about 20 people. John and Kirsten B., John A., and Nancy P. were there. Other present were Georgia, Diane, and the lady whom I hit on the eye with my phoozeball! I am drawing a blank on her name now.

VA

At the VA on Sept. 21st, Bob Bogan's support group for Prostate met on the 7th floor. I had already met most of the group a few months ago. I wish that I had remembered more names but I had not planned to return there. Anyway, the kind nurse's name is Carol. The other names I want to remember are Clarence, Norm, Gloria, Bruce and his wife, Carol. Bob, Bruce, and Gloria are all 80 +.

I did the day-dreaming exercise for them, I think that it was well appreciated. There were about 15 people there that day.

Friday, September 16, 2005

Grob Schmidt Senior Center

On Wednesday Sept. 14th, I had fun presenting to the group of 25 at Grob Schmidt. Several people there with a sense of humor. Some of them had attended my presentation at Kelly Senior Center and chose to attend again. Dodo (Dorothy) Grob Schmidt (the former mayor's sister-in-law) was in attendance too. She came and hugged me the end of the presentation!
Jack asked me who my eye doctor was ...alluding of course to the clown glasses I use to demonstrate "Rule 6".

Thursday, September 15, 2005

Waukesha Memorial Hospital

In Mukwonago, last week on Sept. 7, 2005, I presented to a group of about 35 people. The evaluations were very encouraging.

Some sample perceived strengths of my presentation are given below:

Wow! This was fun and engaging.

Encouragement!!! Small but plain helpful cures and info helping one to remember.

Was able to relate on a personal level to the content.

Dr. Vedula’s cheerful, positive, knowledgeable, respectful and exciting.

Realizing that the mind can still be important and can be improved as we age.

Telling us that it’s natural to not remember everything and giving us ways to improve our memory.

Knowing that I can improve my memory.

I liked the props and the pleasant personality.

Dr. Vedula made it interesting and added humor to this presentation.Making a person feel comfortable with aging and not worrying about being perfect.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005

Just Do It!

Motivation doesn't come and hit you on the head! You've got to get off your butt and Just Do It! Healthy habits require doing to start the ball rolling.

During the presentation last week, I talked about motivation and how it grows after we start doing. One of the attendees, Thelma, who is 85 years old resonated with that aspect of the presentation. She said that she finds that she has to push herself to do something. She and a friend go for swimming regularly. The thought of her friend knocking at her door at 5pm pushes her to get up and do.

She did say that she tends to think of lack of motivation as depression. I told her that it is okay not to want to do stuff all the time. Sometimes we don't have the energy to do. That's okay! Forget it and let yourself take it easy! You probably do stuff 80-90% of the time anyway! Give yourself a break willya!

Saturday, July 30, 2005

Feeling Good Is Your Right ..... Claim It!

On June 22nd, I presented "Brain Jogging" to an Activity Director's chapter (20 in attendance) in Racine at St. Luke's in the morning and then went to Washington Park Senior Center to present "Feeling Good Is Your Right.... Claim It!" with Barbara Kruck during lunch hour (40 in attendance).

Barbara and I teamed well and we got another opportunity to present yesterday at the Tosa Senior Club (40 attendees). This time I had converted the presentation to my projector format. My son, Kiran, helpd me figure out how to do it with the differenct equipment we have now.

We got a lot of interaction and a positive feeling from the group both times for this "Feeling Good.." presentation. I think that we will get other invitations to present.

Monday, July 25, 2005

Silva Mind Control class

I attended a three-day Silva Mind Control Basic class July 16-18, 2005 in Libertyville, Illinois. The class had only seven new attendees. But the fee was $450 per person so I can' t feel bad for the instructor. No lunch was provided, meager refreshments, and the handout was sub-par. These classes seem to be continuing on the momentum that the founder Jose Silva generated about 25-30 years ago.

Anyway, I did learn things that I can use in my life. Primarily, the meditation - getting into "the alpha state" - is making me gain more control of my thoughts and not letting emotions take charge. When emotions take charge of me I become passive-aggressive.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Simple Gifts Lyrics

'Tis the gift to be simple,'Tis the gift to be free
'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves in the place just right
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained,
to bow and to bend, we will not be ashamed
To turn, turn, will be our delight
'Til by turning, turning, we come round right.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Catching up!

On May 10th, I had about 20 attendees in my Brain Jogging club at Wilson Park

On May 10th, my ProHealthcare class was a lot of fun with almost all 38 of the attendees.

May 17th, ProHealthcare class ended. Got great reviews.

May 18th, I presented to Bob Bogan's support group about 20 people at the VA Hospital.

May 24th, 12 attendees at Wilson park.

May 24th, 25 attendees at my presentation at Racine Public Library.

May 25th, more than 50 attendees at my Cuddahy Senior Center presentation. Everyone wanted to keep hearing me talk about brain fitness and I kept going for 2 hours.

Monday, May 09, 2005

"Out of the boat"

Whitewater rafting is used as a metaphor for change and change management. "Out of the boat" means exactly that. While whitewater rafting, you can suddenly find yourself "out of the boat".

In preparation for such times, it is necessary to have a practice drilled into you. The practice that The Art of Possibility mentions is "Toes to your nose, look for the boat, reach for the oars!"

During the pre-training for whitewater rafting, the instructors keep making you repeat this practice so that in the event that you do fall "out of the boat" then these life-saving thoughts are triggered automatically.

I am going to invent a practice for people who suddenly have no clue about what they are trying to remember and find themselves cognitively "out of the boat" :)

Thursday, May 05, 2005

Monday, May 02, 2005

Space between the notes

“Great music’s as much about the space between the notes as it is about the notes themselves” Sting

Sunday, May 01, 2005

"Like a bubble that pops in a gentle breeze..

..a short-term memory is easily disturbed by interruptions." Quote from Harvard Medical School Guide to Achieving Optimal Memory" by Aaron P. Nelson

Also from the above book,
"In his 1968 book, The Mind of a Mnemonist: A Little Book About a Vast Memory, the famous Russian neuropsychologist A. R. Luria describes a case in the scientific literature of a man (whom he calls S) who had a seemingly limitless capacity to remember detail - but his talent undermined his ability to lead a normal life. S retained so much information that he could not organize it into meaningful categories. He was utterly unable to set priorities, establish goals, and, really, live his life. In the end, S is a tragic figure, inhabiting a confused world crammed with useless information and devoid of the meaningfulness and social connectness that make life worth living."

Excerpts from Toffler's "Future Shock" - II

..... if the last 50,000 years of man's existence were divided into lifetimes of approximately sixty-two years each, there have been about 800 such lifetimes. Of these 800, 650 were spent in caves.
.....Only during the last six lifetimes did masses of men ever see a printed word.

.....Indeed, not only do contemporary events radiate instantaneously.
.....We are caught in what might be called a "time skip."

.....We no longer "feel" life as men did in the past.
.....For this acceleration lies behind the impermanence - the transcience - that penetrates and tinctures our consciousness, radically affecting the way we relate to other people, to things, to the entire universe of ideas, art and values.

Holy Hill

After an Interclub tennis match at Pleasant Valley yesterday, my intuition pulled me to Holy Hill. I was drawn to the feeling of calm and sanctity there. As I drove there, I was reminded about Tirupathi in India. As I reached Holy Hill, there was a special evening mass that was about to start. I observed how everyone was touching the water before entering. I too did so. After I entered it was so beautiful and calming inside, I decided to stay for the mass. I felt a deep feeling of cleansing and joy during my hour there.

It does not matter what religious pathway you choose, all that matters is love, peace, and harmony. The feeling I got while at the mass was similar to what I would feel at a sanctified temple. Years of concentration, prayer, love, and faith at a place of worship make that place a holy place. It is a holiness that can be appreciated no matter what your religious upbringing.

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Grandma T!

Yesterday at the Tosa Senior Club, I met Grandma T. She was sitting quietly at a table by herself until after lunch. About ten minutes before my presentation, this dimunitive woman came up to me and told me to speak loudly so that she could hear me. She had a Senior Olymplics gold medal hanging around her neck. She proudly showed me her medal and said that she had won 25 medals. She led me to the table where she had been sitting and showed me a photograph of her and a newspaper article related to it.

As we walked back to her chair, placed almost next to the podium, she proclaimed that she had won only gold and silver medals - none of those third place ones.

She asked me my name and to make it easy for her I told to remember me as Dr. V. She had already told me her name was Betty but by now she preferred to be called Grandma T.

During the presentation, she seemed to fully absorbed in the subject. As I was leaving, she gave me a hug and told me to remember that after 85 you cannot stop aging and that now she is 93.

Thank you Grandma T for inspiring me to think of aging as beginning at 85! I wish that I had taken my camera with me, I hope to meet you again.

Attendees this week and last week.

At Wilson Park Senior Center, on April 26th, there were 12 attendees in the Brain Jogging Club. (On April 6th, there were 20 attendees.) On of the attendees wanted a certificate of attendance.

In the four-week Understanding and Improving Memory class that started on April 26th evening at New Berlin Libraary, there were 35 attendees.

At the Wauwatosa Civic Center, yesterday, the Wauwatosa Senior Club had more than 40 attendees.

Last week on April 20th, at Washington Park, I had about 40 attendees - this was a return visit, "back on popular demand".

Thursday, April 28, 2005

You may call it any name you choose

The following is a copy of an email that I just sent to Cheryl Esch, a retired school principal, who is championing my brain jogging presentations at Barnes and Noble in Racine, Wisconsin.

Cheri,
Frindle brought me to tears just now. What a tribute to inventing and what a tribute to teaching and what a tribute to friendship and what a tribute to love and what a tribute to pen and what a tribute to dictionary and what a tribute to growth! I can go on and on and on and on and on!~

Let's make-up a word for lifelong learning and make it catch. "onandon" Let's call it "onandon"! :) Let's call our club the Onandon club. Onandon is good for you, onandon improves your quality of life, onandon keeps you ticking, onandon invigorates you!


Bloggers of this world, make this the new word "onandon" means ...you know!

Excerpts from Toffler's "Future Shock" - I

The book argues forcefully, I hope, that unless man quickly learns to change in his personal affairs as well as in society at large, we are doomed to a massive adaptational breakdown. ..

Writers have a harder and harder time keeping up with reality. We have not yet learned to conceive, research, write and publish in "real time." Readers, therefore, must concern themselves more and more with general theme, rather than detail.


My personal observation: I wonder if blogging is considered "real time"- when Alvin Toffler wrote this book no one had even dreamt about the Internet - let alone blogging! A change in mindset of writers? A change in the sense of time projected in a writing?

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

"Slow down you move too fast...

.......got to make the moment last.....................ta ra ra ra ra ..Feeling Groovy!"

Every time I play this song during one of my presentations, I sense a surge of relaxation in the audience. I relax along with everyone and I get grounded.

The reason why I play this song is to emphasize the importance of being in the moment. It is easier to pay attention and create a memory if you are in the moment.

Another blog that I liked (click here )

A blog that I liked (click here for the source)

This poem entitled "Tackwards Balking" is from the above bloglink

Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Tackwards Balking

I leel fike balking tackwards.
It's feally run do to.
Yerhaps pou tight mry it.
I yet bou'd tike it loo.

My pitty isn't kritty.
She's wost a lot of leight.
She really sas wo serry vick.
It's serry vad so tay.

She oot gut Thursday,
tuch mo sy murprise.
She's not bupposed to se out there
It's got nood for ser hize.

She doesn't even clave haws.
He shides dithout wefense.
Stiven ell she con't wome in.
My pilly sutty tat.

I shink the's betting getter now.
She's popped stuking mo such.
She's hot niding all the time,
fand eels bess loney to touch.

Hurr! Piss! Geow! Mrr!
Bis thalking tackwards ris a iot.
I've really fad hun ith wit.
I thope hat you'll try it!

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Ahalog

From my journal entry on August 26, 2002:

The class at Alexian Village took an interesting turn. At the start of the class, I asked everyone to write their name on one side of a folded index card and their birthdate on the other side.

The class was a practicum for memory – memory exercises to emphasize repetition and attention. After the first series – the names of the seven dwarfs in Snow White – we worked on birthstones. It turned out that Joanna used to own a jewelry store. She became the expert for the exercise! This was a real Aha! for me.

How easy it is when one of the learning partners in attendance takes charge of the learning. I can sit back and enjoy the process.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Hope

Karoline Lawrence sent me this link. She was a student in my four-week class at Alexian Institute in 2003. She attended my presentation at Washington Park on March 14, 2005 along with two friends - Caroline and Hazel.

Friday, April 22, 2005


Dr. V Posted by Hello

Store it properly!

Often what we think is a problem of remembering, is a problem of storing the information. We cannot access the information when we need it because we have not stored it properly. Storing properly may involve using visual reminders like calendars in visible locations. Writing an appointment on a calendar that we don't notice (the calendar is on a wall that we seldom walk past or look at) would be an example of improper storing.

Give yourself a ticket!

Next time you find yourself driving too fast through the journey of life, be a traffic cop and pull yourself over and give yourself a ticket for speeding through life and not taking in the present moment.

Before someone else has to be a traffic cop in your life, make yourself "pull over" and give your needs the full attention that they deserve - NOW!

I'll pull over so that I can give you my full attention

In the movie As Good As It Gets, Helen Hunt' character asks Greg Kinear's character to wait while she pulls over so that she can give him her full attention. This was an Aha! for me.

The key requirement for creating a memory is to pay attention. We seldom "pull over" to pay attention. Next time you want to remember something important, make sure that you "pull over" so that you can give it your full attention.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

New presentation

“Feeling Good is Your Right…Claim It!” by Barbara Kruck and Murali Vedula

No matter how old you are or how many times you have tried to improve your quality of life, in this presentation Barbara and Murali will help you to add “Wow!” to your life. Together they will show you ways to unlearn bad habits and learn positive healthy lifestyle changes. You will learn tools to tackle change of habit and realize that if you have enough reasons to change you will find a way to do it. Getting healthy is a state of mind. What state is your mind in? If you’re alive you can move and learn, now do it!

We are scheduled to present at Washington Park Senior Center on June 22, 2005 at 12:15 pm.

NIA

In Racine, Wisconsin: Joan Glubczynski teaches NIA - a combination of Tai-chi, dance, and yoga. Along with the excellent dance exercise routines she adds a mellifluous narrative with a theme for each day. I have been attending her NIA classes for about two months now and there is something creative in her routine in every class. I always leave feeling very energized.

Washington Park

When I presented at Washington Park Senior Center on March 14th during International Brain Awareness Week, there were 40 attendees and the room was packed. Some people could not find space to sit and were disappointed that they could not listen to me. I was invited to present again.

Jodie Schladweiler had a wonderful flyer saying "Back by Popular Demand". Yesterday, I presented again over there and again we had about 40 attendees. This time we were in the Main Hall so there was plenty of room. Again, I got wonderful feedback. It is gratifying to see the response. The message I convey is one of hope with scientific underpinnings.

After the presentation, I chatted with Bob Bowan about his exercise class. He is 80 and my description of him is that he still has a "fire in the belly". He would like to present to his group at the VA. Last time at Washington Park, Rita Clauson (spelling?) invited me to speak at the Wauwatosa Civic Center. Both these presentations are free like the ones at Washington Park.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

More Reasons than Excuses

Barbara Kruck says that to make healthy lifestyle changes, you need commitment to change. She says that in order to have commitment, you need to have more reasons why you would like to change than the excuses not to change.

Imagination Practice

In "Psycho-Cybernetics" by Maxwell Maltz, we can read about imagination practice. Golf player, Ben Hogan used to mentally rehearse each shot before making the shot. In his imagination he made a perfect shot. He "felt" the club head hit the ball perfectly and "felt" himself performing the perfect follow through. Then he stepped up to the ball and used "muscle memory" to play the shot that he had just imagined!

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Dana Foundation

The Dana Foundation's website has information about current advances in brain research. The following is an excerpt from a Dana Foundation publication entitled "Staying Sharp - Learning Throughout Life"

What Do We Mean by “Learning”?

How much do you remember of what you learned in school? Algebraic formulas? Perhaps, if you’re a mathematician. Periodic table of the elements? If you’re a chemist, certainly. Sentence diagramming? Maybe, if you’re a writer.

The point is, you may have learned these things in grade school—you may have even aced the exams—but unless you’ve used them in your day-to-day life since, you may be hard pressed to remember the details. This illustrates a distinction that brain researchers are quick to make: learning and memory are not the same thing, though they are intricately linked.

“Learning is how you acquire new information about the world, and memory is how you store that information over time,” says Eric R. Kandel, M.D., vice chairman of The Dana Alliance for Brain Initiatives and recipient of the 2000 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work on the molecular basis of memory. “There is no memory without learning, but there is learning without memory,” Kandel says, because “you can learn things and forget them immediately.”

As a result, not all learning gets laid down into memories that last. We look up a phone number and retain it just long enough to dial it. This is sometimes called “working memory.” It still requires learning, just not for the long haul.

Scientific definitions aside, what most of us think of when we think of “learning” is really an attempt to establish a memory that sticks. Learning a new dance step, how to play a musical instrument, or the name of a new acquaintance all require that our brain encodes new information and stores it until we need it.

Monday, April 18, 2005

I forgot. Never mind!

This weekend, I forgot to close the garage door on Saturday night. The door was open all night. When I got out of the car, I was busy carefully taking out my painting and when I went inside I was busy showing off my painting to my wife and my son.

This morning, I wanted to ride the bus in to work and save myself the hassle of the traffic. In my rush to get to the bus stop on time, I forgot my glasses at home!

My wife noted that these things happened. She's a task master on such slip-ups! I feel worse about her comments than about forgetting.

This is the normal scenario. Instead of focusing on why we forgot - in both cases I had good reason to forget - we get caught in the emotion and the defensiveness to the reaction of our family members.

In Thai they have an all purpose phrase, "Mai pen alai", roughly meaning that it is not a problem or "never mind"!

Saturday, April 16, 2005

"Art Escape"

Today I had a thoroughly wonderful time at an art workshop taught by Kyle Zubatsky and Cynthia at "Art Escape" located in Mequon, Wisconsin. We started at 9:30 am and by 4:30 pm all of us wanted to keep going. There were nine of us in the workshop and we became good friends by the end of the day. Our professional backgrounds included stockbroker, lawyer, engineer, software consultant, and interior decorator.

At lunch time, the teachers reviewed the progress of our paintings and made recommendations for development. Lunch was included in the workshop fee. We sat around the table in the art room and ate.

By the end of the day, all our paintings had developed so well. Mine was amazingly good! It was my first canvas painting ever!

To Remember or Not to Remember

Sometimes we want to remember, sometimes we want to forget. Yes, sometimes we would love to forget and the *#&)@ won't leave our thoughts. The emotion (e.g. embarassment, anger, grief) won't allow us to forget no matter how hard we try. Sometimes we want to unstick a memory!

Sometimes, I thank God I can forget or at least substitute a pleasant memory for the moment.

Friday, April 15, 2005

Hope

As an adult learner who wants to learn, I need to have hope that I have the ability to learn. As a facilitator of adult learning, it is my responsibility to help you to find that hope and to encourage you in your quest to learn.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Lunch with an author

Yesterday, I drove to Madison to have lunch with Dr. Marge Engelman, author of the book Aerobics of the Mind. She wrote her book long before the recent spate of books on mental fitness. She continues to stay well-informed about research and education on this topic.

I enjoyed our conversation as always. She is an inspiration to all of us who are concerned about staying brain fit and alert as we grow older.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Sound your Brain

I am exploring methods to improve brain fitness through sounds. I hope to find many references to this topic. My latest quest is to listen to several Gregorian chants. Any recommendations?

Other brain blogs

The following blog refers to the benefits of meditation
http://www.fitfaq.com/2004/12/meditation-may-change-brain.html

Refer to the following blog for a personal reference to alpha brain waves
http://www.biasecurities.com/blogs/jim/archive/2005/03/29/brain_waves.aspx

Mental perk-ups

All of us need mental perk-ups from time to time. There is nothing wrong with feeling down sometimes. Feeling blue once in a while gets you in touch with your soul - helps you acknowledge your feelings. Once you are done with that, move on! Perk-up, it's okay, life goes on! Forgive and forget! You are your own biggest critic. Forgive yourself and move on!

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, jaanedho (means "let it go" in Hindi)

Thursday, April 07, 2005

Focus

Keep your eye on the ball and concentrate on the game! Whether it's tennis or work, it's all about focus! I have always have to fight the tendency to get distracted. When I focus, I always do well.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Understanding and Improving Memory Class

See the following link for information about my upcoming class offered by ProHealthcare
http://www.waukeshamemorial.org/cgi-bin/eventCalendar.pl?displayEvent&eventID=2131&calendarID=1&month=2005-4-01

Upcoming "Mind Aerobics" class

See the link for a listing of my next Mind Aerobics class offered by the Jewish Community Center
http://www.jccmilwaukee.org/OC_Spring_05_web.pdf

Feeling Good

Barbara Kruck is a Healthy Lifestyle Coach and her slogan is "Feeling Good is Your Right.....Claim It!" I met with her yesterday at Washington Park Senior Center to discuss new presentation and course ideas. Her philosophy is to consider healthy lifestyle as consisting of three main components, (i) nutrition, (ii) physical fitness, and (iii) mental mind-set.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Create Positive Expectation

Stephen D. Eiffert in Cross-Train Your Brain writes about creating positive expectation. The following is an excerpt from his book,
"Nothing improves the moment more than an attitude of positive expectation. This concept collaborates with the world to bring you a better present. Creating an expectation of positive outcomes is perhaps the most rewarding use of your creative mind."

Monday, April 04, 2005

Verbal vs. Non-verbal

Rob Millette is passionate about chess. He is earning a living by teaching children how to play chess. I had lunch with him last week and discovered that we can think about learning in terms of verbal and non-verbal abilities. In the traditional classroom, there is a huge emphasis on verbal learning. Children who struggle with verbal skills soon fall through the cracks of the educational system.

Rob has discovered that some of these kids can be adept at learning chess. These n0n-verbal children have good spatial understanding and a grasp of strategy. Learning chess builds their self esteem. Rob is working with a school principal to determine how to translate and focus this self esteem on the verbal skills.

The Premise

If you use your brain in novel ways and stimulate new connections between the neurons, your brain will develop more plasticity or resilience.I use this premise in my Brain Jogging Club. Each time we meet, we do something different to stimulate the brain. Exciting the brain in novel ways improves your quality of life.

Learning needs a non-threatening (safe) environment

Embarassment is the toughest feeling to face. If our teacher makes us feels embarassed about something that we did not learn, we are likely to feel threatened when we meet the teacher again. And so goes the cycle.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

It's okay to express an opinion

Take a risk and express an opinion, it won't stir up a hornet's nest! It will make for interesting dialog. From interesting dialog, you get discovery! You become a more interesting person by the opinions you express to others.

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Visualization

Stephen D. Eiffert in Cross Train Your Brain writes,
"By mentally visualizing new possibilities, you are able to become comfortable with the new ideas and see the potential benefits prior to putting these changes into action. Visualization can release your mind of negative thoughts, entertain possibilities for positive change, or begin the process of profound change in both the mind and body."

A little stress helps our memory; too much stress does not!

From the December 2004 issue of Scientific American Mind,

"A little stress sharpens memory. But after prolonged stress, the mental picture isn't pretty."

Friday, April 01, 2005

Rule 6

April Fool's day reminds me about Rule 6 in "The Art of Possibility" by the Zanders. Rule 6 is the only rule and it says 'don't take yourself too seriously'. Just for today, laugh it off and move on!

I learnt another nice one in an Emotional Intelligence course taught by Patricia Clauson. She recommends taking a Q-Tip along with you. Quit Taking It Personally. Get it?!

Thursday, March 31, 2005

My Wow! for this week

Robert Sabuda's pop-up books! Wow! I bought "America the Beautiful" and it turns out that he has several pop-up books and is known as the Prince of pop-up books.

Cheri at B&N told me about these books. Cheri reads stories for children every Wednesday evening at the Racine Barnes and Noble store.

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

The Premise

If you use your brain in novel ways and stimulate new connections between the neurons, your brain will develop more plasticity or resilience.

I use this premise in my Brain Jogging Club. Each time we meet, we do something different to stimulate the brain. Exciting the brain in novel ways improves your quality of life.

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Wilson Park Senior Center

Recently, I started a Brain Jogging Club for members of the Wilson Park Senior Center. Until then, I had gone twice a year to give a presentation about brain fitness for the past two years. Each time I went there my presentation was attended by at least 25 people. Then I got the idea that I can do something more regular and suggested a Brain Jogging club.

Today was my second Brain Jogging Club meeting this month. Two weeks ago we had 20 attendees and today we had 12. This time we had desks to write on. I started with mazes. Next we did poetry reading, "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes. After that we talked about the importance of finding inspiration - filling the well as described by Julia Cameron in "The Artist's Way". We talked about visualization and emotion and their importance for memory. We worked on a map of the United States and filled in the names of states (given the first letter of each state). Then I talked about the importance of personal resources such as hope, courage, enthusiasm, caring, openness and imagination. We ended with meditation.

Monday, March 28, 2005

Brain Jogging presentation

Benefits of physical fitness are well known but what about mental fitness? Research shows that the brain is like a muscle. Mental fitness reduces resistance to learning and improves your memory. How does your memory work? What can you do to improve it? How can you become more alert and productive in your professional and personal life? This presentation answers these questions and more! You will learn and practice exercises designed to stimulate your “memory fitness”. Are you too tired or busy to attend? Students of all ages frazzled by the demands of daily life report feeling refreshed and rejuvenated after attending this presentation. You will too! (Presentation length: 1 hr.)

For more information about this presentation call 262-880-2269