Learning and Forgetting Just As Fast

Do you ever wonder how much information the old brain can hold? 

Do you ever wonder if you put too much material in that old brain, eventually some of it just has to come tumbling out.  

“I used to remember everything. Now, I forget what I was going to say next.  I’ve read that the old brain does not slow down because of laziness, but because it holds too much information. Then there is the question of how much is too much?

Then there is the act of not remembering anyone’s name.  This is a biggy for me.  That brain chip was lost in the construction of my crazy brain.

It is felt that anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.

The brain is such an amazing organ.  Just think of all the stuff we cram in there and the degree of information.  Then there is the difference of people’s ability to have different capabilities of how to handle the brain.

An example of the challenges my brain encounters is that I can not memorize.  This makes test taking a real challenge for me, especially if there is a definite criteria or wording that has to be remembered.  Once in school, I had to give a book report.  Being terrified of speaking in front of a group of people, especially goof ball kids who are just waiting for someone to screw up royally, I tried to memorize my notes.  Well, since this messed-up brain didn’t cooperate with me, I felt that if I practiced over and over, I would eventually stay with me.  Then I read and re-read this written-out report to my younger sister.  After two tries, she had it memorized.  I still didn’t.  Imagine the humiliation for me when I stood up, tried to give this report, and felt so stupid that I started laughing uncontrollably for a long time.  It seemed like the old brain just had enough and went in another direction.  I was graded on a good report, but it was stated that it needs a little less laughter.

Then, on a sad note, my husband developed dementia.  His actions were as if his brain had been flipped.  Everything was just plain backwards.  He used to be an expert woodworker, for example, and when his brain flipped, he couldn’t even pound a nail.  

The brain is an amazing organ. I hope mine keeps working for me in a good way, and as long as I live. 

A mind is a terrible thing to waste!

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