They were on a hate march.
They wore brand-new buntal hats, new silk-screened red tee shirts and new sun visors in a sea of waving flags and banners. They required money, lots of it. It made me wonder who financed them. What was even more startling was that the marchers had the same expression on their faces and they walked to the same beat. "Down with the government, jobs for the masses, pay hikes to the workers, scrap the taxes," they shouted one tired slogan after another.
I looked closely at their faces and saw that they were having a jolly good time. It was like a walk in the park (under the blistering sun?). But did they really know the issues? Did they believe in the cause or were they rounded up for the promise of free meals and take-home cash?
On a hot day, was there an alternative?
Yes. Brain aerobics.
It’s a workout for the mind in the same manner that we work out the body. We sweat, stretch and jab muscles of the brain so they don’t atrophy or grow pale and deteriorate. It keeps our mind sharp and focused so that we are not manipulated or hoodwinked into believing something that would favor one group who are out to satisfy their own self-serving motives. If you polish your brain and think, you can choose between right and wrong. That’s empowerment.
One tried and tested exercise is reading. Be informed. Read newspapers, magazines and books daily, weekly, and finish at least one book per month. If your budget is low, go to the public library. Bookstores are also a great place to browse. Some even encourage the public to linger and read. Learn about the personal experiences of people and how they conquered their own fears and anxiety.
Do crossword puzzles and play board games like Scrabble, Monopoly, Pictionary and games like chess, backgammon, even mahjong where the mind is made to think of the next move, the next approach or what chip or pawn to throw. Trick your opponent and collect points.
Listen to songs with intelligent and poetic lyrics that celebrate love, life, the environment and virtues. This is in contrast to hiphop, rap or acid rock that could only scream and shout about people’s angst with no offer of a solution.
Minimize watching television. It’s not called an idiot box for nothing. If you can’t help it, watch informative channels like National Geographic, Discovery Channel and Knowledge Channel and cable news where they feature interesting and topical issues.
I am particularly drawn to the program on Mega Structures where creative men dream of fabulous buildings and structures and seek out to build them. From the drawing board where fantastic ideas are spawned, you’d see the result standing before your stunned eyes; of course completed with a lot of hard work and hard thinking. The realm of possibilities can be as vast as the horizon.
And to start everyone on the road to mental aerobics, here are some cerebral teasers that were once given in IQ entrance exams; necessary if you want to apply in good companies and make the grade.
Each block represents a saying or well-known phrase. How many can you answer?
Too easy? Here’s another test to stir your brain.
For an encore, here’s an Alzheimer’s Eye Test from a study made at Cambridge University:
Count every " F" in the following text:
Finished files are the result of years of scientific study combined with the experience of years...
How many? There are 6.
Go back and find the 6 Fs.
Explanation for this is that the brain cannot process "of".
Anyone who counts all 6 "F’s" on the first go is a genius.
Three is normal, four is quite rare.
Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
It deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt.
Mental aerobics? Make it a daily routine.