Happy New Year! It’s officially the year 2013. Many feel a new year is an opportunity for a new beginning which is why most of us have at least a few New Year’s resolutions. A popular resolution involves joining a gym and becoming more fit. I’d like to suggest making this year “self-improvement year”.
Self improvement is broad and all encompassing terminology so each individual must explore what area(s) they deem important to their own personal growth. Keep in mind the “use it or lose it” idiom. Often we only think of our looks when we decide to drop a few pounds, instead of the many benefits derived from a healthy diet and exercise regime. But I believe we should also make a conscience effort to exercise our brain.
Nearly everyone knows someone with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a degenerative brain disease that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood. It’s a common form of dementia that is marked histologically by the degeneration of brain neurons. We now know the human brain continues to create new neurons throughout life. And we know that exercise and cognitive stimulation can impact the number of new cells created in our brain. In fact, with lab studies on rats it was discovered that all the newly generated brain cells died within 1 - 3 weeks without brain stimulation. But if the lab rats were challenged with memory or gaming exercises they retained a portion of the brain cells and it further appeared that the more mentally challenging the exercises the more brain cells were retained.
Ways to exercise your brain include; using that new word of the day calendar you may have received for Christmas, playing video games, reading books, working crossword puzzles, or taking an educational class.
Senior citizens (age 60 and over) are welcomed to take college classes at Edison State Community College in Piqua with the instructional fees waived by auditing the class. Enrollment for seniors who wish to audit will be on a space-available basis and opens one week prior to the first day of each term. At Edison State you could take American Sign Language, Spanish, Computer Graphics, Creative Writing, Chemistry, Photography, Theater or many other classes or subjects. Check out their website: http://www.edisonohio.edu/ or contact the college by dialing (937) 778-8600.
It’s also worth noting that the more you exercise your brain the more you and your brain desire to be challenged. After all it only takes three weeks to form a habit so stick with the plan and eventually the plan will be part of you. Congratulations to Debra Pohl who will be named this year’s Citizen of the Year at the annual Versailles Area Chamber of Commerce banquet, held Monday, January 21st. This award was originally established in 1970 under the name of the Community Service Award and has been award annual since its inception. Deb was chosen from an impressive number of nomination letters sent from community individuals who see the good works of their friends and neighbors. Mrs. Pohl exhibited her community mindedness by serving a multitude of community organizations or committees and volunteering her time for countless charitable events. Currently she is serving as President of the Versailles Area Historical Society, volunteers at the community meals, and assists in getting people to their doctor appointments.
Also receiving recognition for longstanding community service will be the Versailles Garden Club and its current membership with the People-Pride-Progress award. Deb and members of the Versailles Garden Club will be honored at the dinner banquet which is open to the public and will be held at the Riviera Banquet Room, Stillwater Valley Golf Course. A cash bar will be open at 6:00 pm with dinner served at 6:45 p.m. Those wishing to attend the banquet should RSVP by contact Fred or Stacy Poeppelman at 526-9869 no later than Jan. 15.
Healing prayers and get well wishes to Roger Henry, Sharon Monnin, Bob Paulus, Laura and Norman Paulus, Jeremy Litten, Ed Lease, Phyllis Collins, Ron Kramer, Samantha Smith, Wilmer Bey, Connie Winner, Marlene McClurg, Carol Schuh, Donna Petitjean, Rusty Whittaker, Ann (George) Wehrley, Carolyn Poling, as well as those in need but not mentioned by name.
Happy Birthday wishes to Judy Mumaw, Shirley Pitsenbarger, Mitchell Rawlins, Susan Browder, Merilyn Borchers, Barb Mangen, Beverly Paxson, Ed Borchers, Blake Monnin, Tammy Magoto, Brian Kruckeberg, Denise Shimp, Crissy Treon, Larry Francis, Rose Schlater, Steve Knapke, Rebecca Shreffler, and Sis Prager. Happy anniversary sentiments to Ola and Mike Schafer (40) and Judy and Tom Mumaw.
Hello to Dave Subler, Sue Miller, Bob Robinson, Deb Godwin, Larry Goubeaux, Dick Glick, Dave Keihl, Debbie Francis, Pam Ruschau, Marvin Keller, Vicky Olwine, Larry Brown, Deb Godwin, Josie Kunk, Marge Harman, Michelle Wagner, Pam Beisner, Ruth Peters, and Jim Phelan.
My heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of Jim Unger, Teresa Etter, Ann York, Gerald Boecke, Cecelia Simon, Bertha Seger, Thomas O’Reilly, Marilyn Grieshop, James Bruns Everett Crist, and Leon Myers also remembering the lives of Shep Simon, Betty Woodward, Betty Jean Linquist, Terry miller, Leetta Hemmelgarn, Karla Borges, John Warner, Agnes Voisard, Jean Ward, Mary Kelch, Dwight Mendenhall, Edna Lennon, and Henry Dircksen as the anniversary date of their earthly departure approaches.
“First we form habits, then they form us. Conquer your bad habits or they will conquer you.” ~Rob Gilbert “Let us strive to improve ourselves, for we cannot remain stationary; one either progresses or retrogrades.” ~Mme Du Deffand
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~Aristotle
Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at magmon1@embarqmail.com or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.