Moving Forward

"You either move forwards, or you move backwards….there is no standing still." One of the students at the organization I work for once told me this. There is such truth in this statement, don't you think?

If you have no goals, no ambition, and nothing giving you purpose, you won't ever be able to maintain the ground that you've gained. It's really a lot like exercise when you think about it. You can work for months and months to achieve a goal weight and a toned figure, but once you stop eating right and exercising, you are not going to be lucky enough to keep the body of your dreams. It takes real work to just maintain such a fine machine – much like your brain.

This wonderful student then proceeded to tell me that OLLI (the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Aquinas) is what keeps him moving forward. The chance to learn for the fun of it, without the pressures of tests, papers & quizzes is what had ignited his passion for knowledge once again. Although I love the fact that this student finds a purpose in coming to our classes, I know that they wouldn't keep everyone moving forward. For some people it's learning about Michigan's native plants and working in their garden. For others, it's cooking ethnic cuisine or planning the perfect kayaking trip with their grandson. The truth is, all of these things will keep your mind engaged and active – and that is one key to a fulfilling life.

One of the things that keep me engaged is volunteering for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and mentoring the cutest little girl for almost three years now. I look forward to our visits almost every week, whether we're visiting Craig's Cruisers or baking banana bread. We have fun, and it is something meaningful that I claim as my motivation to stay engaged.

 So what is it that keeps you engaged? Find it, live it, and you will always be moving forward.