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Keep Moving, Stay Connected, Continue Learning

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Those words are credited to Mahatma Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of India who inspired worldwide civil rights and peace movements in the early 20th century, I believe his remarks are equally valid today.

We know there are two strategies proven to not only help us live better but longer: Keep Moving. Stay Connected. I’m adding “continue learning” because it often inspires more physical activity and greater social connections. There are other ways that lifelong learning improves our lives, too, and the value of lifelong learning cannot be overstated.

There is evidence that lifelong learning builds resilience—the ability to adapt to change and cope with life’s stresses, including illness. At a time when many of us worry about loss of ability, active learning can help us grow, discover new skills we did not know we had, and possibly improve our outlook on life.

One benefit of lifelong learning that you may not realize is the way that it helps older people maintain autonomy, to live as independently as possible. In addition to supporting cognitive and mental health, these days, if you pursue learning opportunities, you’re probably using some form of technology. Staying up to date on technology helps us stay connected to friends and family. If you are not a fan of technology, you may be more comfortable staying informed by reading a daily newspaper or newsletter in paper form, or watching the news or educational show on TV. Whatever the mode, access to information helps to combat FOMO—a common e-mail and text convention that means “Fear Of Missing Out.” Staying engaged can help combat ageism and other stereotypes that we experience.

A word about music and world language: Learning new musical and/or language skills support concentration, memory, and our ability to integrate information from all of our senses. Some say music is a language because it can be used to communicate, express oneself, and can be read and written. It can be argued that music, which spans cultures and societies, is a universal language. Music can communicate emotions in ways that spoken language cannot. And whether you practice or listen to music or study a new world language, or not, generally it can be quite fun.

This issue of AgeWise includes three additional takes on lifelong learning and is loaded with resources. I hope you find inspiration and ideas to keep moving, stay connected, and increase learning opportunities in your own life. Learn as if you were to live forever.

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Contributor Alex O’Reilly chairs the Seattle-King County Advisory Council on Aging & Disability Services. She welcomes input from readers via e-mail (advisorychair@agewisekingcounty.org).

This article appeared in the September 2024 issue of AgeWise King County.