Help! Im becoming Dumb!

semstr · Feb 27, 2003

I've been living among historical sights, since the day I was born, in the Netherlands.

Now I choose to live in a country with even more histories, I know a lot of them, no not all, what shall I do?

Learning more and more languages is an option for me.

at the moment Greek is mine to learn,

Very hard too! it is written different and it is hard to compare with another language. Fun though!

And of course I am reading English books every day.

rebel_red · Feb 27, 2003

Hi Ohbet!

My two cents:

I believe that curiosity is the hallmark of intellect, and that being curious keeps us involved and invested in life. What are you curious about? Start there! Look at all the available resources: the library, the internet and of course, the personal experiences of others.

Me, I am a library head. I treat it like many do the local taproom. I go in, belly up to the counter and ask questions like "Why is monotheism considered to be the sign of an advanced civilization?" (Our head librarian was a seminarian.) Next thing you know the other patrons have scooted over to join in the discussion. I randomly pull books off of shelves, settle in the middle of the stacks and start reading. We also have a fantastic ongoing booksale. Hardbacks are 25cents and paperbacks are a dime. I highly recommend Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, and "Pillars of Stone" by Ken Follet. Interested now in reading Sharon K. Penman thanks to the other posters!

I regularly talk with my friends via messenger. Their interests are so varied from my own that I always learn something. Also letter writing is becoming a rarity, so I send my friends "scrapbook" letters on sketching paper. Long phone calls also keep me sane.

As to tv I rarely use it for anything that would be perceived as intellectually stimulating....pure escape for me via StarGate 1, FarScape and CSI (vegas only can't get into the Miami gig).

Also with folks that aren't necessarily "Bookheads" like myself, I chat up to learn what they are interested in....they may be crafters, artists, cooks, etc. Everyone has a story to tell and contrary to popular belief, everyone's story is interesting and holds life lessons.

We also homeschool. I think I have more fun than my son building Mayan ruins and doing science experiments....planning lessons etc... Watching him "get it" makes everything fabulous.

Also imho, there is nothing wrong with "just" zoning. I have been known to lay in bed for hours, staring at the ceiling, just letting my mind wander.

Then there is journal keeping.....

Ok starting to wander so:

It really boils down to: What will bring joy to Ohbet? (or substitute joy for peace, contentment, excitement, depends on what you are searching for, really searching for......)

Wish you well in your journey!

Off to practice yoga....if you hear a big "THUNK" it's just

Tres

angel1971 · Feb 27, 2003

I believe in the Conspiracy Theory!!!! WE THE PEOPLE have less time to stand up for what we believe in. Remember during the late 60's and early 70's when the cost of living was a lot less and the money we brought in was better in comparison, that WE THE PEOPLE went out and protested and stood up for our rights? If no one else can see this, maybe I need psychiatric help. I believe it will only get worse. Go to your local tavern and play NTN trivia it will let you think you are intellectual and it is very competitive.

shrinkyrn · Feb 27, 2003

Originally posted by angel1971 . Go to your local tavern and play NTN trivia it will let you think you are intellectual and it is very competitive. [/b]

sorry, but what is NTN trivia??

frannybee · Feb 28, 2003

I highly recommend Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, and "Pillars of Stone" by Ken Follet. Interested now in reading Sharon K. Penman thanks to the other posters!

Rebel Red, I think the Follett book you're referring to is 'Pillars of the Earth', and it's my very favourite book of all time. It's a tome and a half but well worth the effort. It makes you think, teaches you so much and takes you to absolute extremes of emotion. My mother and I sat down one night and had a pretend casting session, trying to work out who we'd cast as each character. Alan Rickman would be Waleran Bygod of course :) Mum also has a theory that Ken Follett has either got a ghost writer, or has exhausted the one brilliant book everyone is supposed to have inside them - 'Pillars' is like nothing he's written before or since.

If you enjoyed that and want to try SK Penman, start with 'The Sunne In Splendour' - you'll see why I agree with Mattigan that Richard III would no more have killed the princes in the tower than killed his beloved Ann. That would be my 2nd fave book of all time I went to the Richard III museum in York last year. (It's in a tower in the city walls). They put all of the available evidence for and against Richard on display and invite you to make up your own mind. I loved it there, can't wait to go back this year.

Mattigan, every bed on my ward has a view of Swansea bay - Wales really is as beautiful as you think it is :)

mother · Feb 28, 2003

:chair: A word to the wise, don't get too layed back. Just attended a staff meeting where we were informed that if the "key staff"member becomes too stagnet for the position they hold, Your duty is to inform the administration, and "bow out gracefully" Target age was 50!!!! Imagine that, In other words they want to continue to recruit new ideas and new people for the key positions.

nursedawn67, LPN · Feb 28, 2003

I have been trying to read the news more (online), and I try to watch documentaries.

Scavenger'sWife, RN · Feb 28, 2003

Ohbet, what a thoughtful thread.

I worry about this also. Seems I am so tired most of the time, I don't feel like exercising my mind. That is going to change, though. I feel that I am basically an intellectual, and really enjoy learning new things. My hospital is offering a Spanish class. I took 5 years of it in high school (but that was 32 years ago! whew!) So I think I will take advantage of that. Our area is becoming very Hispanic and it would be great to bone up on the espanol.

I love to read about the Civil War and WWII. I have a collection of books about them.

CherryRN: I'm with you! If I were a millionare, I would not work at all....I would be a professional student and go to college all the time!