Learning to live positively, living to learn

I realized last week as I was wailing about my illness that you might turn to columns like mine to learn something. After all, these people able to publish their columns in news spaces must know something if they’re able to get their silly words published, right? (Let me tell you, I just know the publisher. And I’m the one that puts all the parts–the ads, articles, photos and headlines–together to create the finished newspaper each week.) 

 

I assume it’s rare that you learn anything from mine, as I sure don’t. 

 

I listen religiously to the KFAN Power Trip Morning Show. While those grown men are often silly, they once had a goal to learn something new every day, and I loved that. As I’ve explained before, I got into journalism because I am always curious and will forever want to learn new things. And I try to adopt that mentality to turn things positive in my life. Am I invited to a meeting that has nothing to really do with my work? Great, I’ll learn about what other people in my company do and what they’re working on. Am I avoiding chores or things I don’t want to do? I’ll learn how long it takes to actually do them or the most efficient way to complete the task. Am I stuck in a conversation with a person I either don’t know or don’t really like? That’s fine, I’ll learn who they are, what they are passionate about, what makes them human. What can I learn from them? 

 

You probably still haven’t learned anything from this column, so let me see what I can share with you so you can walk away having read something new to you.

 

Caffeine makes a world of a difference for me. I can be in a sad state spiraling downward while staring wistfully at the rain outside, but once the caffeine hits, I can be as hopeful and as inspired as a sunny day. I learned that this is because caffeine not only stimulates dopamine (the pleasure, motivation, and reward neurotransmitter in our brains) but it also simultaneously blocks the receptors that cause fatigue. I also learned that regular consumption of caffeine may, in some cases, cause a lower risk of depression. 

 

But you might have known that. Hmm, let’s see what else. 

 

I learned, scrolling on Instagram, that it is bad to “power walk” your dog, but instead you should let them on a “sniffari.” According to the post, a 20-minute sniff walk can be equivalent to an hour of aerobic exercise for your dog and that it is especially helpful for puppies, elderly dogs, injured dogs, and dogs on restricted exercise because it gives them stimulation without physical strain. 

 

Here are some fun ones I found on the internet:

 

There's a statue of Jason Voorhees, the “Friday the 13th” serial killer, chained to the bottom of Crystal Lake in Crosby, Minnesota.

 

Abraham Lincoln was a licensed bartender.

 

Around 90 % of the world’s population lives in the Northern Hemisphere.

 

Over 60% of the world’s lakes are located in Canada.

 

The real name for a hashtag is an octothorpe.

 

So hopefully you were able to learn something this week as I have. Some people might disagree, but I find learning fun. Plus, it’s good for the brain. 

 

Maybe I will try to continue to find new things for us to learn in my column every week. Or perhaps you will just have to continue to read about my ramblings of no importance. 

 

My Determination: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi.