Drawing for Life
Recently I enrolled in a life drawing class. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never took the time. I loaded up on charcoal, pens and lots of newsprint with the excitement of a 5 year old getting ready to start school. At the first class I stared at the model posing in front of me in her full glory, I made some marks on the page. I could almost feel my brain going into overdrive trying to connect my hand to my eyes. I saw her clearly in 3D but the translation to paper was incredibly difficult. I knew there was a problem with proportion or perspective or something but I couldn’t decipher exactly what was off kilter. It was like doing a 300 lb bench press with my brain. Luckily, the teacher stopped by and pointed out the problem. Even though I was now aware of the problem, the fix didn’t come easily. Each week I notice slight improvements in my ability to capture the figure. It’s really hard! But I know this brain challenge is good for me; maybe just as important as eating right and exercising to ensure good health and well-being as I age.
I have a friend, a professor, who in his mid 50s started taking piano lessons. Although he has more letters after his name than a bowl of alphabet soup, he is challenged by those 88 keys. Working hard, he plucks out the notes of a simple song trying to read the symbolic language of music. Beaming with great pride he also speaks about his successful performance among the lineup of 7 and 8 year olds at his recitals. He’s having fun.
One of the benefits of being a bit older is we lose our quest for perfection which often gets in the way of learning, doing and enjoying. Life expectancy has risen dramatically from about 35 years in the 1760s to almost 80 years now. That means for many of us there may be decades post retirement. For some it’s an exciting opportunity for personal growth and learning new things, but for others the challenge of transitioning from “doing” to “being” is disconcerting. We all know 60 year olds who seem like they’re 80 and 80+ year olds who have the vitality of 60 year olds. They’re joyful, full of life and fun to be around. Their enthusiasm is contagious and they seem to have found the magical elixir which is a blend of curiosity, positivity, and activity.
Research has shown us that you can teach old dog new tricks and really should! The brain continues to have the potential to grow, learn, and change for the better, even as we age. Regular mental exercises can rewire the brain’s neural circuitry. Although memory may feel a bit slower, verbal abilities, abstract and spatial reasoning may actually be better. As we age we also acquire wisdom and a breadth of experience to draw on but there’s also a world of possibilities of new and exciting things still to learn. The older I get the more I’m interested in. For me, life is like a funnel and I started at the narrow end – the deeper in I go the more expansive it gets.
Coaching Questions:
- Is there something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet tried? What’s stopping you?
- What regular practices do you do to keep your mind, body, and soul in shape?
- Imagine yourself in 10 or 20 years and what your best self might be like. What can you do now to make sure you’re heading in the right direction?
Need help exploring the possiblilites open to you? Coaching can really help! Take advantage of a complimentary coaching session now. Go to marleneboas.com and send me a note on the contact page.
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