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To Ski or to Ping Pong… that is the question

Whether you ski or play ping pong, it certainly takes skill… more than I have most days!

I often enjoy snippets from David who founded Ageist as a website for those 55+ who want to be motivated or inspired to live life to the fullest.. and this piece below was from a recent post.. perhaps it will resonate with some of you!

When I am skiing at my beloved Alta here in Utah, I often see people in their 70s, 80s and 90s who ski well and ski surprisingly fast. None of them seem at all cognitively impaired. They are vividly and enthusiastically engaged in life. Ping pong has the advantages of needing next to zero equipment, very little chance of injury, and easily accessed. And no lift ticket is required, all of which makes it my favorite indoor brain game.

Skiing, on the other hand, involves making very quick decisions or that tree in front of you will quickly change your physiology. There is danger, there is risk, and this is part of what makes it so wonderful: mistakes have consequences. Going 40 or so mph down a hill requires balance, body control, and processing the entire highly dynamic world around you. When I am at the bottom after a fast run, my entire being is fully engaged, my brain and body are pumped with blood.

Skiing is not everyone’s jam, I get it. Ping pong requires some skill also. Maybe pickle ball is preferable to you. But hey, there is a whole range of sporty spice pursuits that are fun, social, and will fire up your brain. How about dancing to late ’60s funk? I’m in, how about you? There are numerous studies showing the positive effects on brain health from moving our bodies. Me, I do it for the fun of it, and as an added bonus my cognition gets a boost. Win-win.

Onward and upward with a smile,
David”

If you want to see more of David’s posts, try THIS LINK – and if you want to read a bit more about pickle ball, we have previous helpful links such as THIS or THIS

Stay tuned for a blog on newest Ping Pong trends..

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