August's "The Joy of a Healthy Brain" - Let the Sunshine In!

Here we are—in the middle of the “sunshine month!”  Thinking back to childhood:   remember the days spent at the beach or at the local swimming pool or at camp or at grand-mom’s and grand-pop’s house?  Remember that the summer was “all about us” and about how much fun we could have?  Those long sunny August days seemed to be just for kids! 

 Well, here we are again—decades later—and that August sun is still here for us to enjoy, but there’s a new way to “let the sunshine in” and to improve our brain health at the same time. Now, letting in the “sunshine” is not “all about us,” because one of the best ways to do it is through focusing on others.  Years of research by scientists, doctors, and therapists have discovered that people who give to others actually give healthier, happier lives to themselves…that they experience better physical health and less depression.  A study at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston found that even people with chronic pain could alleviate their suffering by spending time helping others—doing volunteer work.  Important, also, is that the volunteer work we do should vary from time to time and not become “the same old thing--routine.”     Our brain cells increase when we do different things.

So, as we enjoy the remainder of the summer, let’s consider doing some of the following activities to “let the sunshine in”—to ourselves and to others:

·        Get up each day with a purpose/a plan to do “something good” for someone else—not just for family members!

·        Learn how to knit and make useful garments to donate to babies or to adults who might not be able to afford to buy them.

·        Call the Girls’/Boys’ Club or a day camp and volunteer to help children complete assignments in educational workbooks--to keep them excited about learning.

·        Volunteer to read the daily newspaper to adults who are visually impaired.

·        Bake cookies with a group of volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.

·         After working in your garden, gather bunches of those flowers or vegetables and give them to members at your senior center whom you think could use some extra “sunshine” in their lives.

·        Call (RSVP 302) 255-9878 or the Office of Volunteer Services (302) 255-9883 to find your “perfect” volunteer opportunity.

 August is a month of wonderful sunshine; so, let the sunshine in—more ways than one.     We can share that sunshine with others and improve our own brain health through new acts of volunteerism; in doing that, we let the sunshine into our own hearts and into our brains.