I’m Just Delaying Alzheimer’s
At 78, my friend is doing a master's in psychology. Not for a job or degree, but to keep his mind sharp.
“I’m just delaying Alzheimer’s.”
That’s what my 78-year-old friend told me when I called him last week.
He’s not just any friend. He has wealth enough to last three generations. He writes weekly columns in Hindi newspapers. And now, he's also a student, currently in his third semester of an MA in Psychology from a local university.
Out of curiosity, I asked him, “Why do you keep learning?”
That’s when he laughed and said, “I’m trying to trigger some new neurons. Keep the brain alive as long as possible.”
He said it like a joke, but I could tell he meant it.
And I loved that answer.
# Not for Promotion. Not for Pay.
Most people stop learning the moment they graduate.
We chase degrees early in life because they unlock jobs, salaries, promotions.
But this kind of learning? It’s different.
He’s not trying to earn more money. Not chasing a title.
He’s learning simply because he can—and because he wants to.
Psychology is a whole new field for him. He’s stretching his brain, building new connections.
That, he believes, is what keeps him mentally fit.
And I think he’s right.
# Be Curious, Stay Interesting
Here’s what I realized: people like him stay interesting because they stay curious.
Every time I talk to him, I come away with something new. A new book. A fresh idea. A different way of thinking.
Even though he’s 25 years older than me, I enjoy our conversations more than most others.
That’s the kind of person I want to be. Not just learning to earn. But learning to live.
What do you think?
Under: #sdl , #coach