The Secret to Staying Young? Keep Learning!

The other day, I stumbled across a new fashion term: a “Yeti coat.” I had to laugh—what on earth was that? Of course, I looked it up, and there it was: a fuzzy faux-fur coat that’s making waves this fall. After being in the fashion business for 37 years, I had to find out what this was.  I just had to investigate and spent at least an hour devouring all the new trends popping up.  I do this all the time.  I call it going down the rabbit hole.

Another time, shortly before the Yeti coat, came my curiosity about sourdough.  My niece had detailed her experiences with making sourdough, and it reminded me that on my last girls' trip (almost a year ago), I had bought about the art of making sourdough.  Why not now?  

No, I didn’t go buy a YETI coat (yet 😉), or baked a loaf of sourdough bread, but these moments remind me of something powerful: the joy of learning something new.  Even something as small as a new word or trend can spark curiosity, keep our minds active, and remind us that life is full of discoveries.

Why Learning Matters at Every Age

As women over 50, it’s easy to think that our days of learning “big things” are behind us. But the truth is, our brains thrive on novelty. When we explore new ideas, skills, or even trends, we’re not just keeping up—we’re strengthening our memory, building resilience, and improving overall health.  Learning keeps us thriving.  Studies show that lifelong learning:

• Boosts brain health and may reduce the risk of cognitive decline

• Increases confidence and adaptability

• Brings more joy and purpose into daily life

• Helps us connect with younger generations and new cultures

The Ripple Effect of Curiosity

Learning doesn’t always mean sitting in a classroom. It could be:

• Trying a new recipe (and laughing when it doesn’t turn out perfect), I just screwed up a salad dressing recipe today by adding a Tablespoon of Worcestershire instead of a teaspoon. 

• Reading a book in a genre you’ve never explored

• Picking up a new hobby like painting, gardening, or photography

• Saying “yes” to a workshop or online course

• Even Googling the meaning of a “Yeti coat”!

Each new thing we take in adds to the excitement of our lives—and reminds us that growth has no expiration date.

Staying Healthy Through Learning

Here’s the best part: learning isn’t just fun, it’s healthy. When we learn, we literally create new neural pathways. This mental exercise helps keep our brains sharper, our spirits lighter, and our lives more vibrant. Just like we train our bodies to stay strong, learning is exercise for the mind.

So here’s my challenge for you: learn one new thing this week. It doesn’t have to be big—it could be as simple as looking up a word, trying a new stretch, or exploring a podcast. Celebrate that spark of discovery. Because when we commit to never stop learning, we commit to never stop living fully

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Crackers and granola from the Sourdough discard...Hopefully bread soon!

Let’s GO!