The Dumaflache in the Drawer

Retirement Myth #6: Retired people are not as mentally sharp as young people.

While it is true that young people have sharper vision, better hearing, quicker reaction times and better short-term memory than seniors, Dr. Rowe says we can compensate for all of these.

The lead doctor in the MacArthur Foundation study on aging goes on to say we can do things to promote strong mental function. Things like regular physical activity, a strong social support system and belief in “one’s ability to handle what life has to offer” (Rowe calls this “self-efficacy”) help seniors maintain “sharp mental ability.”

That’s encouraging because I get the short-term memory thing. Why is it I can remember the phone numbers of childhood friends from the 50s (Swatzell is 3075, Scott is 3010 and Susan is 4444) but not the name of the dumaflache I want Charlotte to bring me?

Me: “You know, the dumaflache. It’s in the drawer next to the hammer.”

Her: “You want what?”

Me: “The dumaflache. You know, it tightens things.”

Her: “Do you mean the pliers?”

Me: “Yeah, that’s it. Bring me the dumaflache.”

Maybe I need to work on self-efficacy.

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