On Exercising My Mind

By Marjorie Smith - OLLI @ MSU MEMBER

Because this is “A Magazine for Mature Adults,” I asked my good friend Chrysti the Wordsmith what that means exactly. She tells us the word mature comes from the Latin maturare, meaning “to ripen or bring to fullness.” When the word appeared in English in the 1600s, it was in the context of fruit, wine and cheese ripening. In a 1701 poem, the writer penned, “…taste the fruits that the Sun’s genial rays mature.” Chrysti says that by the 17 and 1800s, a figurative sense of the word appeared, referring to the growth and fulfillment of such abstractions as plans, destinies, thoughts, virtue and judgment. In 1766, historian Edward Gibbon wrote, “His prudence was matured by experience.” Human beings were often compared to ripening food and drink as well. For example, in Shakespeare’s 1609 Troilus & Cressida, he wrote, “The youngest son of Priam, not yet mature, yet matchless.” Chrysti concludes that by the turn of the 20th century, mature became a euphemism of sorts for an “older” person becoming comfortably middle-aged: “Two mature women with a matronly air of gracious resolution.” (Joseph Conrad, 1907) Aha! So, I shall adopt a matronly air of gracious resolution and recount an exhilarating experience I had recently – at a lecture, of all places. I almost didn’t go to the lecture. I’d already accomplished my

{“A Magazine for Mature Adults.” }

mile-plus walk for the day and my twice-weekly strength class, where I’d also socialized a bit. I’d done my daily crossword puzzles and my 20-minute online language class (I’m currently dabbling in Norwegian). I’d kept my brain active for one more day. I’d eaten a healthy breakfast and spent an hour on my endless decluttering project. Didn’t I deserve a quiet evening in front of the TV with my glass of wine and some cheese and crackers? But I was curious how a speaker could tie an obscure fragment of Gallatin area railroad history together with the flap over coalbed methane drilling that we’d survived 20 years ago. And so, instead of sitting down to watch the NewsHour with a glass of wine, I activated my walkmeasuring app and trotted off to the county courthouse. It turned out to be the right choice. I learned so much I hadn’t known about my hometown’s history. I also heard a hilarious story about late 19th-century developers (no, the current headlong boom in Bozeman is nothing new). I walked home in a very happy state of mind. It was confirmed once again: My brain still works! I can still learn new things and put them in context; my experiences are relevant! I truly believe I was a younger person walking home from that program than I’d been earlier in the day. That particular lecture helps explain why I spend so much of my time these days participating in OLLI courses and events and volunteering behind the scenes. Perhaps what happened to me that day is akin to that “runner’s high” we hear about that keeps some people I know pounding the pavement for improbable distances at peculiar hours of the morning. In my case, I’m getting high on lifelong learning.

Marjorie Smith

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Montana State university (OLLI at MSU) is one of 125 independent OLLI’s across the nation offering a diversity of learning opportunities for individuals 50 years of age and better. Programs are designed by and for OLLI members, for the pure joy of learning. Curiosity for Life.

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Our free fall reception is Sept. 7 montana.edu/olli 406-994-6550