INTELLECTUAL STIMULATION

The mind is like a muscle. It requires exercise and challenge in order to thrive and grow. Physical exercise alone is not enough. Challenge is a necessary element in maintaining muscle strength, no matter where those muscles are in the body. The mind, too, needs challenge and exercise to keep growing, maintain intellectual strength, and stay sharp. Exercise of the mind might consist of things like doing crossword puzzles or playing Wordle, but learning new things is where the challenge comes in: encountering new ideas, new information, new ways of looking at the world, new ways of dealing with our ever-changing circumstances in life.

FINDING NEW CHALLENGES

As we make our way through the world, we face the stimulation of constant challenges that keep us engaged in dealing with “newness” and new thought. After retirement, it is not uncommon for people to disengage from a lot of the activities that present these routine challenges. There are still challenges in the world, new issues that as retirees we have to deal with, but the tone, volume, and character of our challenges have changed, so we must seek out other exciting and new challenges. Pasadena Village offers a rich environment in which to explore and find new challenges that will maintain the intellect.

 WHAT WE PROVIDE

Intellectual stimulation is available in various forms within Pasadena Village. Working on Teams provides an opportunity to participate in the management and operation of an ongoing enterprise. This work is full of challenges, and there are Committee & Teams Descriptions that provide a choice of subject matter to someone interested in participating. As a member-run organization, there is always a need for participation.

Our Small Group Gatherings also provide intellectual stimulation in their particular areas of interest. For instance, Spirit Talk is a group that meets twice monthly and discusses spirituality from many perspectives, going well beyond casual coffee gathering conversation.

Another group, 1619, The Lingering Imprint, seeks out stories from the news that are of interest to members. The moderators select a topic, for Villagers of the group prior to the meeting, and lead a discussion once a month about whichever topic has been selected. Our 1619, The Lingering Imprint group meets twice a month to discuss the issue of race in America, frequently featuring outside speakers who enrich the discussion with their unique and varied contributions. This is an ongoing discussion that is very challenging, but the group manages to do it in an engaging and constructive manner.

The Men's Time group meets each month and is open to all men in Pasadena Village. The group poses many different questions that challenge one’s thought processes. Some of the subjects suggested for discussion, for example, have been your Imagination for Inspiration and What is Your Heritage and How Has it Affected Your Life?

Our Science Monday group encourages its Villagers to introduce topics from the world of science and discusses them the first Monday of every month. The topics range across all social and hard sciences, and Villagers of the group are free to propose for discussion any subject that interests them.

For more information about other benefits of Pasadena Village, visit our Why Membership page.