By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

During retirement many people find themselves lacking in the regular intellectual stimulation and mental challenges provided by careers, school, and volunteer activities. Just like the muscles in our arms and legs, the brain needs regular exercise to remain in tip-top shape as we age.

Lively discussions about the news of the day
That’s why a group of about 20 Monarch Landing community members have enrolled in a current events class taught by Tim Daley, a history and English professor at the College of DuPage Older Adult Institute. The 10-week course meets on Monday evenings right in Monarch Landing’s on-site classroom.

The lively group discussions run the gamut from international issues to U.S. politics to local matters. A recent class covered topics including former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan’s new book, Rudy Giuliani’s presidential campaign, O.J. Simpson’s arrest in Las Vegas, and the difference between education in the U.S. and other countries.

Daley brings in recent news stories from publications like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and The Economist to get discussions started—but the rest is up to the class participants, who bring decades of different life experiences and world views to the table.

“The nice thing is it’s such a change, because it is such a different perspective,” says Daley, who teaches high school during the day. “[The people at Monarch Landing] are not just interested in what we discuss, but they know so much about it.”

Time to pursue new interests
Doug Bonebrake, a retired Methodist minister, lives at Monarch Landing with his wife Carol. Bonebrake says he has always been interested in current affairs and regularly reads the newspaper. But now he has the opportunity to discuss the topics he reads with people who share his interests.