September 1, 2006

Longevity with Gender Challenges
It occurred to me that there is a link between challenging the brain to obtain a longer and healthier life and the statistics which identify longevity for married people over that of single individuals. Yet, that does not necessarily mean that married people are happier than the loners. Certainly married people are presented with many more complex problem solving situations. The case in point that is the most glaring is that gender differences result in the sexes attempting to figure out how the opposite sex thinks and feels. Researchers today have discovered that the brain of men and women are wired differently; which makes communications difficult because the same vocabulary has different associations for each gender. It is, as if, both are going over a bridge together, but one is on the upper level and one is on the lower level. Screaming between the two levels is drowned out by the traffic noise (thoughts) of the other.

Moreover, scientists have recently discovered that because the chemicals (hormones) are in different amounts in each sex, the brain and body reactions function on another level as well. (Men are visual creatures, while women are turned on by the way they are treated.)

The obvious physical differences cause different reactions. Men will discover an erection even when they do not will it, where women are not so intimately reminded of the more primitive aspects of life.

Therefore, the attempts at harmony that long term relationships pose demands ongoing adjustments which actually keeps the brain young and healthy.

What a good argument for trying to make your marriage work!