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our oldest grandchild was born, she didn’t feel like a grandmother yet and told the grandkids to call her by her first name. Then, a slip of the tongue resulted in the nickname Irena among many grandchildren. The youngest kids tend to call her Mimi. One thing that constantly amazes us is how much our grandchildren eat! Once they’re teenagers, it’s like they never stop. A very active 16-year-old grandson seems to structure his meals as pre-breakfast, breakfast, post-breakfast, pre- lunch, etc. They’ve also always been adventurous eaters, game to order off
the adult menu and try new things. We enjoy watching the kids enjoy themselves but feel sympathetic about our children’s grocery bills! We’ve seen firsthand how quickly kids grow up, so we cherish every quality moment with our grandchildren. We’re fortunate to live somewhere that allows us to spend time with them, swimming, surfing, hiking, and sightseeing. Their visits make this our favorite time of year, and we do our best to make every second count.
stakes everything feels when you’re young. We try our best to encourage them in their pursuits and build up their self-esteem. We think it’s working. After years of Irma calling one of the grandkids her “famous Sterling,” he has jokingly adopted the moniker. The names they use for us are a whole different matter and somewhat embarrassing. For David, the title of Papa Dude somehow stuck. All the grandkids call him that now. Irma’s identity is a bit more fluid. When
–David and Irma Bennett
HEAD, HEART, AND GUT
HOW TO USE YOUR 3 ‘BRAINS’
Even a child can tell you that we only have one brain, and it’s between our ears. But recent research suggests it’s a little more complicated than that. We still only have one lump of gray matter that allows our bodies to complete all their other functions. But researchers are beginning
a similar notion for years. Further, you’ve probably felt your three brains working in your everyday life. Situations regularly cause butterflies in our stomachs or send our hearts racing. It’s not an accident, and that knowledge gives phrases like “trust
not always be doing ourselves a favor. Just like the brain in your head is sometimes wrong, your heart and gut may be, too. But it’s wise to listen to what they all have to say. Notice how particular ideas or actions make you feel throughout your body. Our hearts speed up in fear or panic for a reason, just like they sometimes swell with emotion. A sinking feeling in your stomach or other gastrointestinal distress also communicates something essential. Your “gut instinct” isn’t just a saying — sometimes our stomachs know how we feel better than our heads. By paying attention to all three brains, we can gain greater perspective, become more true to ourselves, and possibly have more fulfilling lives. Don’t discount your body’s signals; your heart and gut are much wiser than you may realize.
your gut” and “follow your heart” brand new meaning.
to understand it works in close collaboration with our hearts and stomachs.
Our brains have 89 billion neurons and do the
Our heads, hearts, and guts all have individual complex neural networks, and neuroscientists study this link under the heading of multiple brain integration. In layman’s terms, we have three “brains,” which each play a role in how we think and make decisions. If this concept already makes sense, it’s not surprising. Some Eastern medical traditions have embraced
traditional work of thinking. But the heart has neurons of its own, numbering 39 million. While that’s only a
fraction of the brain, they still have an impact, and the heart regularly sends messages to our brains. Meanwhile, our guts have 100 million neurons that also have constant conversations with our gray matter.
So, when we override our emotions to make a “logical” choice, we may
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