Make time for some mental gymnastics

Well, 1984 wasn’t that long ago, I thought, but look how much the world has changed in less than 30 years. In some ways we have made great progress, in others, things are much the same. Some completely unexpected turn of events have happened since 1984, but there was also some foreshadowing of things to come. So, it is a healthy thing to exercise our minds and if you are interested in other years or more facts about 1984, you can Google a time line for any year. In this column, however, I am focusing on intriguing facts about 1984. They include: 
  • AT&T was forced to break up due to the antitrust laws and eight new companies were formed.
  • Although polio had been eradicated in North America, there were 254,000 persons in the United States living with paralysis due to the virus.
  • Actor Johnny Weissmuller, whose roles included Tarzan, passed away.
  • Wendy’s famous “where’s the beef” commercial was first aired. 
  • Apple unveiled the first personal computer.
  -- Ronald Reagan was in his first term as the president.
• Coach John Thompson of Georgetown University became the first African-American coach to win an NCAA basketball championship.
  • A federal bailout of $4.5 billion kept the Continental Illinois Bank afloat.
• The cold war was reality, and the Russians along with Cuba and Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the Olympics.
  • Desmond Tutu, black Anglican archbishop in South Africa, won the Nobel Peace Prize.
  • Hip-hop music became main stream.
  • Severe famine hit Ethiopia and took an estimated 100,000 lives. Good health and being “fit for life” encompasses more than exercise for your body. It is important to nurture your brain with new or renewed information as well as to refresh your spirit with walks down memory lane. Give your mind a little exercise and look up a year or two. Enjoy!
 
Jeanine Achin is a district executive director for the YMCA of Greater Providence. Contact her at (508) 336-7103 or jachin@gpymca.org.