Keeping the Mind Young

Old Lady & the Shoe

““Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.

Anyone who keeps learning stays young.

The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”

— Henry Ford

One of my students told me she was going to make The Old Lady and the Shoe. She combined everything I had taught her — coil building, pinch pots, and slab construction — into one whimsical project. When she presented it to me, I asked with a smile why she didn’t make an old lady to go with it. She laughed and said, “I am the old lady!”

I’ve been teaching older adults for just over a month now, and it has been such a meaningful experience. Many of my students have shared how pottery and clay helped them cope with loss and loneliness after losing their spouses. Through clay, they find comfort, focus, and connection. Studies have shown that active learning helps keep the mind sharp and may even delay Alzheimer’s disease — but I see it firsthand every week. My classroom is full of energy, curiosity, and hope.

My students come to class well prepared, often dressed up for the occasion. They take such pride in their work. They’ve completely reshaped my understanding of aging — showing me that learning, creativity, and community are timeless. One student teaches her grandchildren what she learns in class. Another is taking calligraphy. Others are studying drawing or watercolor alongside ceramics. Their enthusiasm is contagious.

They teach me things, too. One woman showed me how to use hand sanitizer to revive dried paintbrushes — and even to get paint out of jeans! I learn just as much from them as they do from me. Their stories inspire me — stories of resilience, adaptation, and courage. Downsizing from a longtime home, learning new technologies, or simply showing up each week to try something new — these are quiet acts of bravery.

Teaching this class makes me look forward to growing older myself. My students have shown me that life doesn’t slow down with age — it deepens. They remind me that curiosity keeps the spirit alive, and that as long as we keep learning, we’ll always stay young.