Research shows that learning something new everyday can:
- Enhance your quality of life. Learning provides you with an escape when you need it, knowledge when you seek it, and a great pastime.
- Reduce stress. A new hobby can be a great stress reliever. It helps us break out of our normal patterns of behavior It gives our brains something to think about other than our daily worries.
- Gain confidence. When we succeed in learning something we feel better, more confident in ourselves and our ability to tackle all sorts of new tasks.
- Knowledge is power. When you have knowledge, you have the power to achieve many things. One of the most crucial reasons to learn something new is that you gain power when you do.
- Improve your mental health. One reason why learning has a positive impact on our mental well-being is that it is often about setting goals or targets and achieving these. This sense of achievement is an important part of ‘doing well’.
- Socializing. Often learning is a social activity and it can help us connect with other people, which is sometimes difficult to do on a meaningful level in today’s electronic world. Social connections are vital to our mental well-being.
- Be selfish. Learning something new might be the excuse you need for some “me time”. Time away from work or family. An appointment with yourself. It might just keep you sane.
- Have fun. Resolving to learn something new is exciting: the world is full of fascinating skills and talents. And the process of discovering them, not just the end result, is enjoyable and rewarding.
- Set an example. There’s nothing that gets children interested like observing their parents expressing excitement about learning. Inspire your kids to want to learn, too. Better still, learn together and share a common interest for life.
- Rediscover. Many of us have given up on something with were once enthusiastic about in order to focus on a more secure career path. But doesn’t it niggle? Wouldn’t you like to know if you still have the skill and the passion for your long neglected hobby?
You could search Google: Learn something new...
Here's what you'll get:
Now, that's all fascinating, however, I'm not sure if that's the type of learning something new the studies were talking about.
I believe one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself is visiting local museums, galleries, monuments... anything that you can see, touch, smell... that's the type of "learning something new" I envision the studies focusing on.
Wherever you are in the world, your home town, a vacation destination, business trip.. take some time to find something real to learn about. You don't have to spend hours pondering over a gallery of abstract art, but go inside, look around, read a few descriptions of the pieces and I guarantee you will learn something, and it will stick.
Ok, so if I visit, or live in The Santa Ynez Valley, do I go to Santa Barbara for a little education?
It's true, Santa Barbara is a beacon of history. I grew up going to every museum in the city and loved every minute of it. I still venture down there from time to time to see new exhibits and bring back all of that sense of nostalgia from my childhood. However, a lot of people are unaware that The Santa Ynez Valley is bursting with history, museums, nature centers, you name it! You just have to know where to look!
In the town of Santa Ynez we have an entire museum dedicated to to the history of this Valley and it's settlers. Everything from Native American history to our Pioneer Settlers and the original Santa Ynez Jail (1885 – 1913). They even have an entire room full of one of the finest authentic carriage collections of its kind in the United States. It contains more than 36 carriages!
The museum is located at 3596 Sagunto Street in downtown Santa Ynez
Then, as you make your way from Santa Ynez into the rest of the valley, if you take Baseline Avenue, you will find yourself in the first town of Santa Ynez Valley.
Welcome to Ballard, California. Careful! If you blink you'll miss it!
When you reach the first stop sign in town, take a right down the first of 2 streets in Ballard, and you'll end up at Ballard School. Founded in 1882 this school is still in daily use and is ranked one of the top in the nation. You can learn more on the Ballard School website here.
After you leave Ballard, you can either turn right and go to Los Olivos where you will find the Historical Mattei's Tavern....
Built in 1886 as a stage coach stop by a Swiss-American named Felix Mattei, Mattei’s Tavern (previously known as The Central Hotel, Los Olivos Hotel, and then Stage Coach Inn) is one of the oldest wooden structures in California.
Or you can turn left and end up in Solvang.
Here you can just park and walk. I recommend parking at The Old Mission Santa Inés,
then from there you walk (or drive) to Elverhoy Museum. This museum is a beacon of history of all things Danish in our little town.
The exhibits and themes here vary which is great beause you always have something new! Be be sure to check their website here to see what's happening!
So, there you have it. We may be small but we are mighty! Our history and our passion for it, makes our town rich in information! Yet another reason why we love The Santa Ynez Valley.
Other museums and historical sights include (but not limited to):
- Hans Christian Anderson Museum
- Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum
- Mendenhall Museum
- Cachuma Lake Nature Center
More resources:
http://www.losolivosca.com/about/
http://santaynezchamber.org/welcome-to-santa-ynez/history-of-santa-ynez/
http://www.solvangusa.com/getting-to-solvang/about-solvang/
http://www.santaynezchumash.org/history.html
http://www.cityofbuellton.com/history.php
If you are interested making The Santa Ynez Valley your home and becoming a part of it's history, give our office a call!
We would love to help you!
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