Why Why Why??

When minutes are so precious, why take time out of my day to practice a meaningless activity in a sport that I don’t even play?

Because, it’s not meaningless. It’s an opportunity to keep moving, to stay agile, to feel young, to be healthy, to keep conquering challenging tasks.

This 50by50 goal was a tough one. I couldn’t tell you the amount of failed attempts I bombed out on over the previous 10 weeks to hit 50 touches. When I started out, five or six touches felt like a win and hitting 10 was a real milestone. In the last three sessionsI had so many attempts in the 40’s, that goal of 50 remained incredibly allusive.

I’d only practice a couple of times a week for about 10-15 minutes a session, normally late afternoon when I was hitting a mental wall. It was such a fun way to get a sweat on. It was a mood booster.

Juggling a soccer ball with your feet, also known as “foot juggling” or “keepie-uppies,” is actually very good for my brain!

This discipline requires precise coordination between eyes, feet, and brain. This enhances proprioception, which is the body’s ability to sense its position and movement in space. This heightened coordination will hopefully translate to improved performance in other physical activities and tasks that require fine motor skills. Perhaps even a helping hand towards more goals on my list.

Keeping a soccer ball aloft challenges my balance and spatial awareness. While I’m stating the obvious here, the brain continuously processes information about the ball’s position and adjusts my body movements accordingly to maintain control. It’s amazing how quickly the brain gets a feel for the ball and the precise contact with the foot.

Foot juggling requires intense focus and concentration to keep the ball in the air. As you strive to maintain a rhythm and prevent the ball from touching the ground, you engage your brain’s attentional systems. There is continuous adjustment and slight technique variations to find what works.  There is also that tipping point of fatigue and concentration where you go from getting better to regression in an instant.

Learning new motor skills stimulates neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganise and form new neural connections. This process strengthens existing neural pathways and creates new ones, enhancing overall brain function. Engaging in activities that promote neuroplasticity is beneficial for cognitive health and can potentially offset age-related cognitive decline.

I also hope that it is a positive treatment for my potential CTE.

Like most forms of physical activity (perhaps all), foot juggling releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that give you a buzz. Doing different and perhaps somewhat random shit like foot juggling, reduces stress levels and improves my mental well-being. So why why why? I guess that is why.

I’m only 16% though my 50by50 goals and I want to be 50 when I have achieved them all, so that’s four years and nine months to work through the remaining 36%. Keep truck’n.