During the first year that we lived in France, Bill and I volunteered to help with English language conversation classes at our local branch of Les Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture (MJC). This is a nationwide association that promotes social and cultural development through a wide range of activities and programs for people of all ages. Based on the principles of solidarity, tolerance, and responsibility, the organization works with residents and local communities to create lasting social connections. The building that currently houses our MJC is believed to have been a former convent opened in 1623, and to mark the completion of its total renovation, a thought-provoking bench was installed near the main entrance.

It’s back-to-school (la rentrée) this Tuesday where guidelines from the French Ministry of National Education govern what and how students are taught across the country. The goal is to ensure that everyone has the same learning opportunities from 1st grade through high school graduation. While the expected topics—languages, math, science, and art, for example—are all there, one curriculum might surprise you: Moral and Civic Education. Overall, the intention is to explain what it means to be a citizen, keeping in mind “an idea of the public good that transcends individual interests.” And now, that includes animals.

It’s pretty easy to get a consensus from health authorities around the globe on conventional ways to live a long life. The World Health Organization (WHO) reinforces the idea that lifestyle is the most powerful tool citing 4 essentials: regular physical activity, eating well, getting quality sleep of 7 to 9 hours per night, and staying socially connected. To that they would add controlling any conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, stopping smoking, and getting regular screenings for early detection and treatment of issues. While those ideas all concentrate on the body, another avenue of thought revolves around stimulating the mind.