What are composite experiences?

It’s any activity that simultaneously stretches your mind and body.

We know it’s worth exercising your body. Physical fitness is associated with longer life (and longer quality-adjusted life), less pain, lower stress, higher happiness and satisfaction, less illness, higher self-confidence and self-worth, and more.

We also know it’s worth exercising your mind. Keeping your mind engaged makes you happier, staves off mental decline, keeps you interested, and keeps you from getting eaten by all the metaphorical “sharks” out there.

My absolute favorite activities give both a workout at the same time. I love flying because it forces me to aviate, navigate, and communicate simultaneously – my feet work the pedals, my hands the yoke and throttle quadrant, and all the while I’m watching for hazards, planning my next move, and keeping one ear open for my instructor and another for ATC. When I’m flying, it’s a thrilling blend of instinct and reason, like the only time I’ve ever made the news outside Google, when I had the mental presence to quote 14 CFR §91.3(b) “the pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the extent required to meet that emergency” and the physical presence to dive, dive, dive, but not too far.

I enjoy bringing my camera – video or photo – with me whenever I go on a trip as well. It’s not enough to walk and enjoy the scenery. The camera’s presence forces me to think through composition, framing, timing, lighting, editing processes, as I walk down the path. The hills occupy my body, while the camera occupies my mind. And running back and forth to get various shots keeps me in better shape than just walking straight up the hill, as well! I enjoy setting up my “studio” at home, with tripods, lights, modifiers, and more, to get just the right segment. I only wish I didn’t have to be my own model! That’s not the fun part.

I love driving for the same reason. I can’t wait to buy my first manual car – although I promised myself I’d hold onto my Audi for at least 5 years – so I can experience the two-hand, three-foot method of driving a standard transmission. The manumatic is only half-satisfying, and speed isn’t what fulfills me.

And I know what’s next for me. I’ve always enjoyed shooting with friends, and someday I want to master that combination of physical and mental. Can I learn not to anticipate the recoil, and to keep my eyes open during the shot? Separately, someday when COVID is over, I’ll look forward to taking up martial arts classes for the strategy of fighting as much as for the workout.

We’ll see where life takes me over the years, and as a result where it takes this blog. Much like I look back on the letter I wrote my future self as a senior in high school – and laughed at how much was wrong – I imagine I’ll do the same with this post. I’m 28, and the average male lifespan in the US is 78 years, so I’ve got 50 more years to learn everything I want to learn and keep my mind and body sharp. We’ve got a long way to go.