It never ceases to amaze me how many people will happily exchange hard-earned currency for a beautiful plate of food. Myself included. To experience exquisite taste, we perform laborious tasks. We are children in our big-people bodies playing in our “culinary sandbox”. Humans will pay large sums for a painting that reminds them of the feel of soil under their feet when they were young, even if it is just three perfectly placed, emotionally triggering dots. We never ask, "If you were stranded on a desert island, what Math would you bring?" We ask, "Which album?" We ask what your favorite memory smells like, or what it sounds like. (For me, it’s The Cars playing "Just What I Needed" while falling in love for the first time at a roller rink). The human experience is measured by pleasure. It is the one truth never argued between a “money-hungry”entrepreneur, a tirelessly dedicated charity, a crop farmer, or a starving musician. 

The Brain in the Shell

I used to tell my students: "Make two fists. Now put them together, knuckles touching. That is a decent approximation of the size of your brain. That is who you are, encased in a shell.” That brain has one goal: to seek pleasure. And it will find it. If you don’t give it to the brain naturally, it will look elsewhere—narcotics, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine. The brain is going to “get happy”.  Our phones are currently giving our youth those hits on a regular basis. Why aren't we giving those screens some healthy competition? 

On this principle alone, we must champion the outlets that feed the brain naturally. The Arts, for instance, exist entirely to please the brain aesthetically through sound, sight, touch, and taste. Jazz, classical, hip-hop, Stravinsky, Wyeth, Bourdain, Rodin, Mingus, Methany, - the Arts give us endless opportunities to evaluate, synthesize, and interpret. 

When we balance our lives with creativity and movement, we build the ultimate first line of defense against the mental health struggles and isolation facing our youth today. The Arts naturally "oil the synapses," releasing endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine. Every time. 

Fueling Purpose and Empowerment Locally 

But the brain doesn't just crave aesthetic beauty; it thrives on purpose, connection, and empowerment. There is no greater "feel-good" hit than breaking down a barrier, finding your calling, or lifting someone else up. I look at our region through this exact lens. How do we keep our community healthy, inspired, and safe from harmful, false pleasure-seeking?

We do it by investing in the local people and culture that give us true, lasting fulfillment. So go use that shell to give your brain some Art, some purpose, and some community connection today. You owe it to the teachers, parents, and mentors in your life who cared.