From behind the camera to center stage
You may not know her name or recognize her face, but you know her by reputation. Chances are, you鈥檝e seen her work. Mindy Miller, 网红黑料 Communications photographer on the Creative Services and Interactive Media team, works in what she dubs her positive bubble. She gets called in to document groundbreaking discoveries and innovative approaches to clinical care 鈥� things that save and transform lives.
鈥淚鈥檓 really fortunate that creativity is my job,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 a marketing event or a human interest shoot, I get to help people share their stories and celebrate their success.鈥�
But her creativity doesn鈥檛 stop when she ends her work day. In fact, it flourishes in a different way.
On most evenings, you can find Mindy at the Gainesville Circus Center practicing her new craft 鈥� circus arts.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a family of misfits. I love it all, but I particularly love any apparatus that puts me up in the air,鈥� Miller said.
The circus arts are a beautiful combination of theatre, music, dance and fitness. So Mindy isn鈥檛 just having fun, she鈥檚 challenging her body to achieve new heights and she鈥檚 also improving the health of her brain.
Lifelong learning, among other practices like exercise and meditation, is a protective factor for a healthy, aging brain. Research shows that older adults who receive more formal education or who actively challenge their brains by learning new hobbies and skills have more white matter, which is associated with greater cognitive functioning.
鈥淧erforming is way out of my comfort zone. It makes me nervous, but I am surprised by how much I鈥檝e grown to love it,鈥� Miller said.
Mindy has taken her kids on this journey. They play, have fun, get their exercise and watch their mother learn new tricks, which can lead to amusing scenes.
鈥淭hey see me fail repeatedly when I鈥檓 learning a new acrobatic trick,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 both fun and hilarious for them to watch, but it is also beautiful for me knowing that they are watching me fail towards success. They get to see me fail at something new, sometimes even falling clumsily, but they also see me laugh it off and try again.鈥�
352Creates celebrates people who incorporate creativity into their daily lives because research supports the health benefits of engaging in the creative process.
For more information about 352Creates, visit 352creates.com, connect on social media platforms, share your activities using #352Creates and stay tuned for updates on the 网红黑料.