Hi, MaryFrances...your post could have been MY post. As long as I can remember, I have had a "brain that never rests", as you so aptly described it...always thinking ahead..."what if this...what if that"...and logically, I know in my mind and heart that today is the only day I really have...yet I continue to have this brain that never rests. Your description of and experiences with having chosen the teaching profession absolutely mimic mine...never finished...endless paperwork...report cards, etc., etc...and always bringing work home working into the midnight hours..and I, too, burned the midnight oil all through college...even high school...always striving to be perfect...and, again, I know in my mind and heart that NO ONE is perfect...that is not "part and parcel" of the human condition...yet, I continued to try to be "Miss perfect"...and, in retrospect, I regret this so much because this had to have been so difficult for those around me...most especially my children...and I know, now, that I imposed a burden on them that should not have been. Ironically, I try to suggest to my children that they NOT follow my example which is like "talking to the wall" because they HAVE followed in my footsteps and seem amused at my suggesting that they be otherwise. I must admit that I have "backed off" somewhat with the perfectionism as I'm getting older...BUT, there is still enough of this that I find that I'm weary at the end of a day...not so much from any physical work that I do, but, emotionally and mentally...I am tired...and much of that is a result of my brain still attempting to work "overtime". I don't think anything I've said here really answers your original question: "Are we using our brains up", but I just thought I'd share my experience with you because it seems it has been much the same as yours..."misery loves company", it is said!!! Of course, there is this to ponder...the adage..."If you don't use it, you lose it." I DO believe that it's very important to keep our brains working, but we probably should impose some kind of limit on that thinking.

Take care, MaryFrances...nice to have this "chat" with you.

Therese