Best Boomer Towns Columns

Boomers Love Their Hair!

While the process of follicular relocation is straightforward, creating a truly natural-looking result requires the consideration of a number of factors, and a highly-trained, experienced hair transplant surgical team.

Samson Hair Restoration in San Diego is doing great work and helping many people (and baby boomers) thrive again!

http://samsonhairrestorationsandiego.com

 

What’s Next Boomer Business Summit April 29, 2011 San Francisco

There are 78 Million Baby Boomers in the U.S. spending $2 Trillion annually and control 77% of the wealth, attend the summit to learn how to get your share of wallet.

Featured Speakers

Michelle Bauer, Founder and Chief Strategist, Common Language
Scott Bennett, National Vice President of Marketing, American Cancer Society
Elisa Camahort Page, Co-Founder & COO, BlogHer
Michael Carroll, Vice President, Marketing, United Healthcare Medicare Solutions
Andy Cohen, CEO and Co-Founder, Caring.com
R. Scott Collins, President & CEO, Senior Resources Alliance
Mara DelliPriscoli, President, Travel Learning Connections, Inc.
Marilyn Ditty, Executive Director, South County Senior Services, Inc.
Mary Furlong, CEO, Mary Fulrong & Associates
Jane Glenn Haas, Founder, WomanSage
Mark Graham, SVP, ivillage.com, an NBC Universal Company
Jeff Hasen, Chief Marketing Officer, Hipcricket
Lyn Jeffery, Cultural Anthropologist
Mollie Katzen, Best-Selling Author
Susy Korb, President, OMHU
David Lindeman, PhD, Director, Center for Aging and Technology
John Lukrich, COO, Dummies Licensing Partners
John McKinley, Founder, OurParents.com
Laura Mitchell, Director of Business Relations, GrandCare Systems
Gary Moulton, Product Manager, Trustworthy Computing Group, Microsoft
Coby Neuenschwander, Founder and CEO, Readeo
Miles Orkin, National Director of E-Revenue and Mobile innovation, American Cancer Society
Casey Pittock, President & CEO, Wellcore Corporation
Peter Radsliff, CEO, Presto Services
Francine Russo, Best-Selling Author
Gail Sheehy, Best-Selling Author
Nancy Shonka Padberg, CEO, Navigate Boomer Media
Sandy Timmermann, Executive Director, MetLife Mature Market Institute
Tandy Trower, Hoaloa Robotics
Renee Werbin, Publisher & Co-Founder, Travelgirl Magazine


Date and Time: 
Friday, April 29, 2011
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel
San Francisco

What's Next Boomer Business Summit
www.boomersummit.com
 
Sponsors include 
United Health Care, Microsoft, South West Airlines, Continuum Crew, AARP, Navigate Boomer Media, Verizon, First Republic Bank, SRA, Linqto, Common Language, Met Life, AAA

Save 20% - Code wnnb11

Emotional Fireworks

Start by staying calm. Keep yourself from getting sucked into the emotional vortex. Asking yourself, "What is the best thing to do right now?" can help you gain some perspective and keep your own emotions in check.

Try to understand what's going on for the other person. When you understand, you are more equipped to respond in an empathetic manner. When people feel that someone really knows what they are going through, it helps them; they don't feel so alone and scared.

Let the other person vent. If someone has a whole bunch of hurt, pain, or anger he or she needs to release, it has to come out, and that can be a difficult thing to experience. Let the other person get out their negative feelings, but don't become a punching bag.

Look for something positive. There is another side to every upset, but finding it can be a challenge. Taking a few minutes to encourage the person to focus on what is and isn't working can be very helpful and will discharge a bunch of discomfort.

Be open to suggestions. When feelings get heated, it can be helpful if another person (family member or friend) gives his or her input. Sometimes a fresh set of ears can hear things others can't.

Create a plan. Having some options you have thought about in advance can be incredibly helpful when strong emotions are flying around the room. For example, you can choose to take a time-out or just remain silent. You can also choose to give the other person some direction.

Don't fake sincerity. If you really don't care, or don't have a good answer, don't pretend that you do, because it will only cause more upset. The best thing to do is to be honest and say that you are just not the right person to help at this time, and perhaps suggest that the other person talk with a professional.

Accept that you might not be able to do anything. Sometimes people just need to feel their hurt for a little while. Allowing them to experience their feelings, along with your emotional support, may be all you need to do.

Remember that silence can be helpful. Many people are uncomfortable in silence, but it generally doesn't last very long, and a thoughtful minute or two can help heal or give you perspective on an emotional trauma.

Don't make the other person feel wrong. We all have emotional moments; they are human and a big part of life. No one is wrong for having feelings.

Emotions are powerful things, and learning how to keep them from going nuclear is a talent that will serve you and your loved ones well.

 

 

Baby Boomer Favorites, Christmas Movies - Watch and Enjoy!

* "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) - Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed star in this classic story of what life is really all about during the Christmas Season. Still #1 in my book.

* "Fred Claus" (2007) - How could you not like Santa's brother? Silly movie but fun to watch. Paul Giamatti, Vince Vaughn, Kevin Spacey, Elizabeth Banks, and Kathy Bates pull together a nice finish to a variety of problems at the North Pole.

* "A Christmas Story" (1983) - Another classic. Ralphie's quest to get a BB gun for Christmas. So many great scenes in this film starring Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon, and Peter Billingsley. The movie is narrated by Ralphie at a later age as he looks back on his comical family life around Christmas time. This is stuff we have all experienced in our own families.

* "The Holiday" (2006) - Nice romantic comedy that develops around Christmas time. Four people (Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black) come together for various reasons to enjoy the Holiday and love wins out.

* "A Christmas Carol" (1984) - This Charles Dickens book has been made and remade as a movie several times and all of them are good because of the terrific story. I personally think the best production involved George C. Scott as "Scrooge". Wonderful moral to this film is good for all ages.

 

What is Sun Protective Clothing?

You may have heard the term "sun protective clothing" and thought, isn't all clothing sun protective? Simply, the answer to this question is no. All clothing is not created equal when it comes to sun protection.

There are a number of factors that affect the level of ultraviolet protection provided by a fabric. In order of importance these are: weave (tighter is better), color (darker is better), weight (also called mass or cover factor - heavier is better), stretch (less is better) and wetness (dry is better). Recently, the addition of chemicals such as UV absorbers or UV diffusers during the manufacturing process has become another important way to create UV protection in summer fabrics.

Regular summer clothing does not always provide sun protection. In fact, most regular summer clothing provides poor protection against ultraviolet radiation. Many open-weave, light-weight summer fabrics, like those used for t-shirts, provide less UV protection than an SPF 15 sunscreen. In addition, summer clothing - sleeveless blouses, backless sun-dresses, shorts, bikinis, t-shirts are clearly not designed for sun protection. A major goal for sun protective clothing designs is to cover as much skin as possible while still making the garment cool, comfortable and fashionable. Regular summer clothing styles are typically designed to expose skin - arms, neck, shoulders - rather than cover it.

The most comfortable sun protective fabrics are typically sophisticated, technical fabrics that are lightweight, cool and easy to wear. Coolibar, the most recommended and tested sun protective clothing company, has embedded zinc oxide (ZnO), a natural mineral compound with well-established sun protection properties, into the fibers of natural cotton and bamboo to create ZnO SUNTECT® fabric. Coolibar also developed lite SUNTECT® fabric which is light-weight and highly protective because it contains a UV diffuser - titanium dioxide - embedded in the microfibers. Coolibar's aqua SUNTECT® fabric is a knit swim fabric that stretches but contains no lycra so holes do not appear in the fabric as it ages in salt and chlorinated water. The entire portfolio of Coolibar SUNTECT® fabrics provide sophisticated sun protection and is rated to block 98% of harmful UV rays for maximum protection.

Sun protective clothing is economical, environmentally friendly and the most effective way to protect your skin from the harm caused by UVR. Sun protective clothing is also recommended first by both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Dermatology as the most effective means of sun protection. Be sure to use broad spectrum sun screen on any skin left exposed and wear a hat and sunglasses.

It's never too late to protect your skin, and by doing so, you may help prevent skin cancer.

 

 

Not Done Yet - Inspiring, Empowering, Optimism and Belief in Self

The website offers articles of interest, stories of reinvention and a cool on-line store. The Shop features beautiful and excellent quality American Made tees, tanks and thermals for women and men as well as fun gifty items like bling water bottles and mugs. In addition, ndy is very proud to donate a portion of every sale to Womens cancer research, Alzheimer's and grief support services.

Shop ndy for the Holidays! http://www.ndynotdoneyet.com/shop.html

 

Busy Baby Boomers - Make Time for Exercise

Baby Boomers, I know how hard it can be to fit exercise into a busy lifestyle. Most people work a long day and by the end of the day are too pooped to move. The people that are in shape are the ones that make a date with himself or herself. Another way to insure that they will keep their commitment is to hire a personal trainer that will help them to stay on track and be consistent. It's important to exercise at a set time marked in your calendar. This is one way to make sure it is part of your day, not some afterthought.

If you're a morning person, the best time to workout for you is when you rise and shine.

Have your workout clothes where you can see them. Put them on as soon as you wake up.

Have a protein drink and you're ready to make your health and well being a way of life. What a great investment of your time. Not only will you look and feel great, you'll spend a lot less money on doctor visits and medicine when you make taking care of your health a priority.

If your not a morning person, then afternoon lunch hour or after work will be the best time for you to schedule your workouts. Bring your exercise clothes in a bag and leave it in the car with a bottle of water and a towel. Now you're ready to go the minute you have your lunch hour or when you leave work. If you do it during your lunch break, bring a healthy meal to work to eat while you're working since that hour will be devoted to exercise.

So now that you've determined which time slot works best for you, get your calendar out and schedule it in ink. I suggest doing a cardiovascular workout 3 to 4 times a week for about 30 to 45 minutes if weight loss is a goal. Weight training 2-3 times a week is so beneficial to baby boomers because as we approach our mid to late 40's and 50's, our metabolism slows down substantially. Building muscle will help us to burn fat so that we can drop excess weight and prevent weight from accumulating on our bodies. Also as we age, our bone density decreases. The key is to use our muscles, bones, joints and ligaments and keep them healthy and strong.

Always start with a warm-up such as brisk walking or bicycling to get the muscles warm. After about 5 minutes, stretch out your upper and lower body, your back and gently stretch your neck. Now you are ready to get busy with the weight training. If you do your weight training first, it will use your glycogen for energy. When that energy reserve is used up, it will go to your fat reserve for energy. This is why it is best to do the cardio afterwards.

If you begin with cardio, it takes 20 minutes before your body uses the fat for energy.

Okay, now you know what to do. Get your calendar and mark in pen your workouts every day of the week for the month. Each month, do this again. This habit will make you prioritize your fitness commitment. Try to be consistent and do it the same time each day. These appointments will make your time to exercise a scheduled event and your success will be greater when you plan ahead this way. . . .

 

W.W. S. D. ?

In search of my own role model I looked at lists of the most influential women of our day and concluded that the logical choice was Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second female Justice of the Supreme Court and its first Jewish woman. Prior to becoming a Supreme, Ginsburg was a federal appellate court judge, a law school professor and devoted herself to issues of gender equality, among many other notable endeavors. Through all of this she struggled with the challenges of motherhood and a legal career while battling two kinds of cancer. Perfect choice, right?

Well, not quite. For one thing, this woman is so extraordinary that merely contemplating her heroic achievements convinces me that my own legal career, indeed my entire life, has been an exercise in mediocrity.

But there's a more important point, I realized. Justice Ginsburg and other women of her caliber are ideal examples for aspiring young women who are seeking someone to look up to as they climb the ladder to success. But given my own career trajectory, there's no point in having someone to look up to; what is needed, rather, is someone to lead me through the treacherous twists and turns down, down, down.

Besides, if every time I was faced with a particular moral or ethical dilemma I had to ask myself, "What would Ruth Bader Ginsburg do?" the answer, I'm afraid, would invariably be: "Take the high road." But at this point in my life I might sometimes want to take a few side streets, maybe even a back alley. And I wouldn't want to disappoint (even in my imagination) a member of the Supreme Court just because I occasionally chose to express my inner snarkiness. My objective is to get better at accepting who I am, not feel guilty about who I will never be.

So I further refined my criteria: my role model's life and standards should not be so exemplary that I feel like a miserable failure by comparison. In fact, it would help if she were a tad morally suspect herself.

At this point I stumbled across a young woman known as "Snooki", who rose to fame as a member of the cast of the reality TV show Jersey Shore. Though I was not familiar with the show, I found I was able to take the measure of this unusual young lady based on various of her quotes published on the internet. I decided Snooki was a female very comfortable in her own skin and someone I could relate to better than a Supreme Court Justice -- her tastes and moral and ethical standards seem to be far more... accessible. I will share with you my thoughts about Snooki as I read the following snippets of dialog excerpted from various episodes of the show:

"I'm not pissed off that they put pickles under my bed as a joke, but I'm pissed off that Mike and Pauly wasted two pickles." (She shares my concern about waste of our natural resources.)

"A crow comes and it starts quacking at us... or not quacking, what does a crow do?" (She has an inquiring mind.)

"Vinny's like my big brother, I love him.. but usually you don't have sex with your big brother." (She has strong moral scruples.)

"One [fireman] is tall, tanned.. & he looked Italian, so I woulda' smushed that, yes." (We share similar taste in men.)

"Snooki: I'm not white. [other female cast member]: What are you? Snooki: Tan." (She is comfortable with her racial/ethnic background.)

"Word of the day: sympathetic. That's a big word." (She is always seeking to improve her mind.)

"I can't see any ice creams, I can't see any customers, cuz I'm a ****in' Smurf. (She appears to be around my height.)

"I don't go tanning anymore because Obama put a 10% tax on tanning. I feel like he did that intentionally for us, like McCain would never put a 10% tax on tanning.. because he is pale and he would probably wanna be tanned." (She is politically astute.)

Well, everyone has to make their own choice, but for me the search is over - I'm having my bracelet made up:

"What Would Snooki Do?" And I'm pretty sure that whatever may be the answer to that question, it won't be: "Take the high road."

 

 

Cartoons are about Real Life

I have a large file of cartoons. Here are three favorites:

A headstone bearing the name of the deceased, and below it "Member, Placebo Group."

Another headstone bearing the deceased's name and the inscription ‘Never sick a day in his life - and now this."

A father with his arms around his son's shoulder as they gaze out the window on a large factory. The caption reads "Someday, son, all this will belong to your wife!"

A recent New Yorker cover shows a cartoon with a bridal couple, in full wedding regalia, sitting in the back of the limo. She looks angry. He looks puzzled. The caption reads: "It didn't have to end like this."

Is this couple on the way to the altar, or leaving it? Did she just find out a secret he has that's a deal breaker for her? Did her ex show up at the wedding, claiming he still loves her, and she feeling the same about him? Maybe she's offended because her groom was trying to save some money by booking the deluxe honeymoon suite instead of the presidential one.

Perhaps her groom presented her with a prenuptial agreement at the last minute and expected her to sign it without her lawyer's help? Or horror of horrors, his mother was sulking again because she wasn't invited along for the honeymoon?

I believe some marriages are over shortly after they begin. It just takes some people longer to figure it out - or maybe longer to speak up. I think you can tell the difference between wedding jitters and deeply buried concerns about the person you're planning to marry. None of us marries in expectation of divorce. Except for the bride in the cartoon who says "I'm so excited about getting my first marriage out of the way."

Pulte Homes New Site in the Triangle Near Brier Creek

Pulte opened an active-adult community in Cary, Carolina Preserve at Amberly, in 2006 under the company's Del Webb brand. Other age-restrictive developments in the Triangle include Heritage Pines in Cary, Chapelwood in Chapel Hill and Summerwinds Plantation in Clayton.

Excerpts from David Bracken at The News Observer

 

Get Enlightened… Learn More About Your Computer

While you're asking yourself these questions, adrenalin is coursing through your system, making your body feel different. From sweating to squirminess, the physical manifestation of angst is very uncomfortable and makes it
difficult to concentrate. Even if the problem is solved quickly, after going into a momentary panic, it will take you anywhere from an hour to a day to get back to your normal level of functioning. And being in a panic is not great for your general well-being.

This is where the old saying that "knowledge is power" can be very helpful. Knowing how your computer works and having the ability to dance around a program and make it do what you want it to can make you feel creative and
intelligent. Having the ability to get done what you need to do and not encounter any problems allows for greater access to the inner resources and inspiration that we all have.

The pride that comes from mastering or, if you're a techno-spazz like me, just getting the basics of a computer can be very empowering. In addition, learning something new builds brain cells and staves off Alzheimer's. You actually stimulate the growth centers of your mind and create a greater ability to figure out what you need to do next. The confidence of knowing
that you can solve a problem, even before you actually encounter it, is very freeing and allows you to push yourself without feeling pushed.

You can fly though projects like a stunt pilot, doing barrel rolls around your Excel spreadsheet, while your knowledge of Photoshop will make Ansel Adams green with envy. In addition, every time you accomplish a new task,
it gives you the opportunity to feel better about yourself.

If you invest an hour or two a week in a class, many of which are available online, you will master your program/computer of choice in short order. With that ability, you can then create and share your gifts with the
world.

Just the social networking alone can link you up with what's going on in many different places. By Twittering here or Facebooking there, you can find old friends and make new ones. By creating a blog you can touch the
lives of hundreds, perhaps thousands (and maybe even get a book deal). Quite simply, it's an opportunity to connect with the rest of humanity.

So go get that new laptop or use your kid's old desktop, it's time to learn how to keep up with the rest of the human race.

 

Media expert Nancy Shonka Padberg Turns Spotlight on Top Boomer Issues

What images spring to mind at the mention of "baby boomers?" Executives? Yoga teachers? Botox? All of the above?

Media expert Nancy Shonka Padberg turns the spotlight on top issues facing the baby boomer generation.

By Emily DiFrisco

The multifaceted baby boomer group comprises 78 million people living in the United States today. They fall between the "Silent Generation" (the children of the Great Depression) and Generation X. Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers are the healthiest, wealthiest, most educated, and prosperous generation thus far, plucked right from the pages of American history.

Boomers saw the U.S. change from a manufacturing economy to a knowledge economy. They saw the formation of the Interstate Highway System, enabling their families to "pack up the station wagon" and travel like never before. They were able to leave their hometowns and go to college. They embraced technology, as they saw the number of television sets grow from 4 to 50 million from 1950 to 1960.

"In the industrial age, it was all about product, price, place, and promotion," says Nancy Shonka Padberg (MBA '03), founder of Best Boomer Towns, Inc., and Navigate Boomer Media, LLC. "The manufacturers pushed the product to the customer. You could get your Ford in black or black. In the knowledge age, it is all about consumers, cost, convenience, and communication. The consumer is in charge. And I would argue that the boomer consumer is in charge."

Even as they age, baby boomers still control 70 percent of the total net worth in the U.S. They spend an average of $3 trillion dollars per year and an additional $7 billion online. They purchase 41 percent of new cars and shell out for 80 percent of luxury travel.

Padberg, a former Fortune 500 executive, first discovered the baby boomer market as vice president at The Phelps Group, where she worked on campaigns for Fairmont Hotels, PETCO, and Whole Foods Market. "All these companies have research on their clientele," she explains, "and the research was astounding. Specifically, with PETCO, we found that baby boomers and empty-nesters spent the most on their pets."

As part of the team developing TV, print, and radio campaigns, Padberg strove to help advertisers understand and reach the boomer audience. She asked her clients, "How do we connect with boomers emotionally? It was easy with animals. We really had some terrific commercials for PETCO."

Seeking to start her own marketing firm and realizing that with knowledge comes opportunity, Padberg went back to school, earning her MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management of Pepperdine University, where she "saw all the pieces come together." In marketing class, she again studied the demographics of boomers. She also learned the two biggest takeaways for a startup: have a clear point of differentiation and develop a healthy culture.

Parlaying her knowledge from school and her career, the Iowa native developed a business plan for Best Boomer Towns, Inc., which launched in 2005. The Web site serves as a destination for boomers to find and exchange information on the best 21 locations in the U.S. to relocate or retire.

Recognizing additional needs in the marketplace, Padberg brought together nine media colleagues, including Pepperdine alumnus Kyle Murphy (BSM '04, MBA '05), and launched Navigate Boomer Media, LLC in Fall 2009. Navigate allows time-starved media buyers and marketers to buy display advertising on 10, 15, or 20 Web sites at a time. Launched in 2009 with 50 sites, the company now represents 119 sites with over 112 million unique visitors per month.

"Boomers spend an average of 15 hours per week online," says Padberg of her decision to create online businesses. "Print and radio can't say they have their audience for 15 hours per week. The largest segment of the population is coming through and embracing new technology like never before. In fact, the fastest growing segment on Facebook in the last year has been women 50-plus."

Not even one year later, Navigate Boomer Media has emerged as the No. 1 online boomer ad network in the U.S. They represent boomer-focused Web sites such as vibrantnation.com, grandparents.com, and silverplanet.com, and publish original content for Web sites, blogs, social networking communities, and streaming radio. The business is now expanding into Canada and Southeast Asia.

While the young company continues to grow, Padberg observes, "We're not a Fortune 500 company, we're not corporate. We wear quite a few hats. We're nimble and can make quick decisions. We know that we have the right media with the right target audience, at the right time."
Summer 2010

Pepperdine Magazine Article August 31, 2010

 

Money Matters

Millions of people in the business world are going through overwhelming and uncomfortable emotions due to the financial meltdown our nation is currently facing. According to The American Psychological Association, the high level of stress associated with money problems is creating increased anxiety, depression, and tragically, even suicide. A recent Gallup poll states that worry about the economy is tied for first (along with healthcare) as the issue Americans are most concerned about, and therapists are saying they are counseling more business professionals on the emotions surrounding finances. When things start to go wrong, many people find themselves dwelling on the worst possible outcome. It's not abnormal, but there are a few steps you can take to help you regain your balance. Instead of just thinking about the worst that could happen, you need to think about what the best scenario could be. This will help you see that your financial future may have some bright spots. It's just an exercise, but play fair and let your mind find reasonable positive outcomes and it will help you release your anxiety. The next step is to examine what it is that's most likely to happen. There's your real situation, and you need to grab hold of it. You may find that you need to change your budget, work longer hours, or hire/fire to get the most bang for your buck. But you may also need to take steps on a different level. Being financially insecure can permeate our lives and the fallout can be felt everywhere. You may be frightened our angry about the situation, and when you walk around in fear and anger, it leaks into all of your actions and effects your team. Like having a headache, you just aren't your best self, and your co-workers will see it. If what's going on with the economy is causing you sleepless nights, or if you just can't stop worrying, you need to actually do something deeper about it. There are hundreds of books and many consultants and counselors, financial, as well as emotional, who can at least answer some of your questions, and knowledge is power. Sticking your head in the sand won't let you see a solution, and there always is one if you look hard enough. A wise man once said, "If all your problems can be solved with money, then you haven't got any real problems." I'm sure most of us could find exceptions to this rule, but he makes a good point. Money can't buy you health, love, or even happiness. It can buy you security, and that's a lot, but it isn't a replacement for physical wellbeing or for people who truly care for you. So take stock of your emotional savings account, your mutual interest fund, and how fortunate you are to have great people around you. Now that's hedging your bets.

Cancer Fighting Foods

Here are a few ways food can help in the battle against cancer:

Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, kale) contain two antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin that may help decrease prostate and other cancers.

Foods that contain folate such as liver, spinach, beans, broccoli, oranges, lettuce, avocado, and asparagus are thought to help protect against cancer of the pancreas. Avocados are also rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body. They also provide even more potassium than bananas.

Onions, chives, leeks and garlic may help prevent stomach cancer. Garlic also has immune-enhancing allium compounds that appear to increase the activity of immune cells that fight cancer.

The beta carotene found in carrots may help reduce a wide range of cancers including lung, mouth, throat, stomach, intestine, bladder, prostate and breast. (Some research suggests beta carotene may actually cause cancer, but it has not proven that eating carrots, unless in very large quantities - 2 to 3 kilos a day - can cause cancer.) Sweet potatoes also contain many anticancer properties, including beta-carotene.

Certain types of mushrooms such as Shitake, maitake, and reishi are thought to help build the immune system and prevent cancer cells from multiplying.

Fruits are also thought to provide protection against cancer. Grapefruits, like other citrus fruits, help to rid the body of carcinogens. Red grapes contain bioflavonoids, powerful antioxidants that work as cancer preventives. Like red wine, they are also a rich source of resveratrol, which inhibits the enzymes that can stimulate cancer-cell growth. Papayas are thought to reduce absorption of cancer-causing nitrosamines from the soil or processed foods. Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are also thought to contain many cancer preventing properties.

Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that attacks the free radicals that are suspected of triggering cancer.

Selenium, a mineral found in brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and fish is thought to provide protection against prostate cancer.

Tip: To eat healthfully, experts say a good rule of thumb is to fill 2/3 of your plate with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans and 1/3 or less with animal foods. Look for recipes for casseroles, stews and stir fries that use meat almost as a condiment.

Cancer Facts from World Health Organization

Over 200 Kinds of Cancer

These 8 Red Flags should be investigated immediately to rule out cancer:

-- Iron deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency can be caused by a number of conditions including heavy menstrual periods, ulcers, and a diet too low in iron -- but it can also be indicative of colon cancer. In an editorial accompanying the study in BJGP, Dr. Kevin Barraclough, a GP from Stroud, emphasized the importance of taking into account the age of the patient when evaluating any symptom. For example, "Iron deficiency anemia in a 21-year old female is extremely unlikely to be due to colorectal cancer, whereas in a 60-year old male, cancer is likely," he said.

-- Blood in urine. While the presence of blood in the urine can indicate urological cancer, it can also be explained by more benign causes, such as exercise. As with other potential symptoms for cancer, doctors need to follow up to identify the cause.

-- Coughing up blood. It can be a sign of lung cancer, but coughing up blood (hemoptysis) could also be the simple result of particularly violent coughing or a bloody nose.

-- Difficulty swallowing. If you're having trouble swallowing, it could potentially mean cancer of the head, neck or esophagus. Other possible causes include acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or it could be as simple as a severe sore throat.

-- Breast lump or mass. A lump or mass in the breast is a sign of breast cancer, which is why it's important to seek immediate medical evaluation if a lump is detected. Fortunately, however, most breast lumps result from noncancerous conditions such as various types of cysts or injury, according to the Mayo Clinic.

-- Post-menopausal bleeding. Bleeding that occurs after menopause can happen for a variety of reasons, many of them completely harmless. But it could be a sign of cancer of the cervix, ovaries, uterus, or vagina. Doctors can get to the root of the problem by conducting tests such as an ultrasound and biopsy.

-- Abnormal prostate test. The detection of an enlarged prostate or of a lump during a medical exam could mean prostate cancer, which is why additional testing is necessary. Any abnormalities can also indicate a benign condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).

-- Rectal blood loss. This can be a warning sign of colon cancer, particularly in older age groups. The vast majority of people who experience rectal bleeding, however, have hemorrhoids or another condition besides cancer.
Other symptoms to watch for

While this particular study highlighted these 8 'red flags', experts warn these are not the only potential warning signs for cancer. There are, in fact, over 200 different types of cancer, which produce many different symptoms. So it's important to notice any unusual or persistent changes to your body -- and report them to your doctor or dentist as soon as possible.

Changes in your body you should be alert for include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue or pain. Also watch for any sores that do not heal on your body or inside your mouth and obvious changes in the shape, size or colour of a mole or wart. ( More symptoms to watch for.)

For the study, published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), researchers from Keele University in Great Britain analyzed 25 previous studies from the UK, US, Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Denmark and Germany. The purpose of the research was to identify symptoms that had a one in 20 or higher chance of turning out to be cancer.

While there may still be a relatively low chance of a patient with these symptoms to actually have the disease, lead researcher Dr. Mark Shapley says these signs are nonetheless strongly linked to various cancers -- and recommends that doctors follow up at once to pinpoint the cause.

Sources: Keele University press release; Mayo Clinic; Cancer.ca; BBC; CBS; The Medical News.

 

Metabolism Boost for Baby Boomers!

First, let's talk about sleep. When you don't rest enough, your metabolism slows down. Your body is like a car that is on empty. You slow down and feel sluggish. You crave more carbs and sugar because you are low energy. So getting a routine of getting to bed the same time each night will help. Chamomile tea can relax you and if you're up for it, a short meditation can calm your mind and put you in a restful state. 8 hours a night is recommended.

Now let's talk about nutrition. I don't like the word diet because it seems to have negative connotations. What you eat and when plays an important role in boosting your metabolism and energy level. When you have the right amounts of nutrition, it will prevent you from over-eating. 5-6 small meals every three hours of lean proteins, vegetables and fruits is optimal. Stay away from fatty foods which can decrease your metabolism. In addition, include (in moderation) metabolism boosting foods and beverages like: rolled oats, almonds, eggs, beans, spinach, mustard, and green tea. I say moderation because portion control is extremely important for weight loss and weight maintenance. Check with your doctor to see what is a healthy amount of calories each day for your body. 1200 calories a day is good for some people but depending on your lifestyle, age and health, it may vary.
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If you want to live healthy and stay fit, limit your alcohol intake. It will not serve your health.

Another great way to raise your metabolism is to exercise. Exercising is very beneficial because it raises metabolism, increases fat burning and is very good for the heart. If you've never exercised, start with a 20-minute walk 3 days a week. Increase it to 30 minutes and then add a few more days. If you can walk 30 minutes 4-5 days a week, that's a great step toward improving your health and boosting your metabolism. Please remember to do long slow stretches and slow deep breathing to relax the muscles.

Another way to rev up metabolism is to lift light weights. By strengthening your muscles and increasing muscle mass, you will burn more fat. Start slow with light weights and 10-12 repetitions. As you get stronger, add a little more weight. I suggest that you hire a professional to give you a blueprint of what to do and how much weight to use per exercise. This fitness consultant can show you how to do the exercises properly, safely and most effectively.

Last, but not least, get out and have fun. Don't stress about things you don't have control over. Focus on your health and well-being. Here's a final thought. A happy person is not someone that has the most. He's the person that makes the most of what he has.

 

Rededicate Yourself to Health

Back in March of this year I found out that I am now a type II diabetic... isn't that great? Yippie! Shortly after that revelation, my doctor scheduled surgery to relieve a prostate/urinary problem that wasn't going to go away. In the meantime, I stopped working out to heal my body.

These things happen to all of us at various times in our lives. Once the problem is out of the way, it's time to get back in the saddle. I knew I had to start my routine again as soon as possible. My health is just too important. The doctors and health professionals told me that with diabetes I had to watch the food I eat and I had to exercise.

So, I made a new decision. My routine was going to change. Instead of using my Total Gym and then walking or using the treadmill three or four times a week, I promised myself I would do my routine five times a week (Monday through Friday) and then relax on the weekends. I have been faithful to this schedule now for several months and I have reached the point that I look forward to it. How about them apples?

I feel good and I feel like I am certainly back on track. Do you need to re-dedicate yourself to your health? Hey, do it for a month and make it a good habit. I use the Total Gym for 15 minutes and I walk/use the treadmill for 30 minutes each day. This 45 minute routine, Monday through Friday, will get you healthy and it will help you lose weight. What more can you ask for?

We Boomers are now in the "Fall Season" of our lives. Health is a challenge for all of us but we can do something about it. We are not as young as we once were but we can still look good and feel good.

It's time to get started... re-dedicate yourself.

 

Let’s Have Some Pun!

The other guy replied, "That's not my dog."

A man walked into a bar, sat down, and ordered a beer. As he sipped the beer, he heard a soothing voice say "nice tie!" Looking around he noticed that the bar was empty except for himself and the bartender at the end of the bar. A few sips later the voice said "beautiful shirt." At this, the man called the bartender over, "Hey...I must be losing my mind," he told the bartender. "I keep hearing these voices saying nice things, and there's not a soul in here other than us." "It's the peanuts" answered the bartender. "Say what?" "You heard me" said the barkeep."it's the peanuts... they're complimentary."

A woman has twins and gives them up for adoption. One goes to a family in Egypt and is named Amahl while the other goes to a family in Spain and is named Juan. Years later Juan sends a picture of himself to his birth mother and upon receiving the picture she tells her husband she wishes she also had a picture of Amahl. "But they're twins," says her husband, "If you've seen Juan you've seen Amahl."

 

The Unpretentious Warren Buffet

I admire Warren Buffett, not because of his wealth, but because of his lack of pretention. He doesn't believe that giving money to his kids equates with giving them love. He wanted them to carve out their own path and believed that 'setting them up with unlimited wealth is harmful and an anti-social act.'

His decision to donate nearly $37 billion to the Gates Foundation may have shocked the world, but it came as no surprise to his three children, whom he'd consulted first.

A few years ago, his children, Susan, Howard and Peter said they supported their father's decision not to leave all his money to them. http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=2133209

"The truth is it would be insane to leave us that much money," said Susan Buffett. "It just would be."
Buffett gave $1 billion to his children's three charitable foundations: the Susan A. Buffett Foundation, which focuses on early education for children of low-income families; the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which has helped 42 countries; and the Novo Foundation, Peter Buffett's organization for democracy. They each draw a salary from their work.

Keep in mind that the Buffett kids grew up in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath house in Omaha Nebraska. They attended local elementary and high schools . Their friends were neighborhood kids who actually played without needing play dates or being chauffered from house to house. The Buffett kids grew up without pretension; money wasn't the way they measured their parents' love.

Each Buffett sibling recently received a letter from their father in which he wrote: "I consider myself lucky to have three children who want to spend much of their time and energy working on projects that will benefit others. I am proud of what you are doing and your mother would be proud as well. Love, Dad."

I like this man, in spite of his wealth.

 

California Personal Income Tax Information

Personal income tax

* California collects income tax from its residents at the following rates.

For single and married filing separately taxpayers:

1.25 percent on the first $7,060 of taxable income

2.25 percent on taxable income between $7,061 and $16,739

4.25 percent on taxable income between $16,740 and $26,419

6.25 percent on taxable income between $26,420 and $36,675

8.25 percent on taxable income between $36,676 and $46,349

9.55 percent on taxable income of $46,350 and above

* A 1 percent surcharge, the Mental Health Services Tax, is collected on taxable incomes of $1 million or more, making California's highest marginal rate 10.55 percent.

* For married persons filing joint returns and heads of households, the rates remain the same but the income brackets are doubled.

* Residents must complete returns on Form 540EZ, Form 540A (short form), Form 540 (long form) or Form 540-ADS by April 15. When that date falls on a weekend or holiday, filers get until the next business day to submit their state returns.

* You might be able to file your California return electronically at no cost using CalFile if you meet the program's eligibility requirements.

* With Ready Return, eligible California taxpayers can view a pre-filled state tax return, update it if needed and e-file it directly with the state, all at no cost.

 

Baby Boomers Emotional Support

In order to get your emotional needs met, you must be proactive and ask for what you need. This may mean asking for a hug or your hand to be held when you are feeling a bit shaky. Getting comfortable with sharing your needs is the first step.

By stating your needs, you will you have a greater chance of having them answered. If you expect someone to read your mind, most likely you won't get the support you need.

Those who are unable to ask or expect others to just know what they need are more likely to become less stable as their hearts remain unhealed and they stay stressed out. This can cause people to be introverted or even irritable because they don't feel good about themselves.

It would be great if we could all be totally self-contained and not need the emotional support of others. But if life were supposed to be that way, we wouldn't feel the need to want and give love.

These days getting a pat on the back or loving words from someone can be as easy as opening up your Facebook page or sending a text. "Just touching base" is a good opening line if you want to reconnect with someone via e-mail or social networking. By the way, I don't think it's a good idea to make electronic contact your only source for emotional support; there's a big world out there with lots of other people who need and want to feel connected.

Being in close proximity to another human being is really the best way to feel emotional support. A phone call can work (for a while), but face-to-face contact is really the best way to go. This is not about romance. It's about having a person (or people) who will listen to what is going on in your heart. Just talking about your pain will help diminish it, and you will create a stronger bond with the person who is listening. This is basically how therapy works.

If you really can't find a person or just aren't feeling strong enough to reach out, even to a family member, having an animal can make a big difference. A pet may not be able to help you think your way through a problem, but having one can make you calmer, and the unconditional love of an animal is always uplifting.

If you are wondering why you need emotional support in the first place, the answer is simple: you're human. Very few people can do life all by themselves, and those who choose to are missing out on one of the best parts of being alive.

- Dr. Barton Goldsmith, marriage and family therapist, can be reached at 818-879-9996 or via e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). He has lived and practiced in Westlake Village for more than a decade. Hear him live on KCLU Radio, 88.3 FM, from noon to 1 p.m. Mondays.

 

Coaches on the Edge are Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the 21st Century

elizabeth: You know, if life was less complicated, if I didn't work seven days a week (my fault, I know, but getting a book proposal out does cut into one's eating and sleeping hours) and if it wasn't so hard to wrap my brain around all the freaking instructions, then maybe, just maybe, I would have the time to think about how damn important I am that people must be able to get in touch with me at a moment's notice. I don't think that any of us are that important. Well, maybe me but I think I am staying with my "I want to be alone some of the time" attitude.

Laurie: Now the tough decisions begin. Do I want a Blackberry? Maybe a Storm, maybe not. I mention Droid and all my phone-savvy friends sigh. Hello, it's a phone, not a soul mate. I've been advised to go and play with the phones to see which one speaks to my heart. A play date with a phone? What happened to making a call - another essential feature of life I attempt to avoid when I'm out on the street? No, now a mere phone must meet my esthetic, cosmetic and spiritual needs while it makes a call.

Elizabeth: Have you tried eHarmony.com or Match.com?

Laurie: I am making the following technology promises right now, regardless of how well my play date goes:

I will not be found looking at my phone when my dinner date returns from a bathroom trip. I won't check my email during intermissions at the theatre. I will not crash into people on the street as I text that urgent reply that can't wait until I get home. I will not walk into oncoming traffic while I'm reading my email. I will never ever download a musical arrangement of any kind. I will only take pictures that can later be used in criminal cases as evidence. And I will Not Not Not buy my phone a dress (case), consider it a wardrobe accessory, or give it a name. I hope those phone angels are listening.

elizabeth: I fear that within a week you will be doing all of that, and maybe you will get one of those snappy Bluetooths to wear and annoy mankind as you walk down the street. Let me know when you go shopping for a phone dress. Maybe you and your "Insert your cute as a kitten phone name here" phone can get matching outfits. I will take out my phone and click away, and when you get the ransom note, just make out the check to moi.

© 2010, Coaches on the Edge ^TM

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys. Stop by at elizabeth's site at: Coaching for the Creative Soul

 

 

 

The University of St. Andrews Will Bestow Honorary Degrees

The country's oldest university will conduct the public ceremony in the town's Younger Hall on Tuesday, July 13..

The trio has won 18 major championships, including nine British Open titles, over the last half century.

Previous recipients of honorary degrees from St Andrews include golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Peter Thomson and Peter Allis.

 

Top 10 Tips for Dating After 40

1. Finding a mate is like finding a job. It is something you have to work at everyday until you're successful.

2. Ask everyone you know. On average we all know about 250 other people, one or two of them are going to know someone else who is single and looking. Just ask you may be very pleasantly surprised.

3. Have your morning coffee at Starbucks. If you're out and about your chances of meeting someone are about 100% better than you'd have sitting at home in your fuzzy slippers.

4. Use the internet. According to AARP, 41% of today's internet users are 55 and older. You don't have to use a dating site (though I know many people who have been successful at it). You can meet like-minded individuals in one of the millions of chat rooms that are available in cyber space. If you do use a dating site - do it wisely. Some people don't tell the truth about themselves.

5. Take a class. Imagine getting your degree and finding a mate at the same time. It's a great way to meet people who are striving to improve themselves and who you already share an interest with.

6. Join local organizations. Rotary, The Sierra Club, and religious groups are just some of the places where you can meet other singles. Even if Mr. or Ms. Right isn't in the group you go to remember that someone may know the perfect person.

7. Go to reunions. I have know quite a few people who met and fell in love with old high school and college pals decades later. It's amazing how strong those old school ties can be.

8. Try singles events. Invest your time and money in a singles cruise or weekend getaway. If nothing else you'll get a vacation out of the deal and probably make a friend.

9. Go to business activities. Conferences, parties and meetings are places where you can meet appropriate singles that you already have something in common with.

10. Go shopping. Loads of singles are at the market between 5:00 and 6:30 shopping for dinner. If you see a nice looking person picking out a lonely pork chop, ask them a question or give them a recipe suggestion. It could lead to dinner for two.

I know that dating in your 40's and beyond is a challenge, but the good news is that you are at a time in your life when you and your prospective mates know what you want. Remember that the only way you'll meet someone is by putting yourself out there. So get off the couch and drive over to the book store to see who's reading the latest novels, they could be your next big romance.

 

 

Polyandry - Why you probably never heard of it

This has the salutary effect of consolidating the brothers' family wealth into one household and, theoretically, making "sharing" of the wife less of a source of tension. (And yet, somehow I can't help but envision the mother of all cases of sibling rivalry.)

But as I said, polyandry is a trend that never really took off. This is not surprising. We can safely assume that a man's preference would be for a marriage in which the wife-to-husband ratio is at least one-to-one. (Of course, his true fantasy would simply involve multiple women - skip the marriage part altogether.) And polyandry clearly presents some unique challenges for women as well.

To illustrate, consider the situation of the Himalayan housewife, let's call her Chomolunga. In order to satisfy all of her husbands' carnal appetites she is expected to orchestrate a nightly rotation of her "marital duties", an arrangement which could easily rival, in terms of intricacy and exhaustion, the most demanding of carpool schedules. And then there's the extra meals, cleaning and laundry, and the overwhelming job of placating all those male egos. And though it's nice to have a man around the house to operate complicated media equipment, a woman from a remote village in the Himalayas can't possibly have enough DVR systems in her home to justify that kind of aggravation. And let's not forget the inevitable debate over exactly whose baby it is and, by extension, who has to get up in the middle of the night to change the diaper. Picture this 2 a.m. dialogue among our Himalayan husband/brothers when 2 month old Mahendra wakes the household with his piercing cries:

Brother Barati: "Brother Paneru, the infant Mahendra is your son - you get up."

Brother Paneru: "With all due respect Brother Barati, Mahendra was born on January 10th and counting back 280 days we arrive at April 5th , always one of your blessed nights."

Brother Barati: "Pardon me, Brother Paneru, but please to remember that I switched with Brother Nawang that night because I had playoff tickets."

Brother Nawang: "Yes, I do recall that Brother Barati, but anyone can see Mahendra has Brother Thakchay's curly hair and skinny legs ... "

I'm guessing that, before this debate ends, the weary Chomolunga will be the one to change Mahendra's diaper and, since she's already up, also the one to let the buffalo out. (Factoid - Most of the milk in Nepal comes from buffaloes.)

And so poor Chomolunga spends her days putting down upright toilet seats and cooking and cleaning for a family of twenty, all the while berated by a mother-in-law who, no doubt, thinks she wasn't good enough to marry any of her sons, let alone all of them.

Which is not to say, however, that our current form of marriage is the best solution. In fact, forward-thinking women would do much better to negotiate an altogether different kind. What I have in mind is a sort of serial monogamy that borrows liberally from the vacation timeshare industry. It would look something like this: A woman marries, or rather "leases", a man for a certain number of years, the choice of man and the number of years to depend on her particular needs and interests at the time. So, while she's young and highly hormonal she can go for looks and chemistry. During her childrearing years she'll seek the family guy who's willing to read to the kids at night and pick them up from soccer games. (Cooking skills would also be a plus.) When it's time to start paying those college tuition bills a man's financial resources come into play. During the empty nest years, compatibility is key. At the end of life she wants him strong and healthy enough to be able to pick her up or wheel her around, if necessary, and good-natured enough to be willing to do so.

By my count that comes to an average of five husbands per woman but, more important than the number, the right man for the right time. And to provide for the possibility that something like love might show up along the way, the bride could negotiate up front for a lease-to-buy option or the right to extend the term. (And one could get very creative with the subletting possibilities.)

So my advice to future brides: When the clergyman asks "‘Til death do you part?" the proper response is, "Not quite - only ‘til the lease expires".

 

“Don’t Leave Home Without It.” Tips to Keep You Safe from the Raised Eyebrow Group

To this day the authorities are looking for whoever absconded with my Labium Superius and Inferius. But I don't lock up without rounding up what is left of my lips and glossing them over.

Tip 1A: Always carry a small compact mirror with you. Nothing says "you remind me of your mother's maiden aunt" more than lipstick all over your teeth.

Laurie: Tip #2. There are so many things that are a natural part of my huge Vera Bradley purse, but if I had to pick one of the many essentials first, I think it would be Band-Aids. Yep, regular ole Band-Aids. In New York City, Land of Walk Everywhere, you never know when an old and trusted shoe is going to turn on you. Breezing down the sidewalk dodging tourists and potholes, suddenly you feel the beginning of a blister on your exhausted foot. Whip out that Band-Aid, slap it on the painful puffy foot skin, and keep easing on down the avenue.

elizabeth: Tip #3: Before leaving for work, a class, an errand or anything that just might be causing you some aggravation - take a few deep breaths. Get centered. Pet your dog. Feed your fish. Drink some milk out of your cat's bowl (make sure Fluffy is out of the room). Do anything to find some inner peace. Because the person you might be honking at to move into oncoming traffic could be me. And you don't know what ugly scary is until you try to try my patience.

Laurie: Tip #4. If you are crazy enough to actually try to drive in New York City traffic, never leave home without a roll of quarters. Yes, they make a lovely weapon of self-defense but that's not the reason I am telling you to throw them in your purse or car. After you have driven around for 45 minutes, you finally find a parking space. You will probably have to take a taxi to your destination but it's a parking space. You make the dreaded parallel parking attempts five or six times and finally get your car situated, and then you realize that you don't have quarter for the parking meter. Serious crimes have been committed in the name of a quarter.

elizabeth: Tip #5 Your parents may think that you are the center of their universe, but, trust me, and I mean this in the nicest way, you are not the center of ours. We don't need to hear a minute-to-minute account of your work day or your sex life or lack of. We got our own "Lacks ofs" list to keep us busy for a decade or two. Please don't burden us with yours. Try to make your phone calls at home. I know. That sounds like corporal punishment. If you must use your cell phone in public, please remember to use your inside voice. Or how about that inner voice that is telling you that no one needs to know the intimate details of your life? Listen to it. We'll read all the gory details of a day in your life when your memoir comes out. For now just sit down, open up a book, put on some lipstick and remain silent. Anything you say may be held against you.

Laurie: Tip #6. Always pack a sense of humor. You're going to need it when you discover that you have lipstick on your teeth, a blister on your foot, no quarters in your purse, and a bunch of people yelling on their cell phones.

 

Aging Beautifully!

If we do take vitamins, more times than not, they're synthetic vitamins our bodies can't utilize - and what little we do absorb - we quickly destroy by smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol.

To make matters worse, toxins build up in our colon, liver and kidneys and our system becomes

Over-burdened and ceases to function efficiently.

All these things work to take their toll and age related symptoms begin to appear en masse.

There are many things that can be added to one's daily lifestyle to help reverse-or greatly slow- the age related symptoms and skin conditions that accompany Menopause.

A few of the more powerful are:

B Complex: B vitamins do so much to keep our bodies running efficiently. They work to maintain: nerves, skin, eyes, hair, liver, muscle and they are crucial to a toned and healthy digestive tract. They soothe the nervous system and help alleviate stress and depression.

Green tea: This delightful beverage has many benefits due to its well-known antioxidant properties. It's rich in flavonoid compounds which are known to be potent both as antioxidants and anti-allergy/anti inflammatory.

Numerous studies are proving that green tea scavenges free radicals in the skin and stops

the damage they cause. Green tea is also thought to be a helpful skin protectant in regard to sun exposure.

Filtered and/or purified water: Nothing assists the internal cleansing process more than high quality water. We are horribly dehydrated in this country and dehydration saps us of energy, health and vitality -and beauty. The skin needs proper and regular water consumption to stay wrinkle-free and supple. As the skin eliminates internal poisons and toxins as part of its job, flushing the tissues internally with plenty of fresh water assists in this process.

Here's a general rule of thumb for you: the human body needs approx. 64 oz of high quality water per day-give or take - to function optimally. More if you are very active or live in warm climates.

But the best formula to follow for calculating hydration needs on a per person basis is this:

Take your body weight and divide that number in half. This is the number of ounces of pure water -PER DAY - the health experts say you need to stay properly hydrated.

--How close are you to that number of ounces each day? Hmmm...thought so!

Essential fatty acids: Omega 3 and 9s are crucial to health. These compounds serve as free radical scavengers, and also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They balance our hormones, lubricate our joints, knock out inflammation, assist in cardio health and are the ultimate beauty tonic.

Evening Primrose, Flax and Borage oils are also in this category, though they are often thought to have less potency than the purified fish oils do.

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is necessary for tissue repair and growth and also for healthy teeth and gums. It also works to help the adrenal glands, which serve to keep us calm and stress-free. Vitamin C also keeps connective tissues healthy and skin radiant and glowing.

Minerals: Minerals are needed for the proper formation of nerve, blood and bone and also to keep body fluids in proper composition. They also work as coenzymes and enable the body to properly metabolize food and nutrients for energy, growth and healing.

They are very necessary for glowing and healthy skin, hair and nails, just as vitamins are.

Fiber: As it is the skin's job to assist in detoxifying the body, eating a diet high in fiber eases the load of the skin in serving this duty. A clean colon greatly helps with glowing skin- and lessened Menopausal symptoms. I personally am a fan of colon cleansing, but through a lengthy and gentle process. Fiber is a huge component of a healthy bowel and healthy skin. You simply can't have one without the other.

Sleep: Proper rest is vital to health and beauty. Many studies are currently proving that this is NOT the place to skimp if you are on a tight schedule.

There really IS such a thing as Beauty Sleep... and if you are wise, you will get at least 7-8 hours of it per night in a TOTALLY dark room.

Sleep makes an enormous difference to health and beauty... but is often the very thing Menopause robs us of the most. This is a sad and ironic twist for Menopausal women, and current studies are now proving that less sleep means a worse time of Menopausal transition.

Once all these components are firmly in place (taking into consideration any contraindications issued by your Physician of course) the final piece of the Menopause Skin Health Puzzle needs to be an in-depth look at the hormones that go into making the cocktail of Womanhood.

But don't just limit yourself to estrogen, progesterone and testosterone!

Many recent studies are showing that there is so much more to a woman's hormone panel than just these 3 primary sex hormones.

If a woman wishes to get through Menopause healthy, beautiful and thriving- then she MUST look into her Cortisol, Insulin, DHEA and Thyroid hormone levels as well.

As humans, we are amazing chemical cocktails- and sometimes Happy Hour is a rather intricate balancing act!

 

Communication Tips for Your Personal and Professional Life

• Verbal attacks, bad language, and continually criticizing someone are ways of deconstructing your connection to your team. These words chip away at the foundation of your business relationships by weakening your team mates self-esteem and ability to see what it is that really needs healing. If there are behaviors that you need someone to change, point them out, using solid examples along with suggestions of how you would like things to be different. Often, people are unaware of how their words can affect those they live and work with and how simple changes in language can make a vast difference. Just making the agreement to stop swearing is a powerful tool that will immediately lower the tension in your home and office and you'll also be more respected.

• By staying on topic, you can avoid having a conversation disintegrate into an uncomfortable argument. Bringing up the distant past can be a way of not allowing closure to the issue at hand. It can also be a way of punishing the other person for your pain. Keep your conversation focused on the current problem and solve it. Then, once you have made appropriate adjustments and come to a conclusion, spend a moment to go over what was said. Making sure you are both on the same page will prevent you from having to deal with the same issue repeatedly.

• Clarity can be difficult when emotional issues arise. Sometimes our feelings take over and we either get scared by our feelings or are blinded with anger. Being open and honest with your partner, even if you are anxious or hurt, is the best way to resolve your issues. Clamming up, sending double messages, or being evasive will only serve to frustrate both of you. Say what you need to say in an appropriate manner so that you can move on and enjoy your life together.

• Learning to never terrorize your loved ones or business associates is one of the most valuable communication tools you can use. So many deals and relationships would be saved if one or the other person refused to devalue his or her client or lover with threats. These inappropriate remarks are actually a way of saying to the people you care for, "I'm hiding the fear I really feel, but I sense this isn't going to go the way I want it to." It would be much more productive if you could honestly say, "I need for some clarity, let's chat."

• When discussions digress into yelling matches, taking a time out is a tried and true method of keeping things on track. Either person can call a time out, but both of you need to agree before hand that you will commit to completing the conversation, no matter how uncomfortable it may have become. Leaving things unfinished is an invitation to further misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

• Interrupting anyone when he or she is sharing their feelings is a way of discounting what the other person is saying. By cutting him or her off you are saying, "You're wrong, I'm right and my ideas are more important than yours." Instead of blurting out what you are thinking, chose to remember your thought and share it with the other person when he or she is finished. The interrupting technique is also a way on not listening to your someone's feelings and that also causes emotional pain.

• Disagreements are a part of communication and a part of life. Acknowledging that it is okay for a teammate or life-mate to have and express a differing opinion, rather than stuffing his or her feelings, is a sign of a mature and nurturing personal or business relationship. In the long run, differences can make for more interesting conversation and work. Besides, having someone agree with everything you feel can take some of the mystery out of life.

• If either of you are not in a place to communicate when another person needs to, you have the right to say so. However, you must agree to have the conversation sometime within a reasonable period of time. I don't think it's a good idea to let things go unsaid for more than a day or two.

• When something is bothering you, it is important to bring it up as your issue instead of pointing the finger at that person. Owning your emotions and using "I statements" to describe how you are feeling keeps things clear and allows whomever you are speaking with to hear what it is you are saying to him or her.
"I" statements are where you talk about how you feel and give a corrective action rather than just telling him or her what you think they are doing wrong. For example, instead of saying, "You always hurt leave the dirty work for me" say, "It bugs me when you don't complete the projects we are working on."
Sharing your feelings in this way minimizes defensiveness because you are not blaming. It will help both of you create agreements that will make your working relationship healthier and happier.

If having unpleasant exchanges with co-workers or clients is the norm in your company, you have to change the way you communicate or your chances of achieving success will be greatly diminished.

Following these guidelines will help everyone involved understand and communicate with each other much better. Remember that communication is the most important thing in business and that we can all get better at it.

Communication Repair Rules

Rules for Speaker:
1. Speak for yourself. Don't mind read.
2. Keep statements brief.
3. Use a softened start-up.
4. Present your complaints without criticism.
5. Stop & let the listener paraphrase what you've said.

Rules for the Listener:
1. Paraphrase what you hear the speaker say.
2. Focus on the speakers message.
3. Don't rebut.
4. Accept influence.
5. Positively take in the other person's requests.

Rules for the Speaker & the Listener:
1. The Speaker has the floor.
2. The Speaker keeps the floor while the listener paraphrases.
3. Share the floor.
4. Put the brakes on conflict. Do anything to halt negativity.
5. If discussions get over-heated, take a time out for at least 20 minutes.
6. De-escalate discord. Stop and redirect the energy.

 

 

Financial Planning is More Than Money - How Strategies Fit Into Plans

I was reminded of this difference recently when reviewing the "plan" created by Lou, a friend of mine. Lou asked if I would, "take a look" at his plan and offer an opinion. He handed me a document that was several pages long, which contained the results of a risk analyzer and portfolio recommendations. I could see that he had spent some time creating this.

I immediately thought of the difference between strategies and plans and said, "This is interesting as a strategy, but lacking as a plan." He looked puzzled at my comment and I went on to explain, a true financial plan is a life plan. It starts with a vision of how you see your future, creating goals, setting priorities.

Once your goals are set, then you develop strategies. These should consist of more than building a portfolio. Strategies are the engine that drives you to your vision. They are the action steps that lead you to meet your goals. They must be comprehensive to be truly effective. Like an engine, which cannot run efficiently on a few cylinders, throwing together various strategies, without a global plan, will only get you spotty results and ultimately misfires. Strategies include creating timelines, understanding all areas of money management, insuring and protecting against catastrophe, and creating a Plan B for the unexpected.

A plan is an active document--an evolving project--which requires monitoring, tweaking and updating. Changes in your job, relationships, health, and financials will necessitate updates and adjustments. When priorities change, one goal may be accomplished, while another is added to replace it. For instance; the birth of a child or grandchild, may add college planning to the plan, or health issues may require additional care costs. Changes in relationships may require revamping your estate planning goals.

When the plan is active and not set in stone, you can easily readjust and keep moving forward. Making sure you stay on target to your goals will require vigilance. You will be updating and rebalancing your accounts, making adjustments in your strategies, and revisiting your timelines.

Try thinking of building a life, or financial, plan along the lines of taking a long journey. First, you have a vision of the trip, decide upon the various stops along the way, and then chart the route you will travel. Your vision becomes stronger, once you have that map out, the car goes into the garage for a tune-up, and the hotels are booked. Once begun, the journey is likely to follow twists and turns you didn't plan for and yet they add to the value of the experience. The restaurant you found on the back street when you took a wrong turn, the bad weather that caused you to postpone the canyon hiking for a trip to an antique shop full of bargains, all contribute to the evolving nature of an active journey. It's always changing and that allows you to make the best of whatever comes your way.

As you build your life/financial plan, keep these thoughts in mind:

1. Start with a vision.
2. Set timelines for goals.
3. Create strategies that align with your goals.
4. Monitor, adjust, rethink, tweak.

The destination you reach may be more wonderful than you ever imagined.

About Mike Bonacorsi, CFP®

Mike Bonacorsi is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM professional, public speaker and award-winning author of Retirement Readiness: A Guide to Creating Your Vision, Knowing Your Position, and Preparing for Your Future. You can listen to his radio show, The Mike Bonacorsi Show, at WSMN, 1590AM or on your computer at http://wsmnradio.com on Tuesdays from noon - 1:00 PM. For additional information, visit http://mikebonacorsi.com/. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeBonacorsi. Read his blog at http://www.mikebonacorsi.blogspot.com/ Reprinted with permission of the author. 2009© Mike Bonacorsi CFP® All Rights Reserved.

 

 

Fat Free and Other Fairy Tales

Remember the Seinfeld episode when Jerry and Elaine gained all that weight because the owner of the neighborhood ice cream shop flat-out lied about the fat content of his frozen yogurt? That story resonated with me because it was such a classic illustration of how much we rely upon the integrity of strangers in the trivial (and not so trivial) transactions of our daily lives. There are an infinite number of examples of this:

The coffee we're served by the waiter after dinner - is it really decaf? How can we know? The man in the jacket that so obligingly accepts the keys to our car - looked like a valet, right? But can we be sure he wasn't just a guy that favors plastic windbreakers with logos who happened to be in the right place at the right time and is now driving your car to Mexico? And those 100 calorie fudge cookie snacks, what if ...?

And how many times, out of pure laziness, do we trust even when we are in a position to verify. Like the checkout scanner at the grocery store - do you look to see if your items aren't double-counted and that the prices are properly recorded? Do you reconcile your checkbook against your bank statement every month and count the change you receive every time you buy a newspaper (you do still buy newspapers don't you?) or, for that matter, the cash you receive from the ATM? (If you are one of those people that actually does all of these things and sometimes discovers major discrepancies, please don't tell me about them. I'd much rather be blissfully ignorant and go on trusting.)

But when it comes to the internet, a whole different leap of faith is involved. There is, unfortunately, no such thing as a credibility rating for websites. Accordingly, we are advised to be very skeptical and not to believe everything, or possibly anything, we find online and yet... and yet... we want to believe. I would go so far as to say we almost always do believe. As for me, I tend to blindly trust any website that has ".org, .edu, .gov, or national" in its name, and pretty much all the others too.

Perhaps it is that same slothful inclination that keeps us from counting our change that also makes us want to believe, because the internet is such an easy source for almost any kind of information. Recently, after reading about the calamitous impact that methane emitted from cow burps has on the environment, I turned to the internet to research the environmental impact of comparable kinds of emissions emanating from humans. I quickly found the answer in a paper posted by researcher Zach Elgood, impressively titled "The Isotopic Fingerprint of Human-Emitted Methane". This paper, replete with fancy charts and graphs, reports the results of a study by the author who examined and compared the average methane concentration of human oral and intestinal emissions. The report concluded that only human vegetarians produce a modest amount of methane through colonic gas emissions; those from human omnivores contain only negligible amounts of methane.

And there you have it - yet another example of Google-asked-and-answered research. Did I doubt the reliability of the study? Not a bit of it. Not even when I came to the end and noted the author used Wikipedia as a source and thanked his dad for teaching him about isotopes. And my confidence remained unshaken even after I learned Zach Elgood was a 7th grader from Kitchener, Ontario because, I reasoned, he must be a really smart 7th grader. So if the subject of the impact on the environment from human methane emissions ever comes up I will, no doubt, refer to the conclusions of Zach's scientific research. After all, I did find it on the internet.

Still, I am puzzled by the following aspect of my own behavior: In the face of my ready willingness to accept at face value the words and deeds of total strangers, why is it that I am highly skeptical of information when the source of it is my very own husband. I refer, of course, to my inability to take on faith his automatically-generated reassuring response to the following philosophical question I pose to him on a daily basis: "Do these pants make my thighs look heavy?"

I wonder what Wikepedia has to say on the subject.

 

Getting Tipsy this Spring with the Coaches on the Edge

Tip # 1: Pick a quiet time and go to your closet door. Hopefully no one else will be home. Fall to your knees and pray that your clothes from last spring still fit. You might want to do something nice for your spring clothes before you attempt this. A lovely scented sachet, matching sets of padded hangers, soft light bulbs, or Muzak piped in come to mind.

Tip #2: Ah, the great outdoors. I just love it. From the inside of my house with a glass of very dry red wine, some aged cheddar and a sleeping 32 year old on my lap. Oh, some ‘tweens might be reading this list. Just tell them I was being a little naughty about the cheese. But seriously, Walter's (the non 23 year old husband) idea of spring cleaning is getting out there in the dirt and waking up the worms and then asking me to plant bulbs. I don't even want to think about what those nasty creatures have done in the dirt and he wants me to get mud under my nails. I think not. Pass the damn bottle. Please.

Tip # 3: The closet prayer didn't work? Here are some last-resort tricks you can call on. When you try zipping your favorite summer capris, lie flat on your back and use pliers to gently coerce the zipper up. Don't do this activity alone because you will need help getting off the bed. Accidentally poke another hole in your summer belt (this could have been avoided if only you had used a long flowing scarf in your belt loops last year). Extend your waistline with a simple little elastic band in your button hole. Try to color coordinate it.

Tip #4: Ah, with the windows wide open in the before mentioned house and that good old country air filling my lungs, I want to jump in the car and visit all the malls on the east coast. Don't even think about putting a paint can near me. I don't care if Nantucket Misty Blue brings out my eye color (and pray tell how will that happen - my baby blues are brown with yellow highlights), I don't want to paint. I think we should hire people to do it. Yes, I have heard about the economy and all its faults, but does that mean I have to pick up a brush and try not to paint the molding? Well, there is that Mall that Laurie likes so much so maybe I will consider helping out. And for the record, let's got one thing straight - I don't have a good side.

Tip # 5: Start collecting boxes because you are going to be doing spring cleaning. You'll need a huge box for all the damn clothes that no longer fit you, a smaller box for all the crap on your desk, an even smaller box for the stuff in your junk drawer and maybe just a paper bag for all the makeup and nail polish you bought this year that you wouldn't be caught dead in now. And then top off your box collection with a large heavy-duty garbage bag. You'll be using that to remove all the deconstructed boxes because let's get real...you are never going to get around to actually cleaning.

Tip #6: Some fool said if you have not worn it in the last 6 months - get rid of it. If you were any closer, I would slap you. My clothes and shoes are not going anywhere. My clothes are like my children. And so are my cats, and my books and my CDs. Maybe you will have to explain spring cleaning to me again. Speak slowly. I was a natural blond as a child.

Tip # 7: Get rid of all the low-calorie, fat-reduced hot chocolate mix that really never tasted like hot chocolate and replace it with low-calorie, fat-reduced lemonade mix that is so tart that your lips will stay puckered all summer. For an immediate pick-me-up, mix them both together. Now those paper bags you bought for your spring cleaning will come in handy as barf bags.

Tip #8: Get together with the neighbors and have a community garage sale. Take the money you raise and donate it to a local charity. That does work for me because charity does begin at home. I have not forgotten all those malls on the east coast that need me to stimulate their economy.

Tip # 9: Postpone the inevitable. Alaskan cruises are all the rage; Icelandic sheep coats are nature-ally beautiful; you can even find snow in the mountains of Utah all year round. Grab your oversized, flaw-hiding, perfect excuse winter clothes and your packages of hot chocolate and head for the hills!

Tip #10: Laurie, I do like the layered look when I go on an Alaskan cruise. Especially if it includes seven layers with a side of double fudge brownie ice cream.


© 2010, Coaches on the Edge ^TM

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys.

Stop by at elizabeth's site at: Branching Out Life Coaching

Please visit our new site at Coaches on the Edge

 

Baby Boomers, Clearing Blocks For Weight Loss Results

When your mind entertains the thought of losing weight, what thoughts pop into your head?

Knowing if your thinking is helping or sabotaging your progress is crucial for success.

Maybe you think, "I've tried so many times and I've failed, it's no use", or "I don't have energy to exercise" or "I'm ready to make a change because I want to feel good in my body and have more confidence." Whatever you think you shall be.

A simple but powerful exercise to do is to get a notebook and write at the top of a clean page your goal. Now just write whatever pops into your mind under that goal. You will be surprised how many mental blocks may pop up but let them because this is the first step to clearing them out of your consciousness and sub consciousness. Any thought that negates your goal is a mental block and we will need to clear it.

On another sheet of paper, write all the mental blocks on the left and the opposite of what that would be on the right of the page. Fold down the middle so there are two columns.

For example, if your first thought was, I can't lose weight because I have no discipline with my eating; write on the opposite side " I am leaning out because I'm now making healthier choices with food and exercising portion control.

Always write your affirmation in the now. When you say I will exercise or I will lose that last 10 pounds, you put it off mentally. State everything in the now as if it's already the way things are. An example would be "I love to walk first thing in the morning and I'm losing weight and feel much more energetic." The mind responds to this and will help you to attract favorable situations to support your thinking.

After you have written all the mental blocks and the affirmations on the opposite side of the page, cut the paper in two columns so they are separated. Take the mental blocks and over a trash can rip them into small pieces while saying " These thoughts don't serve me, I let them go. Now take the affirmations and put them on a wall or mirror where you can see them everyday. When you read them, read out loud and picture in your mind your ideal scenario for that goal. For example, see yourself fit and healthy and loving your body and your life. Believe that this is your truth. Do this daily. It takes a few minutes a day, but the investment of time will pay off greatly. Many athletes have declared that using affirmations and visualizing their goals being accomplished, have brought them victories. You can do the same. You have nothing to lose, except some cruddy thoughts that hold you back, and everything to gain.

Website - Strong Body for Life

10 Ways and Reasons You Can Start Over

Starting Over

Instead of making a resolution, which most of us aren't all that great at keeping, why not look for some areas in your life where you'd like to begin anew? Here are some tools to make starting over a little easier and your new year a little more emotionally fit.

1. Starting over is not the same as recouping from a failure. It is a new beginning. This mindset is helpful because it keeps you from wasting your time being too hard on yourself.

2. Moving through life is like climbing stairs. You go up a level and then you level off. Nothing is ever a straight shot. Have some patience with yourself and with your newfound direction.

3. This new year is also a new decade. It could also be a new life if you approach it in the right way. Sometimes little ideas can turn into big things. Try writing that letter to the editor or, if you need to, make the choice to drink a little less alcohol.

4. Endings are not necessarily bad things. Even if the past year was your best so far, the one ahead might just leave it in the dust. This is also true if it's been your worst year so far, and you've suddenly found yourself unemployed or unattached.

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5. Starting over may feel scary, but it's really a cause for celebration. Think of it as exciting, and many of your anxious feelings will begin to fade.

6. Remember that your future is not governed by your past. No matter what has happened in your life, you can find a way to make things a little better for yourself, and hopefully for those around you as well.

7. Having to start over is different from choosing to start over. For those whose lives are still in chaos because of manmade and natural disasters, starting over is not a choice. Giving support to those in need and being able to accept it when necessary are great qualities.

8. Healthy alternatives to negative lifestyle patterns abound. Take baby steps if you don't feel comfortable making all your changes on January 1. If you can't stop a bad habit, start by cutting back. It's okay to give yourself a little time to moderate or stop something that's hurting you.

9. It's not all about joining a gym to get fit. What about taking a dance class to get in shape and have fun at the same time? Starting over can mean chasing your dreams. We're happiest when we're moving toward a goal.

10. Starting over is about giving yourself a chance at real happiness. You will have to be brave and get good at learning new things, but how bad can that be? At the very worst, you will acquire the skills you need to start on the next project.

The new year is a great time to start over. Remember that once you honestly commit to the changes, you have already begun the process.

Envision the Next Chapter

Monica's adult son finally got a job and moved out last September. Then she was forced into retirement when her company downsized. At first, she was grateful for the peace and quiet, but she's now having trouble getting into motion: "I just feel like giving up and hiding in a hole for the next 10 years."

Monica is in the midst of a transition. They often happen as we age, but they can also be brought about by an unasked-for change. One chapter of our lives has closed and a new one hasn't begun. The uncomfortable gap in between, when we may feel malaise, or even panic, is what it means to be in transition.

I learned this perspective from Candice Carpenter in her book Chapters. Because we're all living longer and change is accelerating, we will go through many chapters, each with its own dramas, excitement, requirements, and difficulties. Just like with a great novel, we may not be sure where the story will take us and can feel lost or confused. Article continues http://silverplanet.com/silver-planet-aging/envision-next-chapter/55356

 

If Shopping Is Wrong, Coaches on the Edge Don’t Wanna Be Right

Laurie: Why oh why can't I turn down a bargain? My mentality is exactly what advertisers speak to, and it works every time. My closets are full of enough "only-$10!" items to pay my full rent for a month. And in New York City, that is no small feat. Speaks well to the size of my closets though. Do I wear these practically-free pieces of clothing? Some times, but most likely not. I have the phone number for Dress for Success committed to memory, and once every three months or so I drag over a big bag of never-before-worn clothes. Jackets are another thing that can't be resisted. I've got them in every color and style. The opportunity to wear jackets in my area of the United States, where spring and autumn are almost mere memories, is about five days tops. So right now I have a jacket supply that would enable me to change every eight hours and still not duplicate. Shoes I'm much smarter on. Don't get me wrong. I still buy them, but I get rid of them at the first sign of toe crunch, blister building, and arch pain. My sister hasn't bought a pair of sneakers in decades.

elizabeth: I have fallen in love with shoes and felt heart-pounding palpitations that were stronger than what I have felt for men that I was dating or even sleeping with. And if I found them on sale (the shoes not the men), I would let them move in with me and I would not forsaken them until the next pair seduced with me with a simple, "I do come in 9 ½." I was such a shoe whore. And clothes on sale. I think I took care of every "emotional band-aid" in my life with shopping bags that were filled with designer threads that I got for a steal. Moving from a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan to a 3 bedroom house was an opportunity to take home even more orphans that needed a good closet.

Laurie: It's not like the salesperson takes me into a secret room and says "Here are the specials we're offering today just for you." These delectable bargains are right out there in the middle of the floor under screaming banners beckoning to all shoppers who pass by. Why do I feel the need to answer the call? I think it may be a superiority thing. Suddenly I have a chance to trick the retail system. You were selling that jacket for $75, and now I can get it for $10? Obvious, it's so obvious. It's my duty to universal justice to buy it at a $65 savings. President Bush and I didn't agree on much, but when he said it was our patriotic duty to shop, me and the Pres became kindred souls. It was a brief liaison, but it was rewarding. At least to Dress for Success.

elizabeth: I do feel good when I can donate clothing and (insert loud gasp here) shoes to an organization that will help empower women. I feel like I was just babysitting for them until the time was right for each woman to go out and strike it on her own. Can I make a little confession? And promise you won't deem me shallow? The shoes and clothes that I have had a long and deep relationship with will not be leaving me unless you pull them out of my cold dead hands. Sometimes Dress for Success will just have to wait. I didn't say I was a saint. Just a well dressed woman who loves her shoes.

© 2009, Coaches on the Edge ^TM

If you would like to learn more about Laurie, please go to her site: Empowered Life Journeys.

Stop by at elizabeth's site at: Branching Out Life Coaching
Please visit our new site at Coaches on the Edge

 

 

Ten Things to Be Thankful For

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think it's important to take a gratitude inventory. A number of things in life can make us uncomfortable or even a little miffed. But sometimes they are gifts in disguise. With that in mind, here are my top ten things to be thankful for.

1. Be thankful for growing older. Not everyone gets this opportunity. Aging with health and grace is a rare and beautiful gift.

2. Be thankful that you can read these words. It is a very sad thing that many people do not have the ability to read.

3. If you have to wait in line at the supermarket for your Thanksgiving dinner, be thankful that you can afford what you want to eat and have a convenient place to buy it. We are all aware of the many people waiting in line to have a meal at the local homeless shelter.

4. Be thankful for the ability to pay your bills, even if it means that you have to give up some things that you want. Remember that having basic needs met is a luxury for many people.

5. If you have to get up before dawn to get to work, be thankful that you get to see another sunrise and have a job to go to. Think about what it would be like if you slept everyday until noon and spent the rest of your waking hours wondering what to do with your life.

6. When you're stuck in traffic, be thankful you have a car to get where you need to go and money to buy gas. Standing in the rain while waiting for a bus is, at the very least, uncomfortable.

7. When the kids are screaming at each other, be thankful that you have children to love and who love you, and remember that at least some of the time, they do get along. There will always be bumps in the road, but they are usually followed by easier times.

8. When your mate is acting grumpy or giving you a hard time, be thankful for having love in your life and someone to grow old with. A life partner is something that less than half the population has. Having your partner is a blessing that needs to be counted several times.

9. When your parents are telling you how to run your life, be thankful that you still have them around. If they are no longer with you, take a moment to be thankful for the time you had with them.

10. When you sit down with your loved ones for your Thanksgiving dinner, be thankful for everyone and everything that makes it possible. Look your family and friends in the eye and express to them your gratitude for sharing this wonderful time together.

Thanksgiving is a very special holiday. Embrace those around you and your ability to give thanks to those you love.

 

 

Happy Tails! Capen Dog Park in Columbia, MO

Capen Dog Park
1600 Capen Park Dr.
Columbia, MO 65201

Capen Dog Park
Fenced in: No
Leash Required: No
Night Lighting: No
Benches: No
Trash Cans: Yes
Disposal Bags: No
Water Fountain: No

Surface type: Woods, fields, stream, rocks, bike/jog path.

Great trails, trees and dogs to greet!

 

Baby Boomer Back Stretch

Let's look at the common causes of lower back pain. There are two main reasons, which are a lack of strength in muscles that support the spine and a lack of flexibility. First let us discuss lack of strength. Muscles are the spine's main defense against gravity. Strengthening the core muscles that support the spine with exercises, can prevent, reduce and even eliminate back pain. The core muscles are primarily the abdominals (both deep and external), the back, and the buttocks, which covers the trunk of the human body.

There are other muscles that must be strong as well to support us when we do every day functional activities such as lifting a grocery bag or getting in and out of a car. It is imperative that our leg muscles are strong to support our movement during daily activities. The front of the leg (called the quadriceps muscles) support us when lifting, sitting and standing. If these muscles are weak, you may end up using your back. Also the muscles of the back of the leg called the hamstrings must be strong to support the spine when doing functional activities. The transversus abdominis (the deep abs underlying the top layer of abs) must be strong to support the lower back. These are strengthened by core training exercises such as the plank, a popular one used in yoga and Pilates training.

Now before we get to some exercises to do to get you on your way to a healthier back, let's discuss the flexibility component of this plan. Shortened muscles can throw the spine out of alignment and cause back pain. Stretching exercises
lengthen shortened muscles and relieve back pain. Tight back muscles, tight buttocks muscles, and even tight hamstrings (back of thigh muscles) or quadriceps (front of thigh muscles), can affect the alignment of the spine. Stretching the back with stretching exercises also increases mobility of the joints of the spine.

Always warm up before stretching exercises. Five minutes of walking, or exercise bike, elliptical trainer, or even marching on the spot is enough. Not warming up before stretching leaves your back susceptible to injuries causing back pain. Warm muscles are more flexible than cold muscles and are less likely to tear.

Now before you begin this or any program, ask your doctor if the following exercises are appropriate for you to do. Check with your physician before doing exercises that involve twisting or arching the back if you have a back condition

Stretching exercises may be done daily. Strengthening exercises should be done three or four times per week - the days off give your body a chance to recover. It may take 6 week to 8 weeks to notice results. If at any time you feel pain or discomfort, stop the exercise.
.
Here are some stretches you can do for increased flexibility.
(Start with five repetitions of each exercise. If you can handle five repetitions without post exercise pain, then slowly add a couple of repetitions each week until you reach 15 repetitions).

If at any time you feel discomfort or pain, stop the exercise. Usually shortening the range of motion is a good way to correct that, but if you don't feel comfortable with it after modifying the stretch, stop doing it.

Pelvic Tilt: lower back stretching exercise (also strengthens abs)
Lie on back, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Tighten buttocks and abdomen, flattening small of back against the floor. Hold for a count of five. Slowly relax. Repeat five - fifteen times.

Knee to Chest: Gluteal stretching exercise

Lie on back, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Grasp left leg behind the knee/back of thigh and pull knee towards left shoulder. Hold for a count of five. Switch sides. Repeat 5 times.

Piriformis Stretch: (Stretches Muscles that lie beneath gluteal muscles)

Lie on your back
Place your left ankle over your right leg, just above the knee and pull both legs toward your chest. Push the bent knee away from you and pull the opposite leg in toward you.
Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat on other side.

Basic Twist: lower back stretching exercise.

Lie on back, arms stretched out to the sides.
Bend knees and bring knees up close to your chest
Take a deep breath
Exhale as you slowly lower knees (keep knees together) to floor to the right or as close to the floor as is comfortable.
Pause.
Inhale as you slowly return your knees to chest.
Exhale as you slowly lower knees to left side
Inhale as you return your knees to chest.
Repeat about 5 times.

The Cat: back stretching exercise

Begin on all fours, hands directly under your shoulders and knees directly under your hips.
Inhale as you drop tummy towards the floor and look up over your head.
Exhale as you bring your tummy back up, rounding your back as you tuck your chin in and tuck your tailbone in.
Move slowly back and forth between these two positions pausing on each pose.
Repeat about 5 times.

The Cobra: back and chest stretching exercise

Lay flat on stomach, forehead to ground, with arms bent and palms down on the ground under the shoulders.
Push downward with arms as you raise your upper torso and arch your back.
Hold for 3 full breaths before slowly bringing the upper torso back down to the ground.

Shoulder, Back, Arms Stretch:
Stand with knees slightly bent. Interlace fingers, extend arms forward at shoulder level. Turn palms out and reach your arms further until you feel a stretch. Hold 10 - 20 seconds. Repeat.
Chest Stretch:
Stand with knees slightly bent. Hands behind the back, fingers interlaced. Turn palms up extend arms backward. Do not arch the back. Hold 10 - 20 seconds.

Sides, Waist Stretch:
Stand with knees slightly flexed. (Can also be done sitting down) Place your right hand behind your head. Grab your right elbow with your left hand and pull gently. Bend slowly to the left until you feel a gentle stretch. Hold 10 - 20 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat.

Shortened hamstrings can contribute to sway back

Hamstring (back of thigh) Stretch:
Sitting on floor, extend right leg, place left foot against right knee. Lean forward (keeping back straight), reaching for foot until you feel a slight pull on you hamstring. Hold for 10 - 20 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat

Hamstring (back of thigh) Stretch:
Lying flat on back. Raise left leg up. Grab leg and pull up further until you feel a gentle pull in the hamstring Hold for 10 - 20 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat.

Shortened quadriceps can contribute to sway back

Quadriceps (front of thigh) Stretch:
Stand up. Bend your knee behind you, grab your ankle and gently pull your heel toward you buttocks until you feel a gentle pull on the front of your thigh. Hold for 10 - 20 seconds. Switch sides. Repeat.

Wall Back Stretch: back / neck stretching exercise

Stand up with your back against the wall. Try to press the small of your back and the back of your neck toward the wall. Hold for 10 - 30 seconds. Do not overstretch!

Neck Roll:
To loosen up the neck, where many people carry their stress: Stand or sit up straight with the bottom of your spine turned under. (Do not arch your back) Let your head fall forward, keeping the neck and shoulders relaxed. Slowly roll your head to one side, then let it drop and roll to the other side. Be careful not to overstretch. Do not roll the neck backwards.

Strengthening Exercises
If at any time you feel discomfort or pain, stop the exercise. Usually shortening the range of motion is a good way to correct that, but if you don't feel comfortable with it after modifying the exercise, stop doing it.

Now that you are warmed up and well stretched, here are some back strengthening exercises. Start with a few and build up to more exercises when you begin to feel stronger. Don't overdo it.

*Activate the Abs First.
To activate your deep abdominal muscles, cough once (or pull in and tense your stomach). Hold this contraction during the following exercises to give the deep abs and other core muscles a simultaneous workout. Do not overdo the abdominal tensing. It should not be difficult. Do not hold your breath. This is what "tighten abs" in the following exercises refers to.

The Bridge: Strengthens several core muscle groups - buttocks, abs, back

Lie flat on back; bend knees at 90-degree angle, feet flat on floor. Tighten abs. Raise buttocks off floor, keeping abs tight. Shoulder to knees should be in straight line. Hold for a count of five. Slowly lower buttocks to floor. Repeat five times.

The plank exercises are advanced, so approach with caution once the other exercises have become easy and your strength has significantly increased. If at any time you feel pain or discomfort, stop the exercise.

The Plank: Strengthening exercise for back, abs and neck (also strengthens arms and legs)

Lay on stomach, place elbows and forearms on floor. In a push-up position, balance on your toes and elbows. Keep your back straight and legs straight. (Like a plank) Tighten abs. Hold position for 10 seconds. Relax. Repeat five to ten times. If this exercise is too difficult, balance on your knees instead of your toes.

The Side Plank: Strengthens the obliques (side abdominal muscles)

Lie on right side. Place right elbow and forearm on floor. Tighten abs. Push up until shoulder is over elbow. Keep your body in a straight line - feet, knees, hips, shoulders, head aligned. Only forearm and side of right foot are on floor (feet are stacked). Hold position for 10 seconds. Relax. Repeat five to ten times. Repeat on left side. If this exercise is too difficult, balance on stacked knees (bend knees and keep feet off floor) instead of feet.

The Wall Squat: Strengthening exercise for back, hips and quads.

Stand with your back against a wall, heels about 18 inches from the wall, feet shoulder-width apart. Tighten abs. Slide slowly down the wall into a crouch with knees bent to about 90 degrees. If this is too difficult, bend knees to 45 degrees and gradually build up from there. Count to five and slide back up the wall. Repeat 5 times.

Leg and arm raises: Strengthening exercise for back and hip muscles.

Lie on stomach, arms reached out past your head with palms and forehead on floor. Tighten abs. Lift one arm (as you raise your head and shoulders) and the opposite leg at the same time, stretching them away from each other. Hold for 10 - 20 seconds. Switch sides.

Leg lifts: Quad Strengthening Exercise

Lie flat on back. Bend left knee at 90-degree angle, keeping foot flat on floor. Tighten abs. Keeping the right leg straight, slowly lift it to the height of the left knee. Hold for a count of 3. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.

*Safety Tip for Leg lifts:
Lifting both legs at the same time causes excessive stress on your lower back so only lift one leg at a time; the opposite leg should be kept slightly bent with foot on floor.

Basic Crunches: upper abdominal exercise

Lie on back, knees bent. Do not anchor feet. (Anchoring the feet or keeping the legs straight along the floor can strain the lower back). Arms may be folded over chest or kept at sides or hands can be held beside ears with elbows out. Tighten abs. Keep the lower back flat on the floor and neck straight. Keep chin tucked - looking at ceiling helps prevent tilting head up or down. Exhale when raising your torso off the floor and inhale when lowering. Just raise your head and shoulder off the floor - three to six inches is enough. Sitting up all the way is hard on your lower back. Do ten repetitions.

Neck muscles may tire out before the abs. You can use your hands to help support your neck - but be very careful not to pull on your neck or you could overstretch a neck muscle. Keep elbows out to the side to help avoid pulling neck forward. Don't start out doing too many crunches - the number of crunches performed should be increased slowly.

Move slowly when performing crunches- do not rely on momentum.

Rotational Crunch: obliques exercise (sides of the abdomen)

Rotational crunch is a slight variation of the regular crunch. (The variation - the direction you raise your head and shoulders off floor is diagonal). Lie flat on back, knees bent, feet flat on floor. Do not anchor feet. Tighten abs. Keep the lower back flat on the floor and neck straight. Rotate your body so that the weight rests on left shoulder. Then, keeping chin tucked, bring your head and shoulders upward and raise your right shoulder higher than the left. Move slowly.

Reverse Crunch: lower abdominal exercise
Lie flat on back, feet in the air. Bend knees 90 degrees. Place hands under buttocks for support and make sure your lower back remains flat on the floor. Tightening your lower abdomen, lift your buttocks a few inches off your hands. Hold for a moment and lower back down. Do 5 to 15 repetitions.

Leg Lifts: lower abdominal exercise
Lie flat on back. Bend one knee and keep foot flat on floor. Tighten abs. Lift opposite leg about 45 degrees. Hold for a count of 3. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.

Backward Leg Swing: Gluteal exercise (The muscles of the buttocks help support the spine)

Stand, holding onto the back of a chair for support. Tighten abs. Swing leg back at a diagonal until you feel your buttocks tighten. Tense muscles as much as you can and swing leg back a couple more inches. Return leg to floor. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.

Remember to start slowly and gradually add exercises and repetitions as you get stronger. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. It would be a smart idea to have a certified professional work with you for a while to get your form correct and make sure you are doing your stretching and exercising in the safest and most effective way.

 

Top 10 Simple Rules to Reduce Anxiety

Everyone has moments, which create anxiety. This particular feeling can be detrimental to your work, life and relationships because it may stop you from living normally. Here are my top ten tips to deal effectively with this uncomfortable emotion.

1. If you are prone to anxiety you have two choices. Give in to it or learn to live with it. Giving into it also means that your partner will suffer the burden of your fears so, to make your lives a better place to be, find ways to eliminate or at least limit this feeling by taking responsibility for your emotions and knowing you have a choice.

2. When you wake up tomorrow start doing something right away, and keep busy all day. Taking action by doing something, almost anything, will help you work through your anxiety. Sometimes it's doing the dishes or working in your garden. Other times it's reading or meditating. Just sitting around and thinking about your worries won't make them go away.

3. Try Feeling Focusing. Focus your attention on where the feeling of anxiousness is in your body and keep your attention there until the feeling moves or dissolves. For example the tension could be in your abdomen or your neck. Whenever your attention wanders, bring it back to the place in your body where the physical feeling is. Doing this for five or ten minutes can reduce, if not eliminate, the anxiety.

4. Anxiety will grow if it's not directed into some positive action. Find someone who needs you and lend him or her a helping hand. It will almost always take your mind off your problems and fears. Helping others is actually a way of taking action and responsibility for your own healing.

5. Talking to someone is one of the best ways to overcome your anxiety. Getting together with your family and friends, even your fellow patrons at Starbucks, and talking about what you are feeling can be helpful. If you can't talk to someone, try writing a letter or visiting an appropriate Internet chat room.

6. Exercise is another good way to keep from letting your fears overwhelm you. Sometimes gentle forms of exercise like walking and yoga can be better than a hard workout at the gym. Do what works best for you at the moment and don't worry about breaking your normal routine, that change may actually help reduce your anxiety.

7. Start a gratitude journal; write down three to five things that you are grateful for. Do this every night for a least two weeks, it works and it's very easy. Become aware of all the good that surrounds you. You can also have a releasing journal where you write about your anxiety and the actions that you can take to overcome those fears.

8. Remember that the opposite of fear is faith. When you are anxious, a great way to get out of it is to find some faith. Believing that things will get better is sometimes all it takes to make it better. It also helps to never underestimate the power of positive prayer or visualization, if it can cure cancer it can also reduce your anxiety.

9. If watching the news fills you with anxiety - turn off the TV! The world will continue to revolve even if you're not watching it on CNN. Limit yourself to one hour a day of news and don't watch anything that may upset you before you go to bed.

10. Courage is not the absence of fear, but taking action in spite of fear. Doing something new or confronting a fear by taking some baby steps is much more positive than doing nothing. If you need a better reason pick an action that will be helpful to someone else.

If you find that none of the tips above work, then you should take a serious look at consulting with a qualified therapist and/or physician. Choose to take control of your life and your emotions and don't let them run you or your relationships.

 

 

Healthy Thoughts Create Radiant Health

Have you ever seen a friend you haven’t seen in a while and noticed that this person looked exceptionally radiant?  I bet if you asked this person what the secret is the reply would be “I’m happy.”  So you ask them what are they happy about and the reason is simple.  Your friend has attained inner peace through self-acceptance and gratitude.

I can tell you quite simply that this is easy to achieve.  Start with your own personal gratitude list.  Write down every thing you are grateful for.  Think of each thing on the list and feel how blessed you are for this gift in your life. On another piece of paper write down a self-acceptance list.  Jot down all the positive things about yourself that you like.  The time you take to do this can create big shifts in your consciousness that will bring about feelings of joy within you.  The energy that this creates is magnetic and attracts more things to be grateful about.  If you listen to any self help teachers (and there are many legitimate ones that speak great wisdom), they all will say that our thoughts create our circumstances.  Change your thoughts to feelings of gratitude and self-acceptance and you can change your life.

Wouldn’t you prefer to be around a person who is enthusiastic about life, enjoys people and who has a great positive spirit?  Well if you pay attention, you’ll see that these people are usually quite successful, have healthy relationships and seem to attract good things into their lives.  When you become like this, you will see that the more you are grateful, the more you have to be grateful about.  The more you give to others, the more is given to you.  It’s interesting how this works, but it does and has been talked about for many years in many languages, cultures and best selling publications. 

So how can we create an environment that will encourage this healthy way of being?  Start with the gratitude list and self-acceptance list.  Keep them where you can review and add to them.  Read them often.  Create a space in your home that makes you feel nurtured and peaceful.  Maybe a place you can light a candle and incense.  Relaxing music is also a great thing to have in this space.  You can take time to relax here and recharge yourself.  Another thing to do is surround yourself with positive people.  Find activities that make you feel alive and spark the spirit of play and adventure.  Hike in new places.  Take a road trip somewhere beautiful. Explore a new beach.  Being in nature is good for the soul.  Live life with joy and everyone around you will be inspired and uplifted. 

Revisiting Your Cash Flow Before You Retire

Reviewing and understanding your cash flow, income streams versus expenses, is an important part of retirement planning that is frequently overlooked. The lifestyle you have created based on your income during employment may require some modification when you leave your current position.

Let’s start with understanding income; I define income as a consistent, scheduled, reliable stream of payment, for a determined amount of time.  Social Security is an example of income; you receive your check at the same time each month, for the same amount, for life. If you have a Defined Benefit Pension with your employer, you can choose an option that will provide income to you based on your life expectancy or one that will continue to provide an amount to your surviving spouse.

Bond and CD interest fit the definition of income however; an issue may present itself at maturity. These products have a shelf life and at maturity and renewal, there is no guarantee the same opportunities will exist. Annuities can also provide a lifetime stream of income.

The key to these sources is in the definition, consistent, scheduled, and reliable for a determined period.  If you receive a check on January 2 and you run out of money on February 1 you know there is another check coming on the third. Your income sources will not run out, they may stop after a pre-determined date, but not run out.

Drawing down on savings to supplement your income is a strategy to offset a shortfall but does not provide income. One reason is that savings can run out; if you spend it too quickly, it will be gone. Unless you are able to add to savings or, receive a high enough return to replace your withdrawal, you will eventually run out. As a strategy this requires careful consideration, drawing down on savings too early can have a negative impact in later years.

Once you have determined your income flow the next step is to list your outflow, expenses. Expenses fall into one of two categories, necessary or lifestyle.

Necessary expenses are those you need to survive, shelter, food, medical, insurance utilities, transportation.  These are bills that if not paid will have a direct negative effect on your ability to live, or function day-to-day.

Lifestyle expenses are not necessary for us to live but, they are the ones that we like best, these expenses are fun and make us feel good. They can be impulse or emotional purchases, planned or unplanned, practical or not, but expenses that are not needed for survival.  They include your daily out-of-pocket expenses that add up each time you swipe your debit or credit card.

Tracking lifestyle expenses on a daily basis can be key factor in understanding where your money goes and where spending habits need to be changed.

Understanding your income and expenses will become critical when you decide to leave your current job and paycheck. You no longer will have the regular paycheck you have grown accustomed to, and your lifestyle may require some modifications. Reviewing your situation and preparing for these changes will make the adjustments easier when the time comes.

 

 

Job Hunting Tips Part Four in a Series

GET UNCOMFORTABLE.

If you are over 40 this is a great time to get out of your "comfort zone." At this stage in life you are probably getting a bit too settled in some areas of your life, a little too rigid about your beliefs and less open to new experiences. Well, being out of work is a perfect opportunity to examine your beliefs and attitudes and try on some new experiences. It might even help you avoid a mid-life crisis.

Try exposing yourself to things you ordinarily would not do. Take pottery classes. Go on an adventure vacation. Attend a gay rights meeting (if you're straight). Volunteer to save the wetlands. Take your spouse to a sexy resort. Go to a service at a different religious denomination. Do anything that you wouldn't ordinarily do (that is legal, of course). You will be amazed at how it changes your outlook on life. And it may even open up opportunities you never knew existed. Creative brainstorming sessions often utilize forced exposure to different points of view to stimulate new thinking.
Doing this will be harder for "left brainers" than "right brainers" and for conservatives and the religious right than for liberals and less hard-line religious people. But they are the very people who could benefit the most from taking off the blinders, opening up to something new and learning to be more fearless.

GET COZY WITH TECHNOLOGY.
If you don't know them already, learn the major tech food groups: Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, Photoshop, Project Manager and Windows (or the Mac equivalents). The more you know the more you grow---and the more you are capable of doing work required in the Web 2.0 era. Include your technological proficiency on your resume to drive home that you are staying current with technology.

THE RESUME. THE NEW BUSINESS CARD.
Your resume's job is to get an interview, where you have a real chance of getting a job. Your resume alone will not get you a job.

The calling card for all job-hunters is the resume. This too has evolved in recent years and requires attention and management. Like I said before, it's a whole new world in job-hunting.

Resumes can use many different formats successfully. What's important is the content and how it's presented. The bottom-line is that your resume must show clearly what you can do for the company to solve its challenges.
An effective resume emphasizes accomplishments and results, not how many years experience or how many impressive titles you've held. After a certain number of years even your education becomes secondary to the results you've created. "What can you do for me today" is the mantra of business in the 21st century. Keep this in mind as you position the key elements of your resume.
Avoid the functional approach advocated so often today. This format often takes on such an unnatural style it could easily be mistaken for fiction (and often is---one in six resumes contain false information). Lead by highlighting your latest and greatest achievements, going back no more than 10 to 15 years and listing only those that are pertinent to the job you are pursuing.
You shouldn't fear listing dates but you also shouldn't feel compelled to include your entire career history going back to the Viet Nam war. Dates for education aren't necessary either. Including them may bring up distracting questions such as why it took you six years to get your degree, why you got your MBA a decade later and, of course, how old you really are.

Don't expound upon your vast experience. These days it can be interpreted as being, well, "old." Yes, I know, you worked long and hard to gain that experience, and it was once considered a strong attribute for a job seeker. That was then and this is now. In these more enlightened times you are likely to be seen as "over qualified." At what point in American business history being too capable became a liability isn't clear (perhaps during the Bush administration), but you can't do anything about the craziness that exists in the world today. You can only adapt to it.

Capabilities count more than experience. Your experience should only support your capabilities. Employers read your resume from a strictly "what's in it for me" viewpoint. Of course, if you are a doctor or pilot or any profession that still values experience, this approach does not apply.

For most of us, experience more than 10 - 15 years old is irrelevant. As important as this experience was to your career success, unless there's a compelling reason remove it from your resume. At the same time, as an over 40 job seeker, you need to deftly "allude" to your experience and position it in a positive way. Unless you were in prison or stayed at home until your parents kicked you out at 35, the people interviewing you know you have experience. They also see you have two legs and assume you can walk too but you don't need to go on about hiking and running and dancing. Get the point?

FORMAT YOUR RESUME FOR THE COMPUTERS AS WELL AS THE HUMANS.
Make sure your resume is formatted to ping all the keywords that resume review software is set up to catch. You can learn more about this on job sites such as monster.com, Ladders.com and Careerbuilder.com.
Create both an online version of your resume and a hard copy version. When sending your resume online be sure to include it as both an attachment and pasted into the body of your email. Email a pasted copy to yourself first as a test to make sure it hasn't been inadvertently "reformatted" by your email provider. By sending two email versions and a hard copy you'll be sure to get the attention of the hiring reviewer. The hard copy will be so unusual these days that it's sure to get attention. Plus, they look nicer than email copies.

DON'T BE A BLIND JOB SEEKER.
Sending out resumes blindly to hundreds of potential employers is a fools' game, no matter what the job sites say. The shotgun approach will waste a lot of time and effort. The targeted "rifle" approach yields much better results. Go after jobs you want, can do well, and have researched thoroughly. Then tailor your approach to each one for best results.

Too many people hide behind online job hunting. Fewer than 5% of all jobs are secured entirely through online efforts. You need to put yourself out there personally. Get on the phone. Go to networking events. Network. Meet people face to face.

THE COVER LETTER.
Keep it short and sweet. Don't make it a recap of your resume though. Also, don't use the word "I" too often, especially to begin your sentences. Make your opening as strong as possible---it's the headline in your personal job ad. Don't say "It was a pleasure meeting you and blah, blah, blah." Instead say, "Your firm's need for a widget designer is an excellent match with my five-years of creating award-winning widgets that helped increase business for my clients by 200% or more in their first year."

Don't make your cover letter too long. No one these days seems to have an attention span longer than that of a fruit fly's sex life, so you need to cut to the chase. Three paragraphs or two and a couple bullet points max. Try to be specific and avoid being vague.

Don't forget to direct your letter at the company you are interviewing at---even if you have a standard "form" letter prepared. End your cover letter with a call to action, something like "I will follow up with you in a few days to answer any questions you may have. In the meantime you can reach me at (your phone number). Oh, and be sure to sign it. You won't believe how many letters go out unsigned (which is not a good sign to potential employers).

FOLLOW-UP.
After you've sent your resume to a company for consideration of a job opening, if they don't call back within two weeks leave a phone message and/or email once a week for the next five weeks---until you get a call back or a restraining order (just kidding). Never be discourteous and always sound upbeat and positive, even if you are suicidally depressed about your job hunting.

THE INTERVIEW.

Here is your list of interview tips.

1.Rehearse your interview. Ask a friend to role play the interviewer by asking questions, including some tough ones (like how much you think the company should pay you). Write out answers to these questions. Get one of the books available on job interviewing and study it. Winning Job Interviews or Job Interviews for Dummies are good interviewing guides.

2.Before the interview, ask the person you are meeting to tell you about the interviews. Who will you be meeting with? Are you meeting individually or as a group? What should you bring?

3.Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the job. What is expected? Who will you report to or who will report to you? What are the challenges the company is facing. How can you contribute in the future? Focus the interview on how you can meet their needs, not on how wonderful your career has been at other companies.

4.Research the company and know their needs. Check out their website. Google the company to get a historical perspective. Research their competitors. Older workers aren't as savvy about doing this as most young job seekers are. In the interview, you'll be more impressive if you can talk knowledgeably about the company, its products and its competitors.

5.Show up on time. Make sure beforehand you have the date, time and especially the place correct. If you can't get this right do you think they'll seriously consider hiring you? You may even want to reconnoiter the business beforehand to feel more comfortable with the setting (outside, not inside).

6.Your first 10 seconds are crucial. According to research, first impressions really do count. More candidates were made job offers when they smiled, shook hands confidently and looked the interviewer in the eyes than those who did not. Candidates who trembled uncontrollably while sweat dripped down their face received no offers.

7.Find a common ground, if possible, with the interviewer. Perhaps you both went to Harvard or live in the same neighborhood or enjoy free jumping off cliffs. Don't obsess over attempting to find something though.

8.Present yourself as the solution to their needs---the ideal combination of what you are and what the employer is looking for in their new hire. Presumably this will also be true. Link your skills and capabilities to specific job functions.

9.If you can talk about how some recent project, preferably utilizing some high tech knowledge, led to a product breakthrough or huge increases in sales or the discovery of the Holy Grail, you will demonstrate your relevancy. Then steer the discussion to what this success could mean to your potential employer. Always be forward-looking in your job speak.

10.Never speak disparagingly of past employers or bosses, even if you worked for Vlad the Impaler at the Soylent Green factory.

11.Don't fidget or slouch or show up drunk and disorderly. Be confident---again, think Barack Obama or Johnny Carson. Avoid the Mickey O'Rourke style. Show some energy. Animate your face and use your hands to drive home a point. Look the interviewer in the eye (an unblinking stare however is not cool).

12.Avoid discussing money. To get an idea of what you might be offered you can go to salary.com to find out what the job likely pays in the market you would be working in. Remember, if they want you badly enough they will pay the going rate or more. You've first got to make them want you and that usually takes some time. If you are forced to shout out your salary expectations, go high. As they say, you can always go down.

13.Dress like you already have the job. Or your potential boss's job. If you're a surgeon though, don't wear your scrubs to the interview. Dress like the wealthy person you are.

14.Mind your hygiene. Bad breath or body odor can be a deal killer. And pop for a manicure (guys too). Oh, and trim any nose hairs that are trying to escape.

15.Always be polite and thank the interviewer afterwards, even if you feel as if you just spent the day being water-boarded at Guantanamo.

16.Ask the interviewer for a business card.

THANK YOU NOTES.

If you really want to get noticed, send a written thank you note as a follow-up to the interview. While it skirts the possibility of making you seem old-fashioned, it's so little done anymore than you may just stand out from the thousands of other candidates. In the thank you note, say that you are "very interested" in the position, and if all goes well, you would like to join the firm. A good salesperson will tell you that half the sale is just asking for it. The same goes for jobs. Very few people come right out and say they want the job.

If you don't get a response within a few days, call and politely say you are following up on the interview and ask if they would like you to answer any further questions. Ask directly if you are still being considered for the job. It shows you're not a namby pamby.

 

 

A Baby Boomer’s Balanced Approach to Life

Wouldn't it be great to have enough time for everything that is important to you?

If you drew a circle on a piece of paper, how would you divide it up? Try this for fun.

Cut the circle in 4 pieces as if you were slicing a pie. Now label one slice family. Label one work; label another play/recreation and then the final slice self-improvement. Under the family category jot down what you'd like to spend more time doing with your family. For the work category write your aspirations to improve your business. Next write down your goals for play and recreation. When you get to self-improvement, write down what you would like to accomplish in this area.

Now look at your pie. Where are you putting most of your time and where are you putting the least?

When we are out of balance in any area, this affects everything in our lives. Now take a new piece of paper and write down more specific sub categories. For example write under Family a) more communication with loved ones b) more get together and fun plans such as a beach day together or a trip somewhere new. You can do the same with the other categories. This gives you a chance to introspect and see what is truly important to you. Work is important of course. We all need to make a living.

A truly happy person knows how to balance work with play and family time with time for oneself to feed the body, mind and soul.

So now that we are speaking of body, mind and soul, let's discuss the self-improvement category for a moment. When we use our bodies and exercise our muscles, the body stays strong and is our vehicle to do and be and live in this world. When we abuse it, we don't have the cooperation of our body and it can make everyday functional things a burden. So that being said, take care of your body. This is especially true for baby boomers because as we get older, we need to keep our body vibrant and strong to slow down the aging process, keep healthy, and to have a better quality of life.

The mind also needs to be exercised or this too w ill get weaker and slow down. I have a 96 year old grandmother, Dorothy who is a smart, sassy woman with a great mind. She remembers things from way back in the day when she was a small girl to the stories of all of her 5 children growing up in Harlem, NY. Her secret is that she does cross word puzzles, which keep her mind sharp. Learning an instrument or a language can be a fun way to use your mind and work those thinking muscles.

Last but certainly not least is the exercise for your soul. Regardless of what religious beliefs you may have, the fact is that we are souls living in these bodies, which are our temples for the soul. It helps so many people to read inspirational books or listen to relaxation/meditation tapes to quiet the mind and go within. There is a way to contact your peaceful side and feel oneness with all of nature. One sure way is meditation. Once you connect with this peaceful side of your soul you will bring that peace everywhere you go and your life experience as well as the experience others will have in your presence will be a positive one. Less stress creates a better world for everyone. Find your balance. Find your peace.

 

How Misinformation is Unintentionally Spread Over the Internet

We all receive emails alerting us about a computer virus spreading across the Internet, or a 'can't miss' stock market tip, or scandalous information about a political candidate running for high office, or, most of the time, information about a deal that seems just too good to be true.

Your inclination, of course, is to immediately share the information with your family and friends. You select the names and hit the forward button-off the message goes to help others. You're feeling pretty good about yourself knowing that you're helping family and friends by sharing this nugget of vital information.Good intentions aside, however, more often than not the information you just sent is erroneous and, on more occasions then you might think, is outright and deliberately false.

Here's an example:
Recently, I received from a very level-headed friend an email containing urgent information about, of all things, "baby carrots." The email's subject line pronounced "Baby Carrots: Beware" dealt with a stern warning by an unnamed farmer against eating baby carrots.

The following is information from this unidentified farmer, who grows and packages carrots for IGA, METRO, LOBLAWS, and similar food outlets.

The warning, says my friend, appeared on Snoopes.com. She assumed the information was accurate and forwarded the email to her friends and family.The email asserts "once the carrots are cut and shaped into cocktail carrots they are dipped in a solution of water and chlorine in order to preserve them (this is the same chlorine used your pool) since they do not have their skin or natural protective covering, they give them a higher dose of chlorine."

The warning went on to say "You will notice that once you keep these carrots in your refrigerator for a few days, a white covering will form on the carrots, this is the chlorine which resurfaces. At what cost do we put our health at risk to have esthetically pleasing vegetables which are practically plastic?"

The email urged me to pass on the information to as many people as possible in the hopes of informing them as to where the carrots came from and how they are processed. "Chlorine is a very well known carcinogen," it warned.

A bit leery of the allegation, I opted not to forward the message.

The very next day a second email arrived from my friend. But this time to recant her assertion about the dangers of baby carrots and offered a genuine apology to the people she had sent the message."Sorry about this," she said ruefully. "My cousin [name intentionally omitted] checked this out on Snoops and it turns out this story is not true. I don't want to hurt [somebody's] business with false claims."

The lesson to be learned: Never forward an email about information than can not be verified by a reputable source, preferably one that is nationally recognized.

I still have great respect for my well-intentioned friend. And I know she learned a very valuable lesson.

 

 

Golf Threatens The World

Best Boomer Towns Talk Show Guest, Glenn Lyons, CEO of Downtown Tucson Partnership

My name is Glenn Lyons.  I am 55 years old.  I was born in Detroit.  I attended university in Canada and spent the last 30 years in Calgary, Alberta.  Two years ago, I decided to return to the United States, in part, so that my 86 year-old mother could live near me. 

After so many bitter winters on the Northern Prairies, I was looking for a more temperate climate to live in.  I also had a preference for living in a university town, which had both an intellectual and a multi-cultural complexion.

My partner, Marilyn, and I, had the pleasure of visiting Tucson two years ago in January.  It was warm, very welcoming, and an incredibly eclectic place.  Tucson is one of the oldest communities in America.  It has a very large Hispanic community and a rich Sonoran history.  The University of Arizona is a strong influence here, both in terms of science and technology – as well as arts and culture

Tucson, a city of one million people, has a professional symphony, opera, ballet, Theatre Company, Broadway plays, a major art museum, and a wonderful desert museum. It is a great musical location, with strong local sounds and countless traveling road shows. 

About two months after we arrived, we realized just what a jewel we had found.  We promptly cut our travel budget in half and quadrupled our entertainment budget.  Tucson has just about everything a local culture can offer.

The desert is also very compelling, with its mountains, basins, statuesque Saguaro Cacti, and majestic sunsets.  Life is tenuous on the desert and we are reminded that our existence on the earth is fleeting.

I can’t think of anywhere that I would rather be than here in Tucson.

 

You’re Not Getting Older. You’re Getting Better!

“You’re not getting older. You’re getting better.”

Kenny Perry was 11 years old when Loving Care hit the airwaves with that slick advertising campaign in 1971. And it applies just as much to the Kentucky –born Boomer’s 2009 season as it did to the women who graced the television screens of his childhood.

Perry came within a hair – sorry, couldn’t resist – of winning last week’s Master’s at Augusta National, where he was tied for the lead after 72 holes of regulation play before falling just short on the second playoff hole to Argentina’s Angel Cabrera.

For the 48-year-old Perry, it was another masterful performance for a man that has taken the stage away from Vijay Singh of late as the darling of Boomers who enjoy seeing one of their own kick butt on a PGA Tour golfing stage usually headlined by Gen X’ers and Gen Y’ers.

Perry’s run to the top of the Boomerboard began with three regular-season wins last year as part of his concerted effort to make the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup squad. Not only did he qualify for the game’s premier event, held at Louisville’s Valhalla Golf Club in his home state, he put together one of the most clutch performances ever by a U.S. player.

Competing before friends and family, including 84-year-old father Ken dressed in his traditional overalls, Perry beat Henrik Stenson 3 and 2 in singles, giving him a 2-1-1 record and hero status among U.S. fans.

“I said this was going to define my career, but you know what, it made my career,” Perry said at the time.

But what he has made since the Ryder Cup isn’t exactly chopped liver.

Perry is No. 3 on the PGA Tour money list having earned more than $2.6 million in 2009. He has won one event this year, February’s FBR Open at the TPC Scottsdale. Combined with his three victories in 2008, that means 40 percent of his 10 career victories have come in a little over a year. And he has six top 10 finishes this season.

Doesn’t sound like a Boomer who is ready to slow down.

In a CBSSports.com article published during Masters week, Perry and his father discussed parenting methods and health practices that could send those two disciplines back to the days of Loving Care commercials.

Senior writer Steve Elling noted that when Perry was a youngster, his father “habitually whipped his boy in card games, board games, shooting baskets, playing golf and just about any other competition they could conjure up. Pops talked a slew of Kentucky trash while he was winning, too. ‘I am going to beat you until I die,’ Ken Perry told his son with a cackle.”

Won’t hear that philosophy on many feel-good, morning talk shows these days. Hard to argue with the results, though, the Master’s runner-up notes of his dad’s parenting style.

“He beat me so bad, [I] cried all the time, because he just beat on me,” the younger Perry told Elling. “Then he would laugh in my face as he was doing it. You know, he was a smart man. He taught me a lot.”

And how about all those fitness trailers, personal trainers and nutritionists tagging along after today’s PGA Tour stars? Perry seems to run against the tide in the seas of contemporary advice regarding diet and exercise.

“Physically, I’ve always been real good,” he said. “I don’t think I’ve lost anything from my mid-20s to now. You know, I don’t really work out. I can’t really say I’m working out or anything like that. And I don’t really watch what I eat, but yet, it’s working.”

“I feel like I’m just as strong and I feel like I hit it just as far. I think we have got more experience on the young guys. In the long run, I’d take a guy with more experience and know-how.”

Perry’s know-how seems to extend beyond the borders of the golf course and into how Boomers might want to live their lives.

“You know what, everything is a bonus now, it really is,” Perry told Elling. “I’m just going through each and every day enjoying life a little bit.”

And just to show the Titleist doesn’t fall far from the golf bag, the younger Perry says something that sounds like it might have also been spoken by his dad.

“I think I can win. You know, I’m not going out there very casually. I’m burning inside, wanting to kick everybody’s butt.”