http://www.bummedoutboomer.com The Inside Scoop on the Baby Boomer Generation Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:41:21 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en If you're single because of divorce, death or you just never married, are you ready to start dating again? If you are, there are several important things you need to be aware of. Naturally, you want to avoid dating disasters. I mean those dates that waste your ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/1563 There are so many ways of giving. You can give your time and you can give your money. You can give to people you don't know through charitable organizations. You can give to groups that support your philosophy or values. The saying goes, "The more you give, the ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/give-and-you-shall-receive Is it possible to make amends with a family member who you haven't spoken to in ten/twenty/thirty years? There are so many reasons not to give in. The insults, neglect, and insensitivity you experienced are valid reasons to refrain from speaking again. But if you feel it's ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/fragmented-families Who would have thought that addiction would be affecting baby boomers at this stage of their lives? But it has. Approximately four million Americans nearing retirement age have a substance abuse problem. How did this happen? Boomers, who have responsibilities caring for their elderly parents, are dealing with ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/addiction-on-the-rise-among-baby-boomers It’s strange how, when you least expect it, your life is redirected because of a chance meeting. As a mental health professional, I do many groups, seminars, workshops and presentations that put me in touch with many people. This particular time, was different, ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/aging-turn-your-stumbling-blocks-into-stepping-stones With Domestic Violence Awareness Month upon us once again, it is important to stay educated and attuned to the nuances of abuse. So many people of all ages, women especially, are oblivious to the fact that a manipulative, intimidating partner has undermined their lives and taken away their self-worth ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/domestic-abuse-a-precursor-to-domestic-violence Are you having trouble shaking away the blues? Do you feel overwhelmed, overwrought and overspent? You're not alone. You're juggling the roles of parent, spouse, caregiver and employee and have passed the point where you can effectively cope and function well. Perhaps, caring for your parents and your children simultaneously ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/banish-those-baby-boomer-blues Are you familiar with subliminal programming? Subliminal learning bypasses the conscious experience and sends information directly to your unconscious mind. This is done through audio or visual means and it works through repetition and consistency. If the same subliminal messages are sent frequently enough this will lead to a shift ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/subliminal-messaging Aging can be a beautiful process, especially if you expect it to be that way. There was a study done back in 1971 in the Soviet Republic of the Caucasus. Anthropologists went there to examine the centenarians, who lived to be well over 100 and researchers wanted to know ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/aging-with-ease It doesn't matter if you have been married 30 years or are single and dating. The key factors responsible for healthy relationships are the same. If you find yourself wanting to improve what you have now, become aware of the common mistakes people make in relationships Just ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/if-you-knew-better-you-would-do-better I don't want to harp about how important it is to control your stress, since I'm sure you know all about the physical as well as emotional health risks. Instead, I want to give you a resource that you can go to when you need to de-stress. It's ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/reduce-stress-with-your-self-help-tool-kit Do you come home after work and zone out in front of the TV? Or do you spend hours surfing the web and checking your email? Can you do several hours at the gym or chat on the phone incessantly? If you can relate to this you ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/do-you-have-a-soft-addiction-2 On Oprah's last show she shared the many lessons she's learned over the 25 years she's supported, encouraged and related to her audience. Now her wisdom, honesty and passion for humanity will take a different direction, but I'm sure it will still have an impact around the world. Here ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/oprahs-four-life-lessons How many times have circumstances been so overwhelming that you felt helpless to change things? How often did you feel your decisions seemed useless in the face of this tremendous strife? Hopefully, you do not feel like this too often, but sometimes when you do you need to know what ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/capture-your-personal-sense-of-control I love this parable about experiencing inner peace. It goes like this: There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-picture-of-peace For those of you, considering retirement soon, BEWARE. The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) has just come out with some dramatic information for soon-to-be-retirees. It seems that baby boomers are at a high risk of not having enough money to sustain them through their retirement years and that ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/those-retirement-years It doesn’t take much to put a family in crisis. Your child is using drugs; your spouse is out of work. Your test results are questionable or you’re going through a divorce. One day everything is fine and the next you are in the throes of chaos. ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/dealing-with-the-family-in-crisis "It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble; how hopeless the outlook; how muddled the tangle; how great the mistake. A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all. If only you could love enough you would be the happiest and most powerful being in ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/are-you-lovable President Obama gave an inspiring speech to the country after the Tucson, Arizona massacre. He focused on the heroes, the injured who are fighting to recover and the six innocent bystanders who lost their lives. What struck me most about his speech was that he didn't point fingers. Since that ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/be-an-example-because-everyone-is-watching Life is truly a miracle... but only if you perceive it that way. Why do I say this? Because every day things happen that go against the norm and reveal themselves to be totally amazing and unexpected. When you consider how many awesome things happen daily – your loved ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/use-the-new-year-to-count-your-miracles Empowerment is one of those words that's often tossed around, but few really understand what it fully entails. Those who have attained a sense of empowerment feel strengthened and enriched in their life. But, until you grasp the essence of what it means to be empowered, it's hard ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/empowerment-boomer-style This blog was written by my daughter, Nicole. Three months ago, I packed my car, and took a road trip from Florida to Los Angeles, California.  I was finally going to pursue a dream I’ve had my whole life.  I am 28 years old, single, no children, and I was laid ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/yoga-the-cure-for-loneliness Just because you’re mature and wise, it doesn’t mean you should take this wonderful life for granted. When something nice happens to you, how do you show your appreciation? Do you just ignore it or do you make an effort to be appreciative to the person involved? Showing appreciation ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/thanks-and-appreciation October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a reminder that we must attend to this insidious, horrendous problem for many women and men around the world. I ran a domestic abuse program for six years and understand how certain behaviors can destroy the self-esteem and character of those caught ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/be-aware-of-domestic-violence I recently had the opportunity to meet a wonderful woman who wrote an inspiring novel about love and forgiveness, called Former Things. So many families are broken apart because they are estranged from their loved ones. Here is a brief interview with the author, Gail Lowe: Q: What inspired you to write ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-despair-of-family-estrangement 99 Things Women Wish They Knew Before Dating after 40, 50, and Yes, 60! is about to be launched digitally as part of the pioneering The 99 Series of books. The launch begins with Sony and The Home Shopping Network! This is great news for everyone who loves to ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/women-dating-over-40-and-the-99-series-launch Little did I know that I’d be going through the empty nest syndrome all over again. I managed to pull through it when my son went off to college and then again when my daughter moved into her own apartment 12 miles from home about 6 years ago. It’s ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/empty-nest-again Baby boomers are truly blessed. We are one of the most influential generations in the world. We are more active, more determined to stay young and healthy and more willing to live our lives freely and robustly. In fact, as we get older, we are still getting better with ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/aging-baby-boomers-blessed-and-burdened If you are an empty nester or soon to be one, your relationship with your grown children should be a number one priority. After all, you don’t see them all the time, as they are on their own or out of the house. Your children are becoming responsible adults, ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/you-and-your-grown-children I celebrated a birthday this Memorial Day weekend and it was the best one yet.  At my age, I never thought I'd be saying that, but it really was. Plus, I had the whole weekend to party! Since my son and daughter-in-law live in Jacksonville, FL. I was hoping they ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/not-just-another-birthday I lost my good friend, Helene, to cancer, a few weeks ago. She was a talented therapist who devoted her life to helping people work through their emotional pain and personal challenges. Helene was very dedicated to her clients and even through all her medical treatments, remained at ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/dealing-with-the-loss-of-a-friend Do you come home after ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/do-you-have-a-soft-addiction Anything ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/life-in-the-balance There is a lot of research and new discoveries about how you can keep your gray matter from declining and prevent age-related memory loss from getting worse. Recent studies show that midlife memory fading is really not about memory at all. It is more about your ability to retrieve information ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/age-proof-your-memory A growing number of people are becoming more interested in alternative treatments for their ailments than traditional medicines. For some, they have not obtained the results they hoped for with more traditional medical approaches. For others, they feel strongly that natural remedies are more effective. Whatever you ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/exploring-native-remedies Even though sustained negativity is toxic and bad for your health, many people are still more intrinsically pessimistic than optimistic. Are you, therefore, born with a propensity for pessimism or can you develop the mindset of an optimist? Apparently, you learn many attitudinal patterns from your parents and become wired ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/are-you-born-an-optimist Are baby boomers going crazy? They’re sending their pets to spas and resorts that offer massages, spa baths, suites with TVs and shopping sprees! No, they are not losing their minds. Pets are no longer something to keep chained up outside or in a doghouse, but rather they are ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/pets-help-boomers-fill-empty-nest There’s a wonderful relaxation technique I like to use when my life appears to be spiraling out of control. All it takes is a simple positive, personal phrase to refocus my attention on my competence, capability and potential for restoring my healthy perspective again. The exhausting demands of family and ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/from-panic-to-peace More than any other organ, you can “make or break” your brain. Studies have shown that the specific kinds of daily activities you do all throughout your life influences the degree of cognitive decline you may experience. Researchers in Berlin studied honey bee behavior and how it affects ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/mind-if-i-pick-your-brain The holidays are upon us and it’s a time to have festive parties, family gatherings and tons of food and merriment. However, sometimes you feel overwhelmed and overwrought during the holidays, resulting in feelings of sadness, anxiety and even depression. There are many reasons why this happens. ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/beating-the-baby-boomer-holiday-blues Right now, enjoy some quiet contemplation to take stock of your life. Take some time to reflect on how you're doing and what you would like to happen in your future years. Why should you do this? Because it's always good to get some perspective on the ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/questions-to-ask-yourself How can you increase your overall well-being? It’s easy if you stay open and receptive to new ideas. The key is to be flexible in your thinking and behavior and to not fall into a rut. Your familiar routine becomes the problem and that leads to boredom and frustration. ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/a-boomers-cure-for-boredom Any violence is bad, but witnessing violence towards someone you rely on for your safety and care is horrific. Children who live in a household with someone being emotionally or physically abused will no doubt be left with psychological scars commonly seen in traumatized individuals. Children could experience cognitive ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/any-domestic-violence-is-bad Life is so precious. Then why do we waste so much time doing things that are harmful to us? Most people I meet say that all they want is to be happy and to live a peaceful life. However, we all know how difficult that can ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/life-is-too-short-to-stay-angry How lucky we are to be independent, active people, still in the prime of our lives. But one day, as we get older, we may have to deal with the dilemma my husband and I are now facing. We just took his mom to visit an independent living ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/independent-living-for-the-elderly You’d think at this stage of your life, things would get easier. After all, the kids aren’t babies any more. They are pretty much on their own. However, who’d expect them to be so rebellious, moody and just plain out of control? The stress it puts on you ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/boomers-dealing-with-difficult-teens You know that at some point in the future, you will probably need to have surgery or some medical procedure that may arise unexpectantly. Would you be prepared? Studies show that patients who prepare themselves for surgery heal faster, experience less pain, have fewer complications and speedier recovery ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/baby-boomers%e2%80%99-health-care-three-steps-to-positive-outcomes I like to think of myself as a healthy adult, who can set limits. I understand when I become too intrusive and am aware when I am too removed. I pay close attention to the cues from others and am able to maintain a healthy balance in my ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-key-to-setting-boundaries Thank goodness for girlfriends. I just came back from a three day cruise with eight professional women to celebrate our friend’s 60th birthday. Put eight women together and I don’t care how bright or mature they are, there’s bound to be some craziness. We laughed, drank, and gambled and ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-power-of-good-friendship According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation: *Approximately 8 million American women have osteoporosis, resulting in more than 2 million fractures annually. *One in two women over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. * An average of 24% of women who experience a hip fracture will die from ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/osteoporosis-%e2%80%93-facts-and-figures-for-boomers The New York Times recently published an article about research on the aging brain. I have always known that if you keep yourself mentally alert, you can preserve your cognitive sharpness and mental acuity. It has been suggested that if you learn a new language, do crossword puzzles, play Sudoku ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-aging-brain Many boomers are inching their way closer to retirement and are concerned about how to handle the rest of their lives. Here are 8 things to consider today, as it gets closer to that phase of your life: 1. There’s more to life than money. Make sure you are having ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/8-helpful-baby-boomer-tips [caption id="attachment_527" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="How heavy is this glass of water?"][/caption]How good are you at managing your stress? This story may be just what you need to put it all in perspective. A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, “How ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/managing-stress-with-a-glass-of-water The other day, on the way home from gym, a large bird flew past my car. I had to get a closer look, since we have a neighborhood osprey, and I often see her carrying away fish from our adjacent pond. I drove to where she landed and ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/talk-about-following-your-passion It’s time to reinvent yourself. How long are you wearing your hair this way? How many times have you told yourself you can’t lose those extra 15 lbs? How long are you promising yourself you’ll learn the guitar when you have time? Well, the time is now. ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/get-ready-to-reinvent-yourself I am always impressed with people who risk their own lives to save another, who will help you all hours of the night, who open their wallets to help those less fortunate. I wish I was more like that. I try to be. I’m not selfish. I’ve ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/you-can-make-a-difference Recently Oprah revealed that she had put on 40 lbs and now weighs over 200. She explained, in disgust, that she doesn’t know how she let that happen, since she thought she had everything under control. While I have never had a true weight problem (I’m always trying ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/oprahs-weight-problem-doesnt-have-to-be-yours I was reading in the paper today that the stress of job loss and financial turmoil is taking its toll on people. More and more individuals are seeking support from agencies or private therapists to help them cope during these difficult and challenges times. As bad as ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/coping-with-job-loss With the holidays around the corner, I bet many of you are at a loss as to what to get your dear friends and family. I always like to give things that have a special meaning and that would have lasting results. Here is my list of favorite ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/my-favorite-things-for-the-holidays-and-beyond This is the start of the holiday season and I look forward to the visits from the kids and the rest of the family. I am lucky, though, because we are all very close and get along well. But I know that many boomers experience extra stress, anxiety ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/baby-boomers-survival-guide-for-the-holidays I had an opportunity to ask Lady Cerelli, the author of My Journey to Peace with PTSD, some questions about her personal experience and her fascinating answers are below. Why did you write this book? Why is any book written? This book wrote itself: first as a sequence of traumas; second as ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/an-interview-with-a-survivor-of-ptsd It feels good to feel good. Yet, if I wake up in the morning and say, "Today's going to be a lousy day, because the boss is back from vacation," I already laid out the day's events. It's like I preprogrammed a miserable day, and it's no shock ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/words-are-the-law-of-attraction I sometimes feel jaded because I’ve been through so much. However, it’s important to realize that the same attention I pay to negative things can be better spent refocusing my thoughts on the positive. There is no point holding on to negative images when they only create more self-doubt, guilt ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/positive-people-are-baby-boomers We go through life establishing many relationships, some good and some bad. Yet, we all want the same thing --to love and be loved for who we are. Why, then, are so many people, young and old, male and female in critically unhealthy, abusive relationships and unable to ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/domestic-abuse-red-flags Whether you’re an empty nester or soon to be one, you know that it’s a big change for you and the family. After all, your role for the past 18 years has been to get the kids ready to make it on their own as healthy, responsible young adults. ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/getting-past-the-empty-nest-syndrome I thoroughly respect the medical field and am grateful doctors are available when I am in a medical crisis. However, when I have the opportunity to take charge of my medical treatment, I will search out a doctor who is in line with my way of thinking. Integrative ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/embracing-a-new-way-to-heal I have good news and bad news about our future that we need to be aware of. The good news is that we are a huge force to be reckened with as baby boomers number 78 million. Plus, we are the wealthiest Americans in the United States history ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-good-bad-and-ugly-about-baby-boomers-future We all know the importance of having support when you are going through difficult or challenging times. Those individuals who have been able to overcome their crisis probably used a diversity of coping skills, which most likely included a system of support. One mechanism that is very useful and ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/baby-boomer-empowerment-support-groups I wrote "Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer's Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life" because I wanted to share the strategies I used when I was transitioning away from my 9-5 counseling position to my own private practice. However, you may not know that the strategies were first ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-power-of-believing-in-yourself Talk about following your passion! Judy Davids chronicles her experience as a music fan, a mother and the leader of a rock band, in her new book, "Rock Star Mommy, My Life as a Rocker Mom". At 42 years old, Judy decided that there's no time like ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/rock-star-mommy-a-boomer-inspiration Our eyes met from across the room and I had to know him. Call it love at first sight or some sort of magical magnetism, but 37 years ago I connected with someone I didn’t know and had never seen before. Robert and I went to the same local college ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-magic-of-synchronicity-boomer-style A recent article in USA Today sparked my interest. It was about parents and their concern for their adult children or teens having difficulty figuring out their lives. It also addressed the difference between parents being a support and being supportive. Should we be worried? As a mom of ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/boomers-biggest-worry-are-the-kids-ok I saw an article in my local paper about brain fitness. As boomers, we are all aware of the cognitive decline we may experience that is associated with aging. Most researchers agree that a challenged, stimulated brain is the answer to staying alert, vibrant and active. According to Nancy ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/baby-boomers-maintaining-cognitive-function A recent study by Strategy One, a market research firm, concluded that baby boomers don’t consider themselves old until the age of “74” and that 78% believe there are still opportunities open and available to them. Another study by AARP reports that 70% of boomers plan on working well ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-value-of-hiring-and-keepingmature-workers Written by Guest Author, Bobbi Kraf, MSW I am a woman of the Baby Boomer generation, and while I have had my fair share of life experiences, it always amazes me when something can happen to set us back on our heels. I am a mental health professional, and for the ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/what-i-have-learned-about-loss Where did the years go? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I was considered the youngster in the crowd and everyone else was old? Somehow the years moved along and now I have a 25 year old daughter who considers me the old fogey. I tell her that age is ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/how-can-i-be-50-when-i-still-feel-25 Jack Canfield, author of the billion dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul and world renowned Success Coach, once wrote about appreciation by putting it this way: "If asked, could you name the five wealthiest people in the world, or five people who have won the Nobel Prize, or the ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/practice-uncommon-appreciation One of the most important relationships you’ll ever have is with your children. Now that they’re older, with their own lives and interests apart from you, how can you keep the relationship and bond strong and healthy? Here are several effective principles that will enhance your relationship and keep you ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/how-to-remain-close-with-the-kids You’ve all heard about the Empty Nest Syndrome, when children go off to college to embark on their exciting adventure away from you. The empty, dismal feeling of having to fill your days with things other than daily parenting could be depressing and lonely, for some. But the weekly ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/the-empty-ness-syndrome-estranged-family-ties October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month and a time to separate the facts from the myths. We’ve all seen headlines about women killed by an intimate partner or the elderly neglected by their children and are horrified by the devastating and insidious problem of domestic abuse. However, we ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/domestic-abuse-among-baby-boomersstill-time-to-break-free Are you able to handle the trials and tribulations of life with effective coping skills that reduce your distress? Some people can--because it's all in the attitude. The best example of this happened to my daughter, Nicole, age 25, just this week. As she was walking to ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/its-all-in-the-attitude We, baby boomers, sometimes become jaded because we’ve been through so much. However, it’s important to realize that the same attention we pay to negative things can be better spent refocusing our thoughts on the positive. There is no point holding on to negative images when they only ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/quality-of-life-and-optimism We all share one common goal in life and that is to be happy and to experience inner peace and joy. However, you can’t look outside yourself to find that happiness. Money, appearances, and social recognition do not truly make you happy, since the pursuit of money and ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/peace-of-mind-a-boomers-wish Most people know that humor and laughter are beneficial for relieving stress. In fact, research supports laughter as a tool for lowering blood pressure, boosting immune function, releasing endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers, and producing a general feeling of overall well-being. Experts say that ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/humor-is-serious-business Life has a way of surprising us with challenges we didn't expect, especially when it comes to our health. Studies show that some people can deal with these significant issues with greater resiliency than others. They tend to rebound and take on the challenge with confidence and hope. If you ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/three-cs-for-creating-health-wellness One of the hardest parts about being a parent is letting go. We don’t pay too much attention, when our children are babies, to the fact that one day we will have to release them into the world to start their lives on their own. The only thing ... http://www.bummedoutboomer.com/releasing-a-child-into-the-world