Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

President George W. Bush celebrates his 60th birthday today. He is not alone, however, in crossing this milestone in 2006. Other well-known Boomers turning 60 this year include Laura Bush, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Sly Stallone, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Cher, Jimmy Buffett, and Steven Spielberg.

The U.S. Census Bureau says roughly every 11 seconds another Baby Boomer in the United States turns 60. That adds up to about 8,000 every day and almost three million just in 2006.

Although was once thought of as the first year of "old age," age 60 is now considered among many to be only the midpoint of "middle age." Matt Thornhill, who heads the Boomer Project, says, “A Boomer at 60 doesn't consider him or herself old. In fact, they don’t think they are going to be old for another 15 or 20 years.”

This Boomer generation, more so than those that came before, has been open to growth and change. Thornhill says that may be more important now than ever, as Boomers move into a new phase of life far more active and socially aware than past generations.

Midlife Couple Takes Steps to Revitalize Their Marriage

Barbie and Paul Bentley decided to revitalize their 27-year marriage by walking from one of their favorite places to stay – Mary Janes Farm near Moscow, Idaho – to one of their favorite places to eat -- a catfish restaurant in Astor, Florida. The couple calls their trek across America "A Walk for Marriage."

The Bentleys are empty nesters, with a 25-year-old son and a 20-year-old daughter. They contemplated several adventures, but a walk across the nation was something they'd dreamed of when they were much younger. Still, the decision to take action didn't come until their marriage became a bit stale, admitted 49-year-old Paul Bentley.

To get ready for the walk they sold their home, moved into a used 35-foot trailer and quit their jobs. They packed light, planning to sleep in their tent most nights – although once or twice a week they'll stay in motels. They plan to walk between 10 and 15 miles a day, first wandering through north-central Idaho and into Montana. Then they will head south to Wyoming and onward to Colorado, where they plan to break for the winter, working odd jobs to replenish bank accounts.

In May, they plan to resume their trek to Florida, arriving sometime in November of 2007 – an estimated 7 million steps total.

To read their reports from the road, visit the Bentley’s web page.

What “steps” are you willing to take to revitalize your marriage?

Leave Work Behind While On Vacation

As summer heats up, more business travelers are veering off their regular schedules for some much-needed time off. Making the most of that time -- whether you're at home or on a leisure trip -- means disconnecting from what's going on at work.

"It really is critical for people to get time off when they're not tethered to a cell phone or a laptop answering e-mails," said Karon Wright, president and founder of Achievement Partners, an executive coaching and management development firm based in Thousand Oaks, California. "Getting your mind and body back into balance is what time off is all about, and you can't rest and recover if you're not taking your vacation days."

Unplugging from work gets your mind and body in balance. It's important while on vacation to practice "living in the moment." Focus on the person you're spending time with or the activity you're engaged in while you're away from work.

How do you "unplug" away from work?

Caring For An Aging Parent Doesn't Need To Be A Lonely Road

Almost 3 out of 10 individuals age 45 to 64 with unmarried children under 25 in the home -- some 712,000 men and women – are also caring for a senior, according to a new study. More than 80% of these sandwiched individuals work, causing some to reduce or shift their hours or to lose income. Also, many are incurring extra expenses such as renting medical equipment.

It’s no surprise that women are more likely than men to be sandwiched. On average, women spend 29 hours a month providing care to seniors (more than twice as many as the 13 hours spent by their male counterparts). Men typically provide outside home maintenance and transportation assistance while women are more likely to provide personal care such as bathing, dressing or feeding, and in-home care such as food preparation and clean up.

Are you caught in this “Sandwich Generation?”

Get help! Don’t carry the burden all alone. Ask around – there are resources in your community to give you the break that you deserve. Most importantly, find a support system where you can turn to before resentments, conflicts, and everyday stresses build. You owe it to yourself and your family to take care of yourself.

Don't Let Your Midlife Crisis Ruin Your Marriage!

Are you having trouble explaining to your husband what you're going through when you don't really understand it yourself? Midlife transition is both disruptive and scary, creating havoc in otherwise stable relationships.

I hear from dozens of men, "My wife is having a midlife crisis and I don't know what to do!" Past hurts, dimmed hopes, and shattered dreams can send some midlife women into a panic and others into a deep depression. Are your pent up feelings pushing your husband away? I know that you're going through a confusing and frightening time as you're grieving the past and trying to plan for the future, but you need to communicate openly with your partner what you're going through. In most cases, the man in your life wants to help! He loves you and wants to be there for you, but can't understand why you're pushing him away.

This past week, I received an email from a woman that wrote:
"I never knew that a female could have a mid-life crisis. I thought only males went through that! I am 44 years old and have been acting totally out-of-character for me. Recently, I have made some poor choices in my life that have affected everybody that I care about and have almost ruined my marriage of 17 years. When I read about Bring It On!, I felt like you were explaining my life to everyone. I want to order it so I can understand what is happening to me and get my life back on track."

Whether or not you're actually starting to experience perimenopausal symptoms, the hormonal imbalances in your body at this time in your life are likely at the very least to cause unwanted emotional changes. Reassure your guy that he is not to blame for these sudden outbursts or prolonged periods of introspection. Advise him that you may require extra attention, love and outward expressions of care more now than ever before.

Your husband also needs to be aware that a decrease in estrogen in your body can significantly alter how you think and feel about sex. Don't use this as an excuse to ignore his physical needs, however. You just need to talk about all of these changes as a couple and find ways to compensate for the changes both of you may be experiencing.

Hot Flashes Cause Insomnia? Really?

News Flash: Women who suffer hot flashes, especially severe hot flashes, often have trouble sleeping, a new study confirms. Do we really need a study to tell us that?

Seriously, does it take a rocket scientist to make the connection between waking up in a puddle with having difficulty sleeping? Supposedly as many as 85 percent of women going through menopause experience hot flashes. The study says, "Because these unpleasant sensations of intense heat and sweating can occur at night, their presence has been frequently linked to insomnia in menopausal women. As the severity of hot flashes increases, so does the insomnia." Duh!

What relief have you found for hot flashes?

Fading Memory? Make Lists!

"Like it or not, our memory starts eroding from middle age," says University of Toronto psychologist, Fergus Craik. But it's not all bad news. While memory for specific events declines from your 40's on, other types of memory -- well-known words, facts and ideas, and telephone numbers -- can hold up well with advancing age. The key is to make use of lists, calendars, and other prompts to help you stay on track.

What tips have you found useful for improving your memory or coping with memory loss?

Stress Major Contributor to Wrinkles & Weight Gain

Apparently, nagging, unfinished tasks are a major contributor to stress causing wrinkles and weight gain. In other words, my "To Do List" is the culprit behind my sagging skin and cellulite!

So how do we keep from feeling so overwhelmed?

Anyone that knows me well is aware that I'm a raving fan of FlyLady (a.k.a. Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections). FlyLady has gone so far as to proclaim every Wednesday as "Anti-Procrastination Day." Personally, I think I will need an entire week, but haven't figured out yet how to get the world to stop long enough so that I can catch up!

Seriously, it's important to set aside regular time each week to face the projects you've been putting off. For me, the tasks that top my list are anything that require me to use technology that I'm unfamiliar with. It's healthy though to recognize your fears and face them head on. Step out of your comfort zone and commit to 15 minutes fully focused on the task you've been putting off. FlyLady says, "You can do anything for 15 minutes!" Chances are that by limiting the amount of time you feel committed to doing the dreaded task, the more likely you will keep on going until the task gets completed.

But what do you do when the backlog is so immense that you don't know where to begin? Break it down into baby steps. Write them down in a logical sequence and then schedule time for each one on your calendar. You'll probably never totally "catch up," but eventually you'll accomplish the important items on your list and either delegate or, if possible, skip the rest of them. Sometimes we're guilty of doing things that are not a priority and feel overwhelmed because we've over scheduled our lives.

Another way to reduce stress is to learn to relax. I think about work most of the time and have trouble "shutting off" that part of my brain. I have to force myself to relax, either by spending time alone (stretching, reading, praying) or spending time with family and friends. But when I do, I invariably enjoy the "downtime" and discover that I'm able to return to my work refreshed and rejuvenated with more mental clarity and an increased level of creativity. Now I have the added benefit of slowing down the aging process as well. Hey, I think it's time for another day off!

Treat Yourself Right: Take Time to Peel the Oranges!

In my ongoing effort to lose weight, I've been noticing the difference between how thin people eat compared to those of us that are always trying to shed a few pounds. Here's what I've observed: When faced with cake, cookies, or chips, women who appear to be "naturally thin" are able to enjoy a bite or two and then stop while I, on the other hand, have great difficulty ignoring an open bag of M&M's. In fact, there's times of the month when I'll seek out my favorite comfort foods like a heat-seeking missile!

Did you ever notice how the experts alway say to keep that stuff out of the house? That's great if you live alone, but I have four teenagers. What am I to do? That mere fact alone can send me to the nearest stash of chocolate chip cookies!

Truth be told, I actually prefer a fresh piece of fruit to a Girl Scout Thin Mint, but I'm lazy. The other day the remains of a box of thin mints lay open on the counter (already raided by one of the kids) right next to an orange. While the orange actually looked more appetizing, I finished off the last couple of cookies because who's got time to peel and slice an orange? I know, I know...that quality of life stuff. If I'm going to treat myself right and enjoy my life, I have to learn to take time to peel the oranges!

Is Soya Your Weapon Against Fighting Menopause Blues?

Research conducted by a team at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has shown that women can handle the post-menopausal syndrome better if they consume more soya.

Menopause, a transition time for women in their 40's and 50's, occurs when estrogen production falls below a certain level and ovulation stops. The changes associated with menopause can lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, blood pressure, osteoporosis, and joint aches. This study brings hope to millions of women worldwide who go through the blues in the middle of their life. Since soya contains a high level of phytoestrogens, which are related in structure to estrogens, they are useful in reducing post menopausal symptoms like chest pain, hot flashes, aches, vaginal dryness and mood swings.

What has worked for you in combatting menopause symptoms?

Is It Time To Make Some of Those Big Life Changes?

Are you fed up with your overstuffed schedule, poor eating habits, and "living to excess?" If so, it's time for a change! Start by making a list of all the things in your life that you're sick of -- running through the drive-thru, working weekends, going out every night with friends, not having any time to yourself. Now turn these negatives into positive statements: "I want to plan healthy meals, " "I want to relax and enjoy my weekends," or "I want to carve out time in my schedule for spending time alone."

Next you need to create a strategy for implementing some of these changes one step at a time:

• Cancel weeknight social activities in an effort to simplify your schedule
• Say "no" to weekend work requests to cut down on your time at the office
• Create room in your schedule for a healthy amount of sleep
• Carve out time for daily exercise to boost your metabolism and energy level
• Make plans to meet a friend for breakfast on Saturday morning
• Take a Sunday afternoon to visit a museum or walk through an art gallery
• Schedule a facial or massage and start taking care of yourself
• Practice caution in not overpacking your schedule with activities intended to achieve life-enriching goals

Finally, focus on the benefits you will start to experience as you begin to implement each of these changes. Expect some obstacles, but don't give up. It will be worth it in the long run. And you don't have to make all these changes overnight! Pick one and work on that until it's part of your lifestyle. Then move onto the next one. Success breeds success.

What lifestyle changes have you incorporated into your life lately?

Is Your College Graduate Moving Back Home?

According to a 2006 MonsterTrak survey, 48 per cent of all students will find themselves knocking on their family's door come graduation. Additionally, 44 per cent of last year's graduates are still living with their parents. With astronomical tuition costs, credit card debt and the high cost of housing in major metropolitan areas, what's a new college graduate to do?

If you're in this situation, www.boomerangnation.com offers these tips:

• Set a move-out deadline: Before they move in, make sure to set a departure date. Otherwise, you will become frustrated and your son or daughter may become unmotivated to move out on his or her own.
• Avoid the temptation to baby them: Encourage your graduate to take on household responsibilities like fixing the computer or cooking dinner.
• Don't put your life on hold: Carry on with your day-to-day activities as you normally would or risk resentment setting in.
• Discuss goals with your graduate: Saving for a downpayment on a house, starting a business, finding a job, and eliminating debt are all good reasons for your son or daughter to move back home. You should discuss these goals with him or her and work together to make them a reality.
• Charge rent: Whether it's $50 or $300 a month, it's important that your son or daughter contributes to the household. If you feel guilty accepting cash, invest the funds and present the money as a gift once he or she is ready to move out.

Do you have more tips for surviving and thriving while having your adult child live at home?

Are You Faced With the Role of Dual Care Giver?

A recent study says that the sandwich generation of women in their forties and fifties who are caught between the demands of holding down a job and looking after a younger or older relative will rise by 50 percent by the year 2020.

Children and adults are more likely to know their grandparents and great-grandparents, unlike previous generations. But more women are taking on the role of dual care giver -- looking after both children or grandchildren and elderly relatives at the same time. This is putting a huge strain on the 'have it all' generation of women who were supposed to be experiencing more personal freedom and greater wealth than their mothers and grandmothers.

Research shows that women caught in this role of dual care giver are being seriously impacted -- both physically and mentally. They are reporting lower satisfaction with their lives and a reduced level of well-being.

So what's the answer? Please share if you've had a positive experience in this role of dual care giver or the specific struggles that you're facing in this role.

Top 10 Household Challenges

A new survey commissioned by SCOTT Brand papertowels shows 53 percent of Americans are looking for simple, quick and easy solutions to life's everyday challenges. The national survey set out to identify the country's top 10 household challenges. Topping the list? Finding enough space for everyday necessities.

So what are the Top 10 Household Challenges? Here they are:
1. Finding space for all of the things you need (54%)
2. Saving money on everyday items (48%)
3. Finding time to clean/organize (47%)
4. Incorporating exercise into your lifestyle (44%)
5. Keeping track of your spending (41%)
6. Keeping kitchen/bathroom countertops clean and clutter-free (40%)
7. Getting family/household members to keep their space neat and clean (39%)
8. Finding time for yourself (37%)
9. Keeping books/bookcases/shelves/knick-knacks from getting dusty (32%)
10. Working fruits and vegetables into your own/family's diet (30%)

Now through Aug. 15, people can submit a video to Scott demonstrating their solution along with an essay explaining, in 50 words or less, what inspired them to share and discover solutions.

What about you? What is your biggest household challenge?

Is Midlife Really the "Best Years of Your Life?"

Midlife now is believed by some experts to be the happiest time of adult life. "From age 30 to 50, life only gets better and better," says Ron Kessler, professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. "These are the best years of their lives."

According to a recent article, young adults are consumed with life's big decisions - starting a career, getting married, having children - while those over 75 are plagued by failing health and fears about nearing the end of their lives. People at midlife (technically 38 to 55 years old) are usually more settled, typically married, and in many cases, their children are grown or nearly grown. They have more free time and more money.

What's your opinion? Is midlife the time of turmoil that it's typically noted for or are these the best years of your life?

You Want To Stay Connected After the Kids Leave the Nest?

Turn off the TV and tune into each other!

There's no doubt that menopause, midlife crises and major life changes (like transitioning to an empty nest) can put extra pressure on relationships. The trick is to accept these changes and find new ways of interacting with each other.

Wives are guilty of underestimating how important sex is for their husbands who by nature access their emotions through physical intimacy. Without regular romantic interludes, husbands become emotionally withdrawn.

Likewise, husbands frequently fail to recognize how important conversation is to helping their wives feel "connected." When they don't pay enough attention to their wives, it isn't necessarily a sign that the relationship is over. It has merely fallen asleep and needs to be woken up!

Midlife is the time to rediscover the joy of being together. Find a project that you can both get involved with. Plan a vacation together. Pick up a new hobby that you both will enjoy. What did you do when you were dating or before the kids came along? Cook a gourmet meal together. Read to one another. Rent a tandem bike or a canoe and embark on an afternoon adventure. Rekindle the joy of being in one another's company!

Share your dreams with each other. If you are contemplating going back to college - either for a degree or just for the mental stimulation - let your husband know what your motivation is. He may be fearful that you're going to grow beyond him - or that you'll meet someone more intellectually stimulating than he thinks he is - and therefore will be unsupportive at first. Discuss his concerns and relieve his fears. He will become your number one fan if you make him part of your plans.

Don't let your relationship be a casualty of your midlife transition. Now that the kids have moved on with their own lives, this is an opportunity to give your marriage the attention it needs. Breathe new life into it and experience the wonderful, fulfilling relationship you always wished you'd had time for before.

What ideas do you have for staying connected at midlife?

Symptoms of a Midlife Crisis

A midlife transition begins with small, nagging doubts followed by a series of dramatic, apparently irrational events that eventually lead to big changes.

During it all, women ask themselves questions such as: Is this all there is? Am I a failure? What is my purpose in life? This questioning stage, if not handled appropriately, can send you into a tailspin causing you to make choices you may later regret in a desperate effort to take back control of your life.

Symptoms and behaviors during midlife crisis can range from mild to severe, including:

• boredom, exhaustion, or frantic energy
• self-questioning (regrets, what if's)
• daydreaming (like you're existing in parallel worlds at the same time)
• irritability, unexpected anger (acting totally out-of-character)
• acting on alcohol, drug, food, or other compulsions (taking irrational risks)
• greatly decreased or increased sexual desire (remember being a teenager?)
• sexual affairs, especially with someone much younger (an attempt to soothe your frail, aging ego by proving that you've still "got it")
• greatly decreased or increased ambition (either boredom with work that you've always enjoyed or a sudden need to "prove yourself" before it's too late)

It's important as you navigate through this transition period to spend regular time contemplating your life. Accept and share your feelings with other women on a similiar journey. With acceptance, you can allow yourself to grieve losses. Also, by sharing your feelings, you can relieve fears and frustrations - and discover that you're not alone on this journey of growth and change.

Take heart. Coping with a midlife transition takes time and energy, however, it can help you make healthy changes to create greater satisfaction and pleasure in life.

Create Time for Self Care

The most basic and precious tenet of self nurturing is to take time for yourself. Taking time off allows you to be more efficient when you return to the task at hand.

Relaxation is not a treat, it is necessary for your physical and emotional health. And if you value your time and set limits on what you do for others, others will value your time and treat you with more respect.

How many times do you feel frustrated because you are unable to find the time to do the things that are important to you?

Remember. You are in charge of your life. It may not always seem like it, but you do choose to be too busy or to be bored. I know that may not be a very comforting thought, but it is liberating one. Try to find the time to care for yourself. Make it a priority. Self-care will enrich your life immeasurably.

Share how you carve out time for self care in your life!


To see the complete article, go to: Straight From the Heart - Personal Growth - Ways to Self Nurture

Will I Survive Driver's Training?

It's been about 30 years since I first slipped behind the wheel of a car. I don't remember it being all that traumatic. In fact, I can't remember much about driver's training at all except for taking the entrance ramp onto the highway for the first time.

This evening I had a flashback as I sat in the passenger's seat as my 15-year-old son took that initial foray into the world of fast-moving vehicles. It wasn't even planned. He wanted to visit a friend from church and asked if he could drive. It never occurred to me that he didn't know that meant taking two different highways to get there. When we approached the main road near our home, he asked, "Which way, Mom?" I indicated to turn right at which point he realized that we were taking the Interstate. He informed me that they hadn't ventured onto the highway yet in driver's training. I took a big gulp and said, "Well, there's a first time for everything." (Afterall, I was there when he took his first steps. Why shouldn't I be there to experience his first highway adventure?)

About half an hour later, I finally exhaled and turned to him in admiration. I was impressed! He had done a truly awesome job. I complimented him and he grinned from ear to ear. I don't know when I will get used to my children driving, but it certainly seems to be another milestone in their young lives. And why do they all have such different attitudes? My 17-year-old hates to drive and will avoid it whenever possible. My youngest son will be eligible to start driving next summer and my daughter two years after that. But like everything else, I'm learning to trust them and their ability to make good choices - most of the time!

Collision Repair Services Now Cater to Women

Here's some really helpful information that I received from John Shattuck - my local body shop owner:

Did you know that over 65 percent of our customers in the collision repair industry are women? No, it does not mean they are bad drivers. It just means they have taken more control of the family’s auto needs. In the past decade, women have jumped into a role that the men previously dominated.

An increasing presence and buying power of women in the automotive industry is the result of a rise in the overall percentage of female drivers, while the overall percentage of male drivers is decreasing. Furthermore, research shows nearly half of new car purchases are made by women, and 53 percent of used-car sales can be attributed to women. In fact, Ford Motor Marketing reports that women influence 80 percent of all purchases and have 95 percent veto power regarding automotive purchases.

In most cases, females are more knowledgeable then male customers. The old way of thinking -that males make all the decisions regarding repairs on the family’s auto - is a thing of the past. Female customers are also more critical of the cleanliness of a body shop and the quality of the repairs on their auto.

Due to the fact over 65 percent of auto repair facilities customers’ are women, shops need to change their appearance and their attitudes toward their female customers. This is why many mechanical shops and collision repair shops have removed the calendars of half dressed women. They have removed the old car seats and car magazines in their waiting rooms and replaced them with magazines like People and Time. Offices and restrooms are cleaner and more comfortable too. The main reason for this is the female customer. Without their business, they would not have one.

If you're a woman at a repair shop, do not be afraid to ask questions. There are no dumb questions. Insurance claims can be complicated. The average person has a claim once every seven years. [Some of us a little more often.] In the auto world, six months is a long time. Auto mechanical repairs can be even more confusing. If you don’t feel comfortable with whom you are dealing with or are confused, don’t be afraid to leave.

If you have an insurance claim, always remember it is your car and your choice about where it is repaired. You may have it repaired at any shop you would like (at least according to Michigan state law, but I would presume other states have similar statutes.) Choose a shop where you are comfortable. And be sure that it's one that provides a lifetime warranty.

Thanks, John!