Yesterday I talked about my love of dance, and thanks to my friend Pam, who sent me this on facebook with this comment" wonderful video on the joy of dancing and how the movies make dancing come alive. I echol my friend Pam when I say "Please enjoy!"
I AM A SONIC BOOMER, NOT A SENIOR... In this blog, I am writing to and for those who believe that the Boomers will change what the word Senior means. I also believe that Boomers will change what retirement means in our society. The blog is also for those who are interested in what life after retirement may look like for them. In this blog, I highlight and write about issues that I believe to be important both for Seniors and working Boomers.
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Balance Part Two
3) Relationships. The savage truth is that, in relationships, you can have anything you can afford. The coin is passion, health, intelligence, self-respect, and confidence. Men and women get into terrible trouble because they are attracted to people more attractive than themselves, and can’t be honest about it. Women complain that men want beauty, while men complain that women want power.
Get over it. We’re wired up that way genetically, although the specific symbols of beauty and power vary across culture and time. The sooner you stop complaining about this immutable fact, the faster you’ll be able to make decisions about the level of beauty or power you are willing (or able) to manifest in your own life to get what you want.
And no, it isn’t fair. No one said life is fair. But each gender seems to think that the other side has rigged the game to its advantage. In fact, the less successful a man or woman is in this arena, the less likely they are to grasp a central truth: if women were men, they’d behave like men. If men were women, they’d behave like women. Stop finger pointing, and get into the game!
In each of these three arenas, there are painful truths we must face: human beings are wise, and good, and strong, and spiritual. Unfortunately we are also lazy, dishonest, confused, and childishly wish the world would simply recognize our genius and follow our advice. Why should the world, our customers, our audience, our children, listen to us when we cannot communicate honestly with ourselves?
In the creation of fictional characters, often all one has to do is create a flaw in one of these three arenas, and then create a plot situation that will teach the character a lesson they need to heal. In the world of advertising, almost all products are sold with an appeal to one of these three areas: sex, power, or health. Fail to understand how human beings are driven by these needs: or how almost EVERYONE fails to balance in all three of them, and you will miss a primary motivation in human history. If we cannot understand or effectively communicate with our own psyches. What hope have we to effectively understand one another?
Mastery is a road, not a location. We needn’t be millionaires with bodybuilder physiques married to movie stars with in order to progress toward clarity and power. But we must take responsibility. We must admit that we want health, and happiness, and love. And move with both discipline and joy toward a future we can cherish. What we learn along that road is the Truth of what we are. And the truth will set you free.
Get over it. We’re wired up that way genetically, although the specific symbols of beauty and power vary across culture and time. The sooner you stop complaining about this immutable fact, the faster you’ll be able to make decisions about the level of beauty or power you are willing (or able) to manifest in your own life to get what you want.
And no, it isn’t fair. No one said life is fair. But each gender seems to think that the other side has rigged the game to its advantage. In fact, the less successful a man or woman is in this arena, the less likely they are to grasp a central truth: if women were men, they’d behave like men. If men were women, they’d behave like women. Stop finger pointing, and get into the game!
In each of these three arenas, there are painful truths we must face: human beings are wise, and good, and strong, and spiritual. Unfortunately we are also lazy, dishonest, confused, and childishly wish the world would simply recognize our genius and follow our advice. Why should the world, our customers, our audience, our children, listen to us when we cannot communicate honestly with ourselves?
In the creation of fictional characters, often all one has to do is create a flaw in one of these three arenas, and then create a plot situation that will teach the character a lesson they need to heal. In the world of advertising, almost all products are sold with an appeal to one of these three areas: sex, power, or health. Fail to understand how human beings are driven by these needs: or how almost EVERYONE fails to balance in all three of them, and you will miss a primary motivation in human history. If we cannot understand or effectively communicate with our own psyches. What hope have we to effectively understand one another?
Mastery is a road, not a location. We needn’t be millionaires with bodybuilder physiques married to movie stars with in order to progress toward clarity and power. But we must take responsibility. We must admit that we want health, and happiness, and love. And move with both discipline and joy toward a future we can cherish. What we learn along that road is the Truth of what we are. And the truth will set you free.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
On Maui
As Mark Twain wrote, "I went to Maui to stay a week and remained five. I never spent so pleasant a month before, or bade any place goodbye so regretfully. I have not once thought of business, or care or human toil or trouble or sorrow or weariness, and the memory of it will remain with me always." I have to agee with his analysis and I will be back.
Friday, January 7, 2011
The power of Visualization
I have an inner ear problem, which causes me to get motion sickness. This is something that I have had most of my life. In 1982 I made the mistake of going out with a group of students in St. Johns' Harbour and my inner ear problem caused me great grief--my students video taped me, so I have proof of the experience :-). So I went to the Dr. and looked at my options. At the time there was a cure but the medication had side effects that made me decide to work on curing myself. So over the years I exposed myself slowly to experiences that would help me cope with my problem. Over the years my battle with motion sickness became easier and in 2006, when we were in Australia I was able to go out to the Great Barrier Reef and spend the day snorkeling and enjoying the open sea without being sick.
We spend the Christmas Holiday in Maui and as part of the 15 days we planned a number of wonderful and exciting events,which I will talk about in this and future posts. One of those events was to spend the day snorkeling and whale watching. We boarded the boat and set off to Molokini and then to the island of Lanai for the day. We arrived at Molokini and I was feeling a bit under the weather, so I decided to get in the water to help fight off the illness that was slowly taking over. (I had taken biome and gravole before we started). Within 15 minutes of being in the water, I started to feel ill and lucky for me the crew had a member in a kayak who pulled me into the boat. The motion sickness came back with a bang, not a whimper.
I started to throw up and for the next six and one half hours I fed the fishes and struggled to overcome my motion sickness. I lost the Battle for a couple of hours and then I slowly built an image of a stable shoreline in my head and through the use of visualization I was able to win the battle. By the end of the trip, I was still ill and too weak to get off the boat by myself but my bouts with the sickness were further apart. Without the ability to visualize, I think I would not have been able to cope with or recover as fast as I did. In 1982 when I was sick it took me three days to recover, this time I recovered by the next morning.
In 1982 when I was faced with being sea sick, people asked me if I was okay and my response was I was fine--I was too young and proud to admit I needed help. This Christmas, when people asked me if I was OK, I said no and took the help that was offered, and there was much help offered. I appreciated the support and help of all of the people and their concern. I was impressed with the kindness of the staff of the Pacific Whale Foundation and to the passengers on the boat.
I did enjoy the first part of the trip but I did not go out again on the ocean even though we had booked a sunset dinner cruise for the next day I stayed on shore and ate a wonderful pizza and listened to a musician play, while my wife and mother-in-law enjoyed the cruise.
We spend the Christmas Holiday in Maui and as part of the 15 days we planned a number of wonderful and exciting events,which I will talk about in this and future posts. One of those events was to spend the day snorkeling and whale watching. We boarded the boat and set off to Molokini and then to the island of Lanai for the day. We arrived at Molokini and I was feeling a bit under the weather, so I decided to get in the water to help fight off the illness that was slowly taking over. (I had taken biome and gravole before we started). Within 15 minutes of being in the water, I started to feel ill and lucky for me the crew had a member in a kayak who pulled me into the boat. The motion sickness came back with a bang, not a whimper.
I started to throw up and for the next six and one half hours I fed the fishes and struggled to overcome my motion sickness. I lost the Battle for a couple of hours and then I slowly built an image of a stable shoreline in my head and through the use of visualization I was able to win the battle. By the end of the trip, I was still ill and too weak to get off the boat by myself but my bouts with the sickness were further apart. Without the ability to visualize, I think I would not have been able to cope with or recover as fast as I did. In 1982 when I was sick it took me three days to recover, this time I recovered by the next morning.
In 1982 when I was faced with being sea sick, people asked me if I was okay and my response was I was fine--I was too young and proud to admit I needed help. This Christmas, when people asked me if I was OK, I said no and took the help that was offered, and there was much help offered. I appreciated the support and help of all of the people and their concern. I was impressed with the kindness of the staff of the Pacific Whale Foundation and to the passengers on the boat.
I did enjoy the first part of the trip but I did not go out again on the ocean even though we had booked a sunset dinner cruise for the next day I stayed on shore and ate a wonderful pizza and listened to a musician play, while my wife and mother-in-law enjoyed the cruise.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
what are you doing that is of importance?
I continue to ask myself this as I move through the day: what are you doing that is of importance?
Today I sat a listened to a grade 9 girl talk about her situation. As I wandered about the classroom I asked the young girl in the purple and green hair what she was working on during the class. She explained she was doing a project on planning her future career.
I was curious as to what you wanted to do and she explained she was interested in being an artist, and she showed me some of her work, which was very good for a grade 9 student. As she showed me her work, she started talking about her move to the school from Mission, BC. She talked about how she missed her friends and hoped to go back for her 11 and grade 12 years.
She then went on to explain that she had moved to Surrey because her mom and dad had split up and she was with dad, because her step dad had physically and mentally abused her. She showed me the some of the scars her step father had inflicted on her when she was younger. She went on to explain that it took her a few years to not be afraid enough to tell a teacher and that social services had stepped in to remove her and that is how she ended up with dad. Her father, she explained would not let her visit mom, except when step dad was out of town. Dad was very protective she thought. I thought but did not say, that is what dads' sometimes have to be.
I listened as she talked and then she went back to work. From our discussions, I was sure she felt that she was being looked after by the system--to the best it could. I know the counsellors at the school and knew she could trust them to work in her best interest.
What I did of importance was not much, all I did was listen. Sometimes I forget that even though I would love to save the world, all I can do is sometimes is to listen and be supportive. People will solve their own problems, if they know they have support. Who have you supported and listened to today?
Today I sat a listened to a grade 9 girl talk about her situation. As I wandered about the classroom I asked the young girl in the purple and green hair what she was working on during the class. She explained she was doing a project on planning her future career.
I was curious as to what you wanted to do and she explained she was interested in being an artist, and she showed me some of her work, which was very good for a grade 9 student. As she showed me her work, she started talking about her move to the school from Mission, BC. She talked about how she missed her friends and hoped to go back for her 11 and grade 12 years.
She then went on to explain that she had moved to Surrey because her mom and dad had split up and she was with dad, because her step dad had physically and mentally abused her. She showed me the some of the scars her step father had inflicted on her when she was younger. She went on to explain that it took her a few years to not be afraid enough to tell a teacher and that social services had stepped in to remove her and that is how she ended up with dad. Her father, she explained would not let her visit mom, except when step dad was out of town. Dad was very protective she thought. I thought but did not say, that is what dads' sometimes have to be.
I listened as she talked and then she went back to work. From our discussions, I was sure she felt that she was being looked after by the system--to the best it could. I know the counsellors at the school and knew she could trust them to work in her best interest.
What I did of importance was not much, all I did was listen. Sometimes I forget that even though I would love to save the world, all I can do is sometimes is to listen and be supportive. People will solve their own problems, if they know they have support. Who have you supported and listened to today?
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Truths as others see them
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't bathe cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.
GREAT THRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED.
1) Wrinkles don't hurt.
2) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
3) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
4) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
5) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
6) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions...
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus..
4) You look like Santa Claus.
Take the time to live!!!
Life is too short.
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't bathe cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.
GREAT THRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED.
1) Wrinkles don't hurt.
2) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
3) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
4) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
5) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy.
6) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions...
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus..
4) You look like Santa Claus.
Take the time to live!!!
Life is too short.
Friday, August 13, 2010
To those of us born 1946-1960
No matter what our kids and the new generation think about us,
WE ARE AWESOME !!!
OUR Lives are LIVING PROOF !!!
To Those of Us Born
1946 - 1960 :
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
'40s, '50s, '60s !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank
While they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then, after that trauma, we were
Put to sleep on our tummies
In baby cribs covered
With bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets,
And, when we rode our bikes,
We had baseball caps,
Not helmets, or no caps at all on our heads.
As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread, real butter, and bacon. We drank Kool-Aid made with real white sugar. And we weren't overweight.
WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day.
--And, we were OKAY.
We would spend hours building
Our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill,
Only to find out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem..
We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were
And we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut,
Broke bones and teeth,
And there were no lawsuits
From those accidents.
We would get spankings with wooden spoons, switches, ping-pong paddles, or just a bare hand, and no one would call child services to report abuse.
We ate worms, and mud pies
Made from dirt, and
The worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and
although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.
Team Sports had tryouts
And not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn
To deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
Our generations has produced some of the best risk-takers, Problem solvers, and inventors ever.
The past 50 to years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. if YOU are one of those born
Between 1946-1960, CONGRATULATIONS!
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
WE ARE AWESOME !!!
OUR Lives are LIVING PROOF !!!
To Those of Us Born
1946 - 1960 :
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED THE
'40s, '50s, '60s !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who may have smoked and/or drank
While they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then, after that trauma, we were
In baby cribs covered
With bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, locks on doors or cabinets,
And, when we rode our bikes,
We had baseball caps,
Not helmets, or no caps at all on our heads.
As infants and children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, no booster seats, no seat belts, no air bags, bald tires and sometimes no brakes.
Riding in the back of a pick- up truck on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
WHY?
Because we were always outside playing...that's why!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day.
--And, we were OKAY.
We would spend hours building
Our go-carts out of scraps
And then ride them down the hill,
Only to find out we forgot the brakes.. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem..
We did not have Play Stations, Nintendos and X-boxes. There were
- No video games, no 150 channels on cable,
- No video movies or DVDs,
- No surround-sound or CDs,
- No cell phones,
- No personal computers,
- No Internet and no chat rooms.
And we went outside and found them!
Broke bones and teeth,
And there were no lawsuits
From those accidents.
We ate worms, and mud pies
Made from dirt, and
The worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls, and
although we were told it would happen- we did not put out very many eyes.
Team Sports had tryouts
And not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't had to learn
To deal with disappointment.
Imagine that!!
Our generations has produced some of the best risk-takers, Problem solvers, and inventors ever.
The past 50 to years have seen an explosion of innovation and new ideas..We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. if YOU are one of those born
You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.
While you are at it, forward it to your kids, so they will know how brave and lucky their parents were.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it ?
Friday, June 18, 2010
Friday's on my mind
Coming up to the end of the work week and the start of summer and I am thinking of the Friday song by ZZ top, as the day winds its way down. Fridays seem to be a bit more relaxed as people move into the weekend and have the time to recoup their energy. I think this is one thing that Boomers who retire will miss. The charm of having a Friday and the ability to look forward to a weekend of fun and relaxation. When retired that joy of Friday is gone as everyday is a holiday
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