More on what drives the boomers

As am early boomer, I have some ideas on what drives us, I have talked about this before and believe that as we understand the boomers we will start to recognize changes that will happen in our society. As the boomers go, so goes society.

 Baby Boomers, between 1946 and 1960, are in their mid 50's a dangerous age. The oldest is 66, (soon to be 67) the youngest 52 with the medium age 56. At the beginning of the century those older than 50 controlled 80% of the personal wealth.  We still do.

By understanding the Baby Boomers you will have a sense of what will be happening in our society over the next few years and why I am hopeful that the promise of the "just society" will return for our grandchildren.
1. The home is still seen as a sanctuary from the outside world and while many of us are in shock because we or friends lost their home, we still need our home to be our sanctuary, and our anger at those who have stolen our sanctuary is growing.
2. The average boomer worked at least 49 hours a week in 2001 compared to 40 hours in the 1960's. Time becomes very precious and as we watch our wealth decline we are inclined to work longer and smarter, as a result we are very aware and very unforgiving of those being wasteful with our tax dollars.
3. As a group, we believe in the youth, so as we mature we will fight the aging process.
4. Concern for the environment, and the ecology which had its roots in the 60's is alive and growing today, and many of the Boomers feel embarrassed that our Government (Canada) withdrew from helping the environment and that our government is a servant of the tar sands.
5. With less disposable income, people still want quality so even with less income, we still demand quality
6. Baby boomers are getting others to do the more routine tasks for them if they can afford to do this.
7. Once the first group of baby boomers pay off their mortgages they will have more disposable income. They will use this income on personal items. Sports such as golf will be very popular.
8. As career and ambition mature, baby boomers will become more concerned about family. The traditions of the 50's are coming back into style. People will spend more time with their families.
9. Baby boomers want to be the same but different than other generations and will work hard to be different.
10. Affordability Not all us are rich. Government taxes, the cost of living, and other life pressures will force us to either go into more debt or cut back on spending and look for the bargains.

Based on the latest stats, many of us are choosing to go deeper into debt, but as the majority get closer to retirement, the spending spree should start to slow down. We will be less tolerant of wasteful spending at all government levels, but we will still demand good health care and a strong pension program.

Are you an Empath?

 Over the holiday a friend of mine suggested that I shared some characteristics of empaths and since I didn't know what an Empath was I went looking. Here is what I found. For the record I do share a few of the following traits but I do not consider myself an empath. So my question is are you an Empath?

Empaths are often quiet and can take a while to handle a compliment for they're more inclined to point out another's positive attributes. They are highly expressive in all areas of emotional connection, and talk openly, and, at times, quite frankly in respect to themselves. They may have few problems talking about their feelings.

However, they can be the exact opposite: reclusive and apparently unresponsive at the best of times. They may even appear ignorant. Some are very good at blocking out others and that's not always a bad thing, at least for the learning empath struggling with a barrage of emotions from others, as well as their own feelings.

Empaths have a tendency to openly feel what is outside of them more so than what is inside of them. This can cause empaths to ignore their own needs. In general an empath is non-violent, non-aggressive and leans more towards being the peacemaker. Any area filled with disharmony creates an uncomfortable feeling in an empath. If they find themselves in the middle of a confrontation, they will endeavor to settle the situation as quickly as possible, if not avoid it all together. If any harsh words are expressed in defending themselves, they will likely resent their lack of self-control, and have a preference to peacefully resolve the problem quickly.

Empaths are sensitive to TV, videos, movies, news and broadcasts. Violence or emotional dramas depicting shocking scenes of physical or emotional pain inflicted on adults, children or animals can bring an empath easily to tears. At times, they may feel physically ill or choke back the tears. Some empaths will struggle to comprehend any such cruelty, and will have grave difficulty in expressing themselves in the face of another's ignorance, closed-mindedness and obvious lack of compassion. They simply cannot justify the suffering they feel and see.

People of all walks of life and animals are attracted to the warmth and genuine compassion of empaths. Regardless of whether others are aware of one being empathic, people are drawn to them as a metal object is to a magnet! They are like beacons of light.

Even complete strangers find it easy to talk to empaths about the most personal things, and before they know it, they have poured out their hearts and souls without intending to do so consciously. It is as though on a sub-conscious level that person knows instinctively that empaths would listen with compassionate understanding.

Empaths are the listeners of life. Empaths are often problem solvers, thinkers, and studiers of many things. As far as empaths are concerned, where a problem is, so too is the answer. They often will search until they find one--if only for peace of mind

Diagnosing ADHD

Taken from The Real Age posted November 25, 201, this article caught my eye after a friend of mine who works with special needs children, said to me "you must have ADHD because you take on so many projects". So I thought about it, dismised his comment but remembered it when I read this document. Interesting reading

Diagnosing adult ADHD is a difficult science, because it overlaps with other mental health conditions, making diagnosis tricky. Also, much of the diagnostic research to date has been done on children, and the diagnostic features that doctors use for children often take different form in adults. The only way to know for sure if you have adult ADHD is to work closely with your doctor on assessing your symptoms and medical history.

Do you think you might have adult ADHD? Answer the following questions. Do you often:

• Have great difficulty wrapping up the loose ends on projects?
• Have trouble staying organized?
• Miss appointments or obligations?
• Procrastinate on big projects that require thought?
• Have trouble sitting still?
• Struggle with restless energy?

If you answered yes to four or more of these questions, it may be a good idea to talk to your doctor about adult ADHD.

By the way, I answered no to all of the questions except Have trouble sitting still and that I attribute to a hip that one day soon may have to be replaced.

25 tips toward boosting your confidence and self esteem.

15. Say Hello:

Make it a rule to say hi to at least one person you don't know EVERY day. Give them the smile you flash at yourself in the mirror, the biggest and best one you can find. They’ll smile back automatically, and they’ll walk away with a little extra confidence boost thanks to you.

People look their best when they smile, and they also feel better by smiling too! This ultimately means you get a confidence boost too, for making someone else feel good about themselves.

16. Never Say Never....Ever:

If you think something can’t be done, then you'll end up proving yourself right eventually. So never say never, just keep plugging along until it works for you.

If other people are telling you it can’t be done, you're going to feel such immense satisfaction at actually doing it that your confidence will soar.

17. Get Active:

Don't sit around the house just doing nothing. Get up, go out, cycling, walking, exercising, anything that might invigorate your brain. A lively brain full of thoughts will help you gain confidence.

18. “Happy Foods”:

Happy foods, such as chocolate, strawberries, lemons, ice-cream etc will increase the serotonin levels in your brain, leading to an increased feeling of happiness.

Feeling happy is a natural confidence boost. So go on, enjoy your food! (in moderation, of course).

19. Face Your Fear:

Is there something you are afraid of? Face it full on. Doing something scary and overcoming the fear is a fantastic way to boost your confidence. So go on, jump out of that plane (with a parachute of course), drive that car, speak in front of a large crowd, ask for a promotion, or whatever it is that scares you. You'll feel absolutely brilliant once it’s done

Alzheimer's will not define the Boomers

“Generation Alzheimer's” The Alzheimer's Association recently released a website and report titled “Generation Alzheimer's: The Defining Disease of the Baby Boomers.” If you're interested in learning more about Alzheimer's and what it means for the aging boomer population, check it out! The more we know the more we can take steps to make sure this illness does not define who we are as we age

Hydroponic Gardening—Try It!

Who doesn't want to see beautiful plants blooming every now and then in her own backyard? Sure enough, plants have a certain power of uplifting one's spirit as well as enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the home. Many housewives are truly into this hobby because it is not only engaging but likewise profitable in more ways than one. So, if gardening is your thing, then, you may want to try the so called hydroponic gardening!
What is hydroponic gardening?
The term hydroponic garden is already a resounding term these days. What is great about this is that one can grow plants even without using any soil. Instead, the plants are grown using gravel, perlite, water, and the most commonly used is the sand.

The indoor hydroponic garden is often utilized to grow herbs, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. However, if you do prefer this kind, you must ensure that they will get enough amount of light, nutrients, and of course the medium to use to grown them in.

What will you get out of this kind of gardening?
You can now say goodbye to soil as you don't need to rely on it in growing your healthy, tasty, and strong vegetables. The hydroponic system also does away with weeding and particularly the insects to combat against. All you have to do is wait for them to grow as you nurture them.

First and foremost, engaging in this type of gardening will save you of all those laborious or intensive tasks. Forget about tending to and worrying about the portable oxygen unit.

Traditional gardening often makes use of chemicals that aid in the fast growth of the plants but with this, you don't need to spend much. One more thing, if you are the kind of person who experiences breathing problems when you catch the smell of certain chemicals, then, this will be a good solution for you.

The hydroponic gardens can also be done indoors which means you don't actually have to get out of your house to pursue your hobby. At any time that you prefer to tend to your plants, there is no reason for you to feel the restrictions because it is just within your home!

What are the important tips to remember for this garden?
First of all, you have to start with the appropriate balance of nutrients for your plants. This kind of garden allows the plant roots to have all the nutrients directly delivered to them. Thus, you have to get to know your plant well by means of doing a careful research. That means finding ways on how your plant will be able to grow well.

Be certain to provide adequate light. It is very important to choose the right kind of light that will be fit for the growing plants. You can choose from the fluorescent grow lights, halide bulbs, high intensity discharge lights, and high pressure sodium lights.

Have the best medium for growing the plants. The right medium means that it can store both the water and nutrients for the plant's benefit.

Overall, hydroponic gardening is not difficult at all. Just follow these tips and have an exciting pastime to work with.