Remembrance: Letters to My Soul

Remembrance: Letters to My Soul
A special book serialization and collaboration between BB[KC] and author Karen Wright


Publisher's Message
Every now and then you come across a person who is truly unique, who goes out of their way to unselfishly help others. Such is the case with Karen Wright, who you may have first met on BB[KC] through her podcast "Hearts on Fire," which we featured for one week in January.

Her ebook Remembrance: Letters to My Soul is a compelling account to help people use their accumulated wisdom to find what they are looking for in life, or what they hope to be in their remaining days, and what legacy they want to leave behind. The editors at BB[KC] and Ms. Wright are taking an unprecedented step to serialize her book - ten chapters in all - over the coming months. Of course, if you can’t wait for the next chapter to be published, you can always visit Karen at her website, Wrightminded, to purchase the book, as well as see the other activities she is involved with.

Chapter Three is "Dream Thieves." Ensuing chapters will be published on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of every month.

Martin Diano
Publisher


Dream Thieves
by Karen Wright

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.”
~ Carl Sandburg

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Those who have abandoned their dreams will discourage yours. …rain on your parade…pull the rug out from under you…stab you in the back. They’ll do it because they hurt and you’re a painful reminder of the hopes they just can’t hope for anymore.

They’ll do it because misery loves company and they don’t want to be the only ones with empty excuses at the end of their lives. They’ll do it out of self-defense and envy.

And sometimes they’ll do it with a mother’s love or the concern of a best friend. They’ll do it because they care about you and only want what’s best for you. They will do it to protect you from getting hurt. Their hearts are in the right place…or so we tell ourselves, because we love them too.
Friend or foe, loved one or sworn enemy – you must beware of psychic vampires that will drain the last ounce of life from your dreams. Dreams are fragile things whose jugulars run close to the surface. With hardly more than a passing remark, these flights of fancy can evaporate.

In a fundamental way, your dreams represent your most cherished vision of your life. THE FUTURE! All the good and opportunity possible. A distinctive path meant just for you. Just thinking about this future will transport you into a world that holds promise and joy.

But, as a dream, its existence can be ephemeral. Subject to mood and faith, it lives or perishes. Its future is never certain until the dream becomes the reality. Like the little bunny in the Velveteen Rabbit, dreams become real when you believe in them.

Protect your dream. Remember, those who give advice or warnings do so from their perspectives with their own fears and disappointments pulling the strings. Their comments have nothing to do with you. They are focused on how they would feel or act in your place. Their warnings are born of their own apprehensions and doubts. Even the loving warnings. They are not you!

Feed your dream every day. Play in its atmosphere, breathe deeply…and it will feed you too. Transform its promise into reality. Dreams become real when thoughts become actions.
“Whatever man can conceive and believe, he can achieve.” Napoleon Hill understood dreams. Notice the three stages. Thought, nourishment, and action. The surest way to quell the good intentions of others’ advice is to live your dream. Make it real and the nay-sayers will lose their voice.

Sometimes we tell young kids, "You can be anything you want to be in life!" Often we speak these words somewhat tongue-in-cheek...knowing that obstacles and restrictions will undoubtedly raise their seemingly un-hurdle-able walls. We've been there, right? We know life doesn't give it away.
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Whatever it may be for each of us.
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But, at times, the words are genuine and sincere. We see it, deep in their eyes - their destiny is theirs for the choosing. Potential literally oozes from their innocent pores. They're quick, smart, agile...the world is their oyster. For them, life is a sumptuous feast set in their honor.
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You might have been the child that heard such words of promise. You might have smiled and mused, "I'm going to have a great life - I can be whatever I want!" And sure enough, it was easy...being popular, getting good grades, having the best choice of almost everything. Ego strokes were plentiful. Everyone thought you could walk on water...if you just "set your mind to it." It felt good, it felt destined...just let it happen.

But, it never did happen. Time did. Moments and years. And one day you woke up and realized that no one had used the P-word with you for quite some time. All that Potential. What happened?
Potential has a shelf-life. Its limitless possibility evaporates in the vacuum of squandered time. The Course in Miracles says, "Time can waste as well as be wasted." Treat it badly and it will return the favor. Lose-lose.

What potential sleeps within your hopeful, yet idle heart? How long has it starved? What dream is un-realized? What You is unborn?

All is not lost. Your fate is not sealed! Even lifeless potential can be revived. Yes, even yours. Every day that the sun rises is a new opportunity – a fresh start. Think about it...why in the world do days exist? Why not just have one endless, uninterrupted life? Why is there day and then night? Waking and sleeping? Sunrise and sunset? Days seem to have a beginning and ending. What if you began to treat them as such?

Symbolically you live 365 lives each year. Each one possesses every possibility imaginable. Each one is an opportunity to begin again. To leave doubt and worry in yesterday. To grab life with gusto today. You're born anew each morning and potential seeks release again.

Today – that's all you have, really. Will you live it...each minute? Will you do what brings you joy? Will you say words of love? Will you laugh? Will you extend kindness? Will you be astounded? Will you know gratefulness? Will you bring a smile to a down-hearted soul? Will you make the day fuller because of your presence in it?

Stay awake today. Be alive today. Raise your passion, strengthen your resolve. This is your life but, tonight, this day will pass away. When your eyes close, I hope there is a knowing smile on your lips that you were alive today. You did wring the potential from every moment. It was a day worth a day of your life.



About the Author
Karen Wright is a cliff jumper who understands the pain of facing fear and doing what your heart says you must. Her life is summed up by her favorite Marcel Proust quote, “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Her nomadic search for Self, seeking numerous careers and locales, became her soul’s curriculum. Her many paths led to lessons in letting go of fear, listening to inner guidance, and coming home to her own spirit. It was an inner journey—a shift in perspective—that prepared her to help others navigate that rocky course to spirit. “It is the longest journey and the shortest distance,” she confides. “With a shift in thought, entire lives can change.”

An acclaimed inspirational speaker, Karen is the author of The Sequoia Seed: Remembering the Truth of Who You Are. This profound little book speaks to everyone who seeks the personal clarity that comes with a step back from the chaos of life. Karen’s words will feel like they come from your very soul and will transform confusion into certainty. A book you’ll read over and over and continue to find pure gold.

Karen is also the author of internationally read Waking Up, an inspirational and life changing on-line ezine with a fiercely loyal following. Her writing speaks of everyday challenges with self-worth, fear, and life purpose—encouraging us to embrace the unknown and recognize the greatness in us all.

Karen’s study of chaos theory, quantum physics, and brain physiology led her to see that the fulfillment of our individual lives is inextricably connected to humanity’s spiritual evolution. Her position is succinctly profound. “Whether we speak of countries or families, all life is one.”

Karen resides in the Pacific Northwest—close to family and the nurturing sustenance of undisturbed natural beauty. To order all ten chapters of Remembrance: Letters to My Soul or other books by Karen go to http://www.wrightminded.com. Available in e-book ($10US) or printed booklet ($12US plus shipping) formats.

How Baby Boomers are Using Social Media

How Baby Boomers are Using Social Media
Radio talk show host, Joanie Winberg, discusses social media with BB[KC] publisher Martin Diano

Show summary
In ever increasing numbers Baby Boomers are utilizing social media to communicate with family and friends, collaborate in teams and cooperate with anyone they choose anywhere, anytime.

Have you jumped on the social media bandwagon yet?
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Joanie's interview with Martin covers a wide range of web destinations, social networking communities, and social tools that Baby Boomers are utilizing to spark conversations, solve problems and discover new solutions.


Click HERE
to listen at your
convenience 24/7.



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About Joanie Winberg
As the Founder of the National Association of Divorce for Women and Children, Joanie's passion is to help women during and after divorce to be the best they can be as well as become role models for their children and community. The 24/7 Resource Center, was created not only because of the lack of support and guidance Joanie experienced after her divorce, but for the many women who experience the same challenges.

"Single Again! Now What?" is Joanie's weekly radio program on Blog Talk Radio.

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About Martin Diano
Martin is publisher of the Baby Boomer [Knowledge Center]™ and Founder of Boomer Authority™. You can follow him on Twitter @MartinDiano, friend him on Facebook, and connect with him on LinkedIn.

Resources mentioned in the interview:
> Social networking communities: Facebook, My Space, Eons, Boomj
> Community sites specifically for women: Vibrant Nation, National Association of Baby Boomer Women
> Blogging platforms: Wordpress, Typepad, Blogger
> Social Media Tools: Twitter, Friendfeed, YouTube, Flickr, Digg
> A-list Bloggers: Seth Godin, Chris Brogan, Mari Smith
> Recommended books:
1] Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, by Seth Godin,
2] Secrets of Social Media Marketing by Paul Gillin
3] The Everything Blogging Book: Publish Your Ideas, Get Feedback, And Create Your Own Worldwide Network by Aliza Risdahal
4] The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success by Lon Safko
> Additional Reading: Articles about Social Media and Baby Boomers on BB[KC]

> Friends and associates of BB[KC] Carrie Pierce - Menopauserus.com, Nancy Padberg, Best Boomer Towns

Golf Industry Caters to Women Boomers

Golf Industry Caters to Women Boomers
By Peter Blais - Special Guest Contributor


For Boomer women who thought the golf business was not listening to you, take heart. Things are-a changin’.

Women called the shots during the recently completed 5th Annual American Express Women's Golf Month. A nationwide initiative, American Express Women's Golf Month provides the opportunity to learn or re-learn the game of golf in a fun and friendly environment, while also increasing the participation of women in golf.

Participating facilities offered complimentary golf instruction to those 14 years of age and older as well as activities such as networking receptions, golf rules and etiquette seminars, clubfitting and equipment demonstrations, golf apparel fashion shows, luncheons, playing experiences, and contests. Each activity was designed to provide a fun and inviting atmosphere for all involved.
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LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member Nancy Lopez, and world-renowned fitness expert and philanthropist Donna Richardson Joyner, both Boomers, were the American Express Women's Golf Month Spokeswomen Team for 2009 along with teaching pro Suzy Whaley.
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In its first four years, more than 105,000 people across the country were introduced or re-introduced to the game of golf during American Express Women's Golf Month, which premiered in 2005 as Women's Golf Week.

Over the years, through programs such as American Express Women's Golf Month, many people have also discovered that the game of golf can be used to foster relationships and encourage personal health. Whether one is spending time with colleagues -- socially or professionally, spending time with family and friends, or exercising while enjoying the beautiful scenery of the golf course, the game of golf provides the tools necessary for success in all aspects of life.

Speaking of beautiful scenery, a consortium of golf-and-resort lifestyle properties in the Canadian Rockies is offering a collection of packages and services designed to pamper and delight their female clientele – and leaves husbands like me extremely envious since I count the Canadian Rockies on my personal bucket list of places to visit and golf before I pass on to that Great Fairway In The Sky,



Check this out from the travel section of Boomer Golf News (www.boomergolfnews.com) and then tell me you still don’t want to play golf.

"The Fairmont Banff Springs, Canmore Golf & Curling Club, The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Kananaskis Country Golf Course, Silvertip Resort and Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club are among the most women-friendly golf destinations in North America. Collectively they operate under the promise "Canadian Rockies Golf: Historic. Dramatic. Untamed."

“Our courses and resorts are exquisite - showcasing majestic scenery and the world's best mountain golf - so we wanted our women packages to reflect our uniqueness," says K. Gordon Schultz, spokesperson for the Canadian Rockies consortium. "We offer the ladies a chance to get their much deserved pampering with a variety of price points, many of which include golf."

The options for ladies include:
• The Fairmont Banff Springs (http://www.fairmont.com/banffsprings) - Escape to Willow Stream. Package includes one night room accommodation, gourmet breakfast daily, self-parking, gratuities and choice of one Willow Stream treatment daily. The cost is $539 CDN per night, based on double occupancy. Rates vary by season.

• Silvertip Resort (http://www.silvertipresort.com) - Scenic Sisters. Silvertip is the home course to PGA Tour player Stephen Ames. The package includes: light breakfast, nutritious lunch, yoga-for-golf session, full-swing instruction and 18 holes plus leisure time for shopping. Add another night and a nine-minute helicopter tour over the Bow Valley with a three- to four-hour guided hike. The price is $295, not including taxes.

• Kananaskis (http://www.kananaskisgolf.com/) - Ladies Golf Package. Take a lesson and play at one of Golf Digest's 20 best-rated Canadian courses. Kakanaskis offers two Robert Trent Jones Sr. layouts - Mt. Lorette and Mt. Kidd. The package includes: one night room accommodation at Delta Lodge, one-hour lesson with a CPGA professional, $15 pro shop voucher, $40 meal voucher and complimentary valet parking. The price is $149.50 per person, per night based on double occupancy.

• Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club (http://www.stewartcreekgolf.com/golf) - Ladies Choice. It is Ladies Choice every day a Stewart Creek with the option of private lessons or group clinics concentrating on a single aspect of the game or a full-swing analysis. Players can custom design a lesson or plan a corporate getaway with Director of Instruction Clinton Schmaltz. Group instruction starts as low as $50 per session; call for rates and availability.

• Pampered Putters (http://www.canadianrockiesgolf.ca). Unable to pick just one course? Then Pampered Putters is the way to go with five days and four nights of pampering. The package includes: meet and greet at Calgary airport and Hertz Rental Car; National Park Passes; two-bedroom suites with double occupancy; golf at Fairmont Banff Springs, Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club, Kananaskis Country Golf Course and Silvertip resort (one round daily); horseback breakfast; guided hiking; Willow Stream Spa visit; limousine service with foot massage, champagne and chocolate strawberries en route to dinner at Lake Louise. Prices starting at $2,399 CDN.

• Canmore Golf & Curling Club (http://www.canmoregolf.net) - Golf Gourmet & Mountain Song Getaway. A two-day package for groups from two to six includes: morning golf lessons conducted by a CPGA Professional, 18 holes of mountain golf with cart each afternoon, lunch and dinner created by a celebrated chef, cooking classes, a fine variety of Canadian and Ice wines, lodging available with options from budget-friendly to five-star hotel. The price is $450 per person for two days.

• Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (http://www.fairmont.com/jasper) - Pajama Party. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge Pajama Party weekend includes two nights accommodation, Friday night dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Saturday Gala dinner and entertainment, women-centric seminars and demonstrations, Sunday farewell brunch, door prizes. Price starts at $489 US ($599 CDN) per person based on double occupancy.
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About Peter Blais
Peter Blais is publisher/editor of www.boomergolfnews.com, an online golf magazine for Baby Boomers. He is a former daily newspaper sportswriter, past managing editor of the monthly trade publication Golf Course News and current president of Blais Communications Inc., the freelance writing and public relations firm that publishes Boomer Golf News. He is based in North Yarmouth, Maine, where he lives in a log home with his wife, two college-aged sons, 12-year-old golden retriever and two cats. He claims to be the “happiest 20-handicap on the planet.”

The Boomer Survival Guide

MidLife Matters with H. Les Brown

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The Boomer Survival Guide

What an absolutely amazing time to be a 'Boomer! If you're a person who likes a challenge, you'll absolutely love 2009! There's nothing quite like the fear of financial insecurity to stress every system in your life (your career, your relationships and your health) to within an inch of its breaking-point . . . or beyond. We've been told (whether or not we choose to take it seriously) that this year is going to be the toughest in recent history: tougher than last year, with next year shaping up to be not so tough. Meanwhile, wherever you go, there you are, and right now, wherever you go, you're stuck right here in 2009 with all the challenges that entails.

Welcome to 'Midlife Crisis Plus': a life that's taking the concept of 'obstacles to success' to new levels. Sadly enough, you may or may not realize that all you need to do to find yourself inextricably embroiled in this chaos and drama is to do nothing. That's right: sitting back and hoping for the best — many a midlife guy's favorite pastime — opens up a direct route to disappointment and discouragement (if not to disaster). There is a bottom line here, guys: move it or lose it. In other words, you're risking everything when you decide that there's nothing you need to do right now. The first chapter of your 'Boomer's Survival Guide' should be entitled: "Don't Just Sit There, Do Something!"

Believe it or not, your job and your career are on the line. If you work for someone else, I sincerely hope you realize two Great Truths that ought to be carved in stone: 1) that there's no such thing as job security anymore and 2) that 'retirement' is a a quaint but obsolete concept. If you're in business for yourself, an entrepreneur, you have to be aware that you're in fierce competition with every other entrepreneur in the world for an ever-shrinking supply of dollars. They day of the dilettante entrepreneur has passed. The name of the game today is: work hard, work long hours, and, if you're paying the bills, you're doing great (and if you're not, you have a lot of good company). Do you see the conundrum gathering here, friends? Those of you in the "9-to-5" world are wondering whether you'd be better off right nos taking that 'leap of faith' you've always thought about and 'leave the rat-race' to strike out on your own. Meanwhile, those of you who are in business for yourselves are thinking that your best course may be to pack it up and get a 'RJ' ('Real Job'). When the going gets tough, the tough start playing 'musical chairs.'

Meanwhile, how are things going at home? Should we sense trouble in paradise? Chances are, when the fear of economic insecurity hits one or both partners in a relationship, that things tend to get more than a bit stormy. According to research done by The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, here are the primary reasons cited by couples as sources of their marital difficulties often leading to divorce:
>Poor communication
>Financial problems
>A lack of commitment to the marriage
>A dramatic change in priorities
>Infidelity

Did you see what appears as #2? Do you see any relationship between a severely depressed economy and the #4 reason ("A dramatic change in priorities"). Just out of curiosity, you may be interested to hear the secondary causes:
>Failed expectations or unmet needs
>Addictions and substance abuse
>Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
>Lack of conflict resolution skills

Evidently, when your career is on the line and the sources of your financial security are threatening to dry up (or are actually drying up), all of these relationship stress factors are very likely to come into play.

A similar study published these results:
A recent study by the Creighton University Center for Marriage and Family suggests that time, sex and money pose the three biggest obstacles to satisfaction in the lives of newly married couples. The study found that debt brought into marriage, the couples' financial situation, balancing job and family, and frequency of sexual relations were of greatest concern to those ages 29 and under. Those age 30 and over shared with their younger cohorts the concerns of balancing job and family and frequency of sexual relations, but also added as problem areas constant bickering and expectations about household tasks. . . .

The other top problematic issues the study showed were, in order, husband's employment; overall financial situation; expectations about household tasks; constant bickering; communication with spouse; parents or in-laws; and time spent together with spouse.

Need I say more? When fears of financial insecurity are in play, all bets are off with regard to your most intimate relationships.

Certainly, that you should be able to rise above these stresses and still maintain your personal health, well-being, and serenity, shouldn't you? That might be true if you're Superman or Wonder Woman, maybe! If you're flesh-and-blood human, however, there's going to be a physical price to pay for the stress you're experiencing. If any of what I've been talking about describes your current condition, I would expect that you were not sleeping enough or well enough, not exercising regularly, eating poorly, and haven't had one of "those talks" with your doctor in a while. What's more, if you have any addictive tendencies, they should be kicking into high gear about now: anything to make the (emotional) pain stop!

A lot of pain awaits you at times like these, especially if you've made the decision not to decide to do anything about what's causing it. Inertia (if you keep on doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting) exacts a terrible price in times of high stress and anxiety. What's it costing you to do nothing?

If the first chapter of the 'Boomer's Survival Guide' is, indeed, entitled "Don't Just Sit There: Do Something!" the first question I'd expect you to ask would be, "What should I do?" I'm going to answer that question with a challenge. Perhaps you believe that you should naturally know, by virtue of being an adult human being, or by virtue of being a male (or female, for that matter) exactly what you should do. I want to challenge that assumption. I want to challenge you to go out there and start doing some research. Start asking questions of people whom you consider wise and successful. Start letting people whom you trust know how you feel, what your worries and concerns are honestly — no B.S., no cover-up, no bravado or machismo — just plain, simple, honest humility. That (and that alone) gives you a doorway into a life that's honestly yours, that you can take responsibility for and that you can honestly be proud of.

So, that's where the 'Boomer's Survival Guide should begin: networking with wise people and establishing a plan. Think about it. Whom do you really trust (who shows you the kinds of results that you'd like to have in your own life)? Reach out. Get vulnerable. Don't worry about what other people might say. Don't worry about how it looks or how it feels: letting a midlife crisis take you down would feel a whole lot worse. There's my challenge. Are you up to it?

About H. Les Brown
H. Les Brown, MA, CFCC grew up in an entrepreneurial family and has been an entrepreneur for most of his life. He is the author of The Frazzled Entrepreneur's Guide to Having It All. Les is a certified Franklin Covey coach and a certified Marshall Goldsmith Leadership Effectiveness coach. He has Masters Degrees in philosophy and theology from the University of Ottawa. His experience includes ten years in the ministry and over fifteen years in corporate management.

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His expertise as an innovator and change strategist has enabled him to develop a program that allows his clients to effect deep and lasting change in their personal and professional lives. Subscribe to his FREE Weekly e-Zine Midlife Matters at www.ProActivation.org!

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Publisher's Note:
This is Les' first installment of MidLife Matters. His new column will appear on BB[KC] of the first Tuesday of every month. Les is a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts.
—Martin Diano

ENJOYING YOUR VACATION WITH MOM

ENJOYING YOUR VACATION WITH MOM
by Barbara E. Friesner - Special Guest Contributor

Can you believe that Summer has “unofficially” started? Whether graduation, a wedding, or a vacation, as a caregiver, a big question for you may be should you bring your aging loved one along or not. If the answer is ‘yes’, this article will help you make it a good one.
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Cathy writes. . . .
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“Mom was very active until about a year ago when she broke her hip. Two years ago we took her with us on a cruise to the Caribbean. Originally, my husband and I planned to go to Hawaii, but there really wasn’t much there for my mother do. We figured a cruise would eliminate the work of getting from place to place. We chose a cruise ship with the most things we would all enjoy. Mother brought a friend with her and they shared a room. We all had a blast and, other than breakfasts and a few dinners, we hardly saw each other!!!

The hip has healed but Mom has not fully recovered mentally, physically or emotionally. She now has a caregiver during the day and I take care of her evenings and on weekends. As much as I love my mother, I desperately needed vacation this year – just for me and my husband. We had to postpone our trip by a couple of weeks so my sister could stay with her, but it was worth the wait for a much needed vacation.”

When planning a vacation think about the reason you’re considering taking Mom with you. Cathy and her husband really wanted Mom to come. They planned in advance to be sure everyone had something to do they would enjoy. Her mother brought a friend so she would have company. They were able to be flexible with where they went.

But, if like Cathy, a vacation together is no longer an option, maybe you can arrange for a sibling to stay with her. This is not always possible, but if it is, it’s a good compromise and a great way to share responsibilities with other family members.

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Here are some other options:
Look for an assisted living community with respite care for a week or two. Or look for a “senior sitter” or an in-home aide. Does Mom have a neighbor she enjoys who can look in on her or a friend who can stay with her or she can visit?

Remember, as a care giver you also need a respite. If Mom can’t go with you, take your vacation with the comfort of knowing she is well cared for. And, oh yes, ….have fun!


About Barbara E. Friesner
Barbara is author of the book “The Ultimate Caregiver’s Survival Guide.” For more information about talking with your aging loved one, please visit Barbara's website, http://www.agewiseliving.com/.

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial


Publisher's Note
BB[KC] has launched a special social media education series to help Baby Boomers better understand and utilize the tools of social media. Our first program focuses on Twitter.
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You can't escape hearing about it. It's all over the news, and now even Oprah is on Twitter. Is this just something for celebrities and those tech-savvy Gen Y'ers? No! Boomers can play, too!
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There are some key questions, though.
1) Why would you want to be on Twitter?
2) What's the point?
3) How do you get going on Twitter?
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Maybe you've even signed up for a Twitter account, but can't help feeling like you just don't get it. You are not alone! Twitter is not intuitive, and without a guide and a teacher, you could spend hours figuring it out yourself.
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Suzi Pomerantz, a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts, has prepared nine installments titled The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial (The tutorial is also available in audio format; see the end of this article for details.) —Martin Diano


Twitterpated with Twitter
by Suzi Pomerantz
A Special Social Media Education Series

Today - A brief tip to some great Twitter tools...

I was watching Bambi with my kids again, and chuckled to myself when Friend Owl explained to Bambi, Thumper and Flower that Spring and falling in love makes all the animals “twitterpated”. Those of us who are addicted to Twitter are familiar with that giddy, dizzy, walking on air feeling of being twitterpated!

Personally, I’m grateful to techie folks who post lists of great Twitter tools because otherwise, I’d never know what to do! To increase your own twitterpation, visit this blog post from digital labz for 19 of these tools!

Quite handy! http://digitallabz.com/blogs/19-twitter-mashups-and-tools.html

Mark your calendar for the next installment "The Twitter Revolution in The WSJ" on Friday, July 12, 2009


About Suzi Pomerantz
Suzi is an award-winning, international master certified coach for executives and teams worldwide. She is the author of Deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business (HRD Press). Read more about Suzi and her activities at http://www.suzipomerantz.com. You can read reviews and purchase Seal the deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business at Amazon.com

Suzi has put together a 1-hour course that you can download and listen to on your computer or iPod, complete with the slides from the course in a handy guidebook that will give you all you need to know to get going now on Twitter! Click here for the audio version The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial.


You can Follow on Twitter Suzi @SuziPomerantz, Martin @MartinDiano and BB[KC] @BoomerBuzz

The Sunday Funnies

In May 1970 I Became a New Mrs. Lieutenant

In May 1970 I Became a New Mrs. Lieutenant
by Phyllis Zimbler Miller
a July 4th. special to BB[KC]


In May of 1970 I became a new Mrs. Lieutenant right after the Ohio National Guard shot and killed four Kent State University students protesting President Nixon’s incursion into Cambodia. Although my 2008 novel MRS. LIEUTENANT is based on my own experiences, I was not an anti-war protester as was the fictional character Sharon Gold (the character in the novel most similar to me).

My husband Mitch was Army R.O.T.C. at Michigan State University, where we met on the school’s editorial newspaper staff. When he went on active duty I went with him even though the army had not told him he could bring his wife.


Phyllis Zimbler and Mitchell Miller at the Coronation Ball at Michigan State University
on Saturday, November 18, 1967, sponsored by the Cadet Officers Club and the Arnold Air Society.

Ultimately Mitch ended up serving two years and one week, most of that time as a military intelligence officer in Munich, Germany, where I eventually got a security clearance and worked as a civilian in another intelligence unit.

And since that time Mitch and I have remained interested in military and intelligence information. We’ve even written several screenplays on the subject. You can learn about one of our fictional military characters at http://www.molliesanders.com/.)
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I met a lot of rejection in my search to get MRS. LIEUTENANT published. Editors and agents didn’t think readers would be interested in the story of four very different women who come together because their husbands go on active duty during the Vietnam War. But I knew there was an audience for this story.

In December of 2007 I took my destiny into my own hands and began the self-publishing process with BookSurge, Amazon’s print-on-demand publishing unit. At the same time I submitted the manuscript to the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, and was notified that MRS. LIEUTENANT was a semi-finalist.

Unbeknownst to me, at that moment I was only days away from embarking on an internet marketing career. That’s when I saw that one of the other semi-finalists had a blog on her Amazon book page (each of us had been given an Amazon book page) and I decided I wanted a blog too.

In quick succession I started the blog http://www.mrslieutenant.blogspot.com/ and connected through an email sent to me with Nancy Brown of http://www.yourmilitary.com/ . Nancy and I started doing online activities together to support the military, and in November of 2008 Nancy asked me to be the co-host with her of the BlogTalkRadio show http://www.yourmilitarylife.com/.
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We do a live show usually twice a week – Nancy is in Virginia and I’m in Los Angeles. We’ve worked out the logistics so it’s a smooth show even though we’re on opposite ends of the country. And the guests that we’ve had the privilege to interview have been amazing.

In fact, so amazing that I’ve started the book/website project http://www.insupportofourtroops.com/ to recognize some of these amazing people and to inspire others to be motivated to do similar projects. I’ve been looking for a corporate sponsor for this project because I want to have this inspirational book get as wide a distribution as possible.

Another one of my military support projects is the website I started in January of this year because of the lack of Jewish chaplains – http://www.operationsupportjewsinthemilitary.com/ . I’m hoping to inspire the American Jewish community to do outreach to Jews on U.S. bases that don’t have a Jewish chaplain.

One of the military-related subjects that I feel most strongly about is PTSD – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. I’ve written posts about this, and Nancy and I have done several shows on the subject. And it’s important to note that PTSD can result from trauma not related to combat, including rape and the death of a parent.

I urge all of you to get a copy of the free PTSD info at http://www.insupportofourtroops.com/ so that you may be able to recognize the symptoms in someone you know. There is treatment that works with PTSD, but the sooner someone is treated the better.

In honor of this year’s Fourth of July I’d love to share so many of the inspiring military-related stories I’ve learned over the last year. But obviously that isn’t possible.

Instead I’m going to link to one blog post of mine about a young soldier stationed in Afghanistan who took matters into his own hands to help the Afghan people. To me he exemplifies the best of our fighting men and women – serving his country and at the same time trying to help others less fortunate than Americans.
Read his story now at http://mrslieutenant.blogspot.com/2008/12/help-this-one-soldier-provide-blankets.html.

And then particularly on this day, July 4th, commit to finding a way to show your own support for our military men and women.


If you’d like to read my novel MRS. LIEUTENANT, you can read the entire novel online for free at http://www.freado.com/book/680/Mrs.-Lieutenant.


Oh, yes, I wanted to tell you how far I’ve come since the moment I had the epiphany to self-publish MRS. LIEUTENANT. I’m now a National Internet Business Examiner at http://budurl.com/internetbusiness and my company http://www.millermosaicllc.com/ is launching the Miller Mosaic Internet Marketing Program to help others with what I’ve learned – all thanks to being determined to share my story from 1970. I can be reached by email at pzmiller@millermosaicllc.com and @ZimblerMiller on Twitter.

Meet Boomer Authority - Phyllis Zimbler Miller

Meet Boomer Authority - Phyllis Zimbler Miller

@BoomerAuthority is a free Twitter-based communications service that places Baby Boomers in direct contact with over 180 professionals for timely advice. Phyllis Zimbler Miller is a member of the Boomer Authority community of experts.


About Phyllis Zimbler Miller
Phyllis is a National Internet Business Examiner at http://budurl.com/internetbusiness as well as a book author (http://www.mrslieutenant.blogspot.com), and her company http://www.MillerMosaicLLC.com provides internet marketing information with easy-to-implement solutions to promote your brand, book or business.



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You can ask Phyllis a question right now @BoomerAuthority.
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Or click the Boomer Authority information site for more details and how to access other members of the community.

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial


Publisher's Note

BB[KC] has launched a special social media education series to help Baby Boomers better understand and utilize the tools of social media. Our first program focuses on Twitter.

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You can't escape hearing about it. It's all over the news, and now even Oprah is on Twitter. Is this just something for celebrities and those tech-savvy Gen Y'ers? No! Boomers can play, too!

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There are some key questions, though.

1) Why would you want to be on Twitter?

2) What's the point?

3) How do you get going on Twitter?

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Maybe you've even signed up for a Twitter account, but can't help feeling like you just don't get it. You are not alone! Twitter is not intuitive, and without a guide and a teacher, you could spend hours figuring it out yourself.

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Suzi Pomerantz, a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts, has prepared nine installments titled The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial (The tutorial is also available in audio format; see the end of this article for details.) —Martin Diano


Networking Strategy: Twitter!
by Suzi Pomerantz
A Special Social Media Education Series

So, as a new Twitter user, I really didn’t get it. I wondered why anyone would care to publicly answer the question “what are you doing?” If you're trying to answer that question, you clearly do not understand the power and possibility of Twitter. Twitter allows you to be in a bigger conversation with many people all the time, especially if you have one of those helpful desktop applications like Tweetdeck or Twitterrific that lets you see everything that’s going on in Twitter all the time.

Since I started using Twitterrific to follow the goings-on in Twitterland, I’ve seen pretty amazing results! Here’s why Twitter’s a good networking strategy for your business. I have 4900 new people “following” me on Twitter. These are folks who wouldn’t have been exposed to me before. I ask you, what networking event can you go to where you’ll instantly connect with 4900 people?

Anyway, out of those new conversations and budding relationships, my new Twitterbuddies have driven more traffic to my blog and website, bought my book, bought my Rainmaking Made Easy audio training, invited me to be a guest on an international radio show, and I’ve even connected with MC Hammer. Yes, the rock star. He posted one of my responses on Twitter (called Tweets) on his blog!

Anyway, Twitter is not magic in and of itself. You still have to know and utilize the Nine Mindsets of Networking that I talk about in my book, and you have to be authentic, generous, and as Bob Burg says, be a “go-giver“.

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But definitely get in the game! It’s like being at a party full of really smart, connected, amazing people and being able to overhear snippets of the best conversations, thoughts, and information bits that people have to share.

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And, when you get on Twitter, be sure to follow me and I will absolutely follow you back. See you in Twitterworld!

Are you in the game yet? You’re invited!

Mark your calendar for the next installment "Twitterpated with Twitter" on Friday, July 5, 2009


About Suzi Pomerantz
Suzi is an award-winning, international master certified coach for executives and teams worldwide. She is the author of Deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business (HRD Press). Read more about Suzi and her activities at http://www.suzipomerantz.com. You can read reviews and purchase Seal the deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business at Amazon.com


Suzi has put together a 1-hour course that you can download and listen to on your computer or iPod, complete with the slides from the course in a handy guidebook that will give you all you need to know to get going now on Twitter! Click here for the audio version The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial.


You can Follow on Twitter Suzi @SuziPomerantz, Martin @MartinDiano and BB[KC] @BoomerBuzz

The 21 Best Boomer Towns in the United States

The 21 Best Boomer Towns in the United States
Nancy Shonka Padberg, Founder & Publisher

Best Boomer Towns

Best Boomer Towns is a Company, Website and Talk Radio Show that researches and determines the 21 best places for boomers to live in the United States. Hundreds of towns were researched based on key boomer criteria. This is not your grandfather’s or even your father’s retirement. The boomer’s retirement will be based on their lifetime of knowledge, experiences, music, travel and insights. Boomer’s are also wealthier than their grandparents and parents. Wealth offers choices. Boomer’s demand options. They are the healthiest and wealthiest demographic America has ever seen.

You are a Boomer if you were born between 1946 and 1964. You are stylish, active and resourceful. You are searching for less stress and more living, you may be an empty nester, you prefer less traffic, fewer taxes and more fresh air and exciting activities! There are no rocking chairs in your future - you prefer pilates, hiking, biking, volunteering, wine club, book club, university classes, surfing the web, telecommuting, yoga, golf, tennis, walking your dog and plenty of social activities.
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Fourteen months of Baby Boomer research and development have been compiled in one site to meet your needs. The 21 U.S. towns have the following key criteria: good health care, university, airport access, low crime, cultural activities, mild weather, active lifestyle, average cost of living and a range of home sizes and prices. The team at Best Boomer Towns has gathered research from AARP, DEL WEBB, Money, CNN, Wall Street Journal and local Chambers of Commerce to bring you the relevant data you need for your decision. Spend some time on the site, look at the book section from Amazon.com, read blog entries and subscribe to the newsletter. Each city has been chosen for the on-the-go active boomer. Every blog has been written to meet your needs and each book selected for your fabulous future!

Join us on our new talk radio show every Thursday at Noon PST and 3:00 EST on Voice America Variety Network http://voiceamerica.com/ as we highlight a Best Boomer Town each week. We invite guests who live, work and play in each selected town to give us the inside scoop. We wish you the best in your next - and most exciting chapter of life! Visit the host page to listen to podcasts of previous shows http://modavox.com/voiceamerica/vshow.aspx?sid=1535
Each town page has an overview of the area, video highlights, home options, taxes, daily local news and weather feeds. Many towns have blogs. Here are current blog excerpts to give you an idea of each area:

Columbia, MO by Megan McConachie
For 25 years, the Show-Me State Games have given athletes from all over Missouri a chance to go for the gold in a fun and exciting Olympic-style event. Still the largest state games in the nation, the Show-Me Games finals competition brought over 26,000 athletes to Columbia in 2008 and had a year-long economic impact of more than $15 million. This year’s 25th anniversary event will run July 17-19, 24-26 and 31-August 2 and promises to be just as thrilling, with over three dozen different sporting event options spread out over the three weekends.

Tucson, AZ by Monica Surfaro Spigelman
With five mountain ranges, assortment of state and national parks, and numerous wildlife habitats and historical corridors surrounding Tucson - our city is tops in spectacular panoramas of nature. With temps rising, it's also the perfect time to head up to our mountains. Tucson offers many options for outdoor ramblers - The city sits in a valley surrounded by the Santa Catalina, Santa Rita, Tucson, Rincon and Tortolita mountain ranges.

Aiken, SC by Sarah Shonka
A distinctive destination perfect for baby boomers seeking educational excellence and a rich health care system are just a few reasons why Aiken has frequently been listed as a top place to retire as well as one of the healthiest communities in the world. The Academy for Lifelong Learning at the University of South Carolina-Aiken offers free tuition for seniors over the age of 60. Continuing education is important for people of all ages, but the opportunity for free classes should never be passed up!

Athens, GA by Hank Bailey
Did you realize that Athens, Georgia is on the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains? If you like an active lifestyle head north from Athens and you will find plenty of outdoor recreation just a short drive away. From trout fishing and canoeing, with your pick of either a slower pace of a placid mountain stream or if you like the rush of whitewater, you can try on the Chattooga River. Horseback riding and hiking from Anna Ruby Falls to Tallulah Gorge or maybe the quaint whimsical Bavarian village of Helen, the North Georgia mountains provide you with the ability to take a day trip from Athens or make it a week long adventure.

Each town has a community vibrancy and active lifestyle boomers crave, spend some time on the site and discover where to spend the best rest of your life!

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Nancy Shonka Padberg, Founder & Publisher

Ms. Padberg is a former Fortune 500 Times Mirror executive, Integrated Marketing Communications Vice President and MBA graduate from the Graziadio School of Business & Management at Pepperdine University. Ms. Padberg has over 17 years of publishing and marketing expertise, served on several boards, is a guest speaker, published author, former Big 12 golfer and resides in Santa Monica.

Publisher's Note:
We're pleased to announce that Nancy will have a regular column on BB[KC], most appropriately called 'Best Boomer Towns.' Nancy's column will be published on the first Thursday of every month. But you can always take a quick trip to visit all the Best Boomer Towns right here. Nancy is a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts. You can ask Nancy a question right now @BoomerAuthority. —Martin Diano

No Mother of the Year Award for Me

No Mother of the Year Award for Me
Commentary by Amy L. Harden
Special to BB[KC]

With five kids to keep track of at all times...you better believe that there has been times when I have forgotten when the bus arrives or my kids are left tapping their foot at the school door step. I gave up earning "The Mother of the Year" award a long time ago and not because I wasn't at the bus stop on time.

My last faux pas that took me out of the running last year:

My youngest wanted me to play more of a role in her classroom last year, so I offered to come one Freedom Friday and teach the kids how to do Vision Boards. I wrote and printed out directions that were sent home to the kid’s parents so they could spend the two weeks prior cutting out pictures, words and phrases that they could creatively create a collage of the hopes, dreams and desires. I even attached the note to a white brochure size envelope with colored staples inscribed in calligraphy with each child's name on it...Martha Stewart would have been proud. The teacher was very impressed....my daughter was building me up on a daily basis...telling them that I was a writer and that what they were going to do was exactly what I had my clients do in my business...she told them that it was an exercise to help you focus on your future. As the day grew closer and closer, I kept on putting off getting the other supplies for the day, due to other fires that I was putting out for other children in my home. The night before my husband raced out to the Wal-Mart and purchased glue sticks and massive amounts of poster board, cut them down to child size, loaded up bags with handles with magazines, just in case some children hadn't cut enough pictures and words. My husband also took the time to mat and frame all four of my Vision Boards that I had created over the past ten years...I had to look professional you know.

On the day of Freedom Friday, my youngest came to me before she got on the bus with the biggest smile telling me that she would see me later in the day. Now, when I spoke to the teacher last she had made a point of telling me that time was important and that I had only an hour because of lunch. On the day of my making my daughter the number one kid in the class, I was confident that I had remembered that I was to arrive after lunch, promptly at 1:00PM, after lunch....this is what the teacher had said. I took a long shower, dressed in an outfit befitting of a writer and internet entrepreneur, speaker and coach, loaded up my car with all the Vision Board gear and took off for the school with almost thirty minutes to spare...I thought. As I lugged all the bags and Vision Board in to the school and up to the classroom door, I saw the room light was on and I heard the children's voices....Hmmmmm??? I thought the kids would be at lunch still...no matter...they must have returned early, I thought. But as I appeared in the door, all the kids looked from their desks, while the teacher who had been reading a book aloud stopped reading. With all eyes on me, I said: "I'm sorry; I'll just set everything up over here, while you finish reading." One vocal young lady who felt it was her duty to tell, quickly volunteered that the class had already finished the Vision Boards and had moved on to listening to their teacher reading. My heart sank. The teacher quickly jumped off the stool she was sitting on and came over to me, leading me out of the class. She said, "I'm sorry Mrs. Harden, but the children have finished the project...you were supposed to be here at 11:00 AM before the lunch period to do Freedom Friday!" I quickly looked past the teacher in to the room to where my daughter was sitting. Her little face was tear stained and she was working on a new round...the teacher called her over, as I profusely apologized for getting the time wrong. The look on my child's face was like...well, there are no words for the look. Other than that I had embarrassed her beyond explanation, disappointed her beyond repair...I was NOT going to receive any Mother of the Year awards from this child...or even a nomination...I could probably forget about Mother's Day for the next few years too.

The teacher allowed me to talk to her in the hall for a few minutes. I apologized up and down, promising her that I would never let it happen again AND I would take her to Dairy Queen for ice cream right after school to make up for it. She willing accepted the apology through sniffles and drying of tears and bravely re-entered her classroom taking her seat. That day I met her at the bus and took her directly to the ice cream store...she had a double scoop and I had water (my penance for making the mistake). As she vigorously licked away the melting ice cream, she began to tell me about her day, excluding the fact that I had not shown up on time for her Freedom Friday. I finally asked her if she was mad at me for letting her down. "Well, Mommy, it wasn't the best thing to happen me, but it didn't kill me either...there will be other days to do Vision boards...or I would rather do one just with you any ways." We went straight home, pulled out all the poster board, glue sticks and magazines...cut out pictures and words and made one big Vision Board about the two of us. As we stood back and looked at what we had done...she exclaimed: "Now that's better than any Vision Board I would have made at school today...that has real Vision in it...it has my favorite parts of you and the Mommy I want to be some day!"
I love this kid...she has always been my sunshine!



PS: I now put all school obligations on my calendar on my wall, on my computer, in my Blackberry and on my iPOd...with reminder alarms...I will never let this happen again. I'm still not expecting a Mom of the Year Award...don't really need one...I have the Vision Board the two of created together...it is framed and hanging in her bedroom.


About Amy L. Harden
Amy is an author, speaker and respected Internet Expert/Authority on Mid Life Crisis, Depression, Successful Life Transitions and Mindset. She writes and delivers “tell-it-like-it-is” messages to help people discover and achieve a life of excellence, significance, success and abundance. Themes include: self-discovery, motivation, empowerment, knowledge and understanding, self-reflection and elegance.
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Amy's a busy woman. Below is a list of her current initiatives:
Women in MLC is her primary focus at this time. Ms. Harden created this forum in an effort to help women who are depressed, struggling and finding difficulty in transitioning or navigating through the changes that occur at mid-life.
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CyberHotFlash is a commentary on being a Stay-At-Home Mom, experiencing the mental, physical and spiritual effects of going through Mid-life.

AWE- A Woman of Elegance is an in-depth blog, primarily for women who are struggling with depression, mid-life transition or crisis.

Mindset for Life speaks to everyone, no matter where they are in their lives. The primary focus is equipping people to live “a life of excellence, significance, success and abundance through positive mindset, affirmations, visualizations, law of attraction/faith and holistic living.”

You can find Amy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Stumble Upon and BlogCatalog and Twitter. Amy is available as a guest blogger, speaker, workshop leader, coach and consultant. Please contact her at shepherdess56@gmail.com or at any of the above social networks.


Amy is a member of our Boomer Authority community of professionals. You can ask Amy a question now @BoomerAuthority.

Handling Your Grandchildren's Worst Habits

Handling Your Grandchildren's Worst Habits

When your grandchild's most unpleasant habits are on display in public, it can be embarrassing for you both

by Joanne Camas - Grandparents.com
Special to BB[KC]

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Nose-picking. Hair-twirling. Shirt-chewing. Thumb-sucking.

Your preschool and early-grade grandchildren are adorable, but they're not perfect. If they're like most kids, they have carried some of their toddler habits into childhood, and they may display them at the worst times — such as when you're introducing them to your neighbors. When children engage in habits that are socially inappropriate, should you crack down, or grin and bear it? According to the experts, it depends on the habits, the reasons children engage in them, and the time and place when it happens.

Distract and Conquer
Thumb-sucking, nail-biting, hair-twirling, or sucking on shirt sleeves or collars, are usually signs that children are tired or anxious, and seeking comfort. Criticizing children for these behaviors can backfire, making them even more anxious and more dependent on the habits. "Pick your battles," says Barbara Kapetanakes, a psychologist in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y. "No one, child or adult, is ever going to do things exactly as we would do them or as we want them to."

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If you're babysitting or visiting with grandchildren, and they start engaging in a nervous habit, try to redirect them: If a child is chewing on a shirt collar, for example, first calmly tell them that you noticed what they were doing, then gently move the shirt away from their mouth, and finally, suggest a different activity to keep them occupied. "Children aren't that much different than adults when it comes to breaking a habit," Kapetanakes says. "The key is to substitute the habit with something more benign or productive. If a child twirls his hair, he could be given a little toy to play with instead, until he can deal with why he is doing this in the first place and curb the nervous energy. If a child bites his nails, then maybe he could be allowed to chew gum or suck a lollipop until the urge stops."

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Back up the Parents
You can try to discuss with your grandchildren the reasons they might engage in a particular habit, but do so in a conversational, nonjudgmental way. Ultimately, it is the parents' responsibility to guide kids away from their infantile habits. But a grandparent can certainly help, either by finding the perfect toy or activity to distract a child from a habit, or by sharing with parents what children might say about how they feel when they indulge in a nervous habit.

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Grandparents are also excellent detectors of behaviors that are at risk of becoming habits, so "it's important to talk to the parents if there is something that seems to be an ongoing problem," Kapetanakes says. It's worth speaking up: Five-year-olds who continue to suck their thumbs risk damaging their teeth and palate; frequent nail-biters risk infection; and regular twirlers could pull clumps of hair off their heads.
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Sometimes, a parent will take a different approach to dealing with a habit than you would. You can challenge the parents in private, but avoid giving your grandchildren mixed messages. "It is important to sync my approach with my children's," says grandmother of 11 Eileen Fay, 64, of Cranford, N.J. "When I strongly disagree, I, with great restraint, bite my tongue."

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Still, context matters a lot, Kapetanakes adds. When you're familiar with your grandchildren's routines, you'll know when they're doing something out of habit, and when they're just angling for trouble. "Sometimes a kid may just be pushing the envelope and engaging in a behavior that is inappropriate, but it's not ongoing," Kapetanakes says. In those cases, you should tell the child what you think of the behavior and why, and inform the parents.

It's Gross, But It Will Pass
And what about habits that are simply gross, like nose-picking? While placing a finger in his or her own mouth after being in a nose will not make a grandchild ill, seeing them do it in public might make you sick. Redirection can help, or stuffing grandchildren's pockets with tissues and encouraging them to use them. If children say their nose itches because it's too dry, you may want to ask the parents to think about getting a humidifier for their room.

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As with most childhood phases, the days of infantile habits will pass. "Eventually, the kids have to live in a society," Kapetanakes says, and, eventually, they'll learn on their own what is and is not appropriate. "I sometimes think of kids like puppies. We aren't born knowing all the rules of society, but we can learn them."

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To find out how to help grandchildren deal with their phobias, click here. Elsewhere on Grandparents.com, learn five ways to stay well when sitting for a sick grandchild, find three children's health websites we love, read about how to convince parents you're ready to babysit, and discover how to get more "alone time" with your grandchildren.

About Joanne Camas
Joanne is a writer and editor based in New York City. She trained as a news reporter and has been a freelance editor for many magazines and book publishers. For the past 12 years, Camas has worked in online media.

This article was initially published on Grandparents.com, and has been republished on BB[KC] with permission.

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial

A Special Social Media Education Series: The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial


Publisher's Note
BB[KC] has launched a special social media education series to help Baby Boomers better understand and utilize the tools of social media. Our first program focuses on Twitter.
.
You can't escape hearing about it. It's all over the news, and now even Oprah is on Twitter. Is this just something for celebrities and those tech-savvy Gen Y'ers? No! Boomers can play, too!
.
There are some key questions, though.
1) Why would you want to be on Twitter?
2) What's the point?
3) How do you get going on Twitter?
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Maybe you've even signed up for a Twitter account, but can't help feeling like you just don't get it. You are not alone! Twitter is not intuitive, and without a guide and a teacher, you could spend hours figuring it out yourself.

Suzi Pomerantz, a member of our Boomer Authority community of experts, has prepared nine installments titled The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial (The tutorial is also available in audio format; see the end of this article for details.) —Martin Diano


Twitter World
by Suzi Pomerantz
A Special Social Media Education Series

If it seems the world is getting smaller, it’s because communities are being created at the speed of Twitter! If you are not yet part of the ongoing online conversation that is Twitter, I highly recommend learning to play there! It’s like a big party where everyone is talking at once and you can hear only small, bite-sized bits of conversation snippets. They are visual bites, of course. 140 characters to be exact. But it’s amazing that we can actually create and grow relationships and communities this way! It’s a whole new world.
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In case you’re new to Twitter, here are a few great resources from the pros who have been using Twitter successfully. Twitter has its own language, rules of engagement, and culture (which I’m learning by making all sorts of mistakes, I might add) so jump in and start playing!
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@PRsarahevans posted this great blog post called How To Build Community on Twitter http://mashable.com/2008/11/10/twitter-community/
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@GuyKawasaki, who is the knower of all things Twitter, helps us understand so much about the beast in his great blog post called Looking for Mr. Goodtweet: How to Pick Up Followers on Twitter http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2008/11/looking-for-m-1.html

And for those of us who are pure beginners, there’s a great blog called TwiTip full of great posts like this one called Use Twitter for Your Business the Right Way http://www.twitip.com/use-twitter-for-your-business-the-right-way/

Then, there’s this really cool blog post of a list of 27 cool twitter tools and resources for the twitter addict that you can access here. http://speckyboy.com/2008/11/12/27-cool-tools-and-resources-for-the-twitter-addict/

I look forward to your being one of my Twitterbuddies!

Mark your calendar for the next installment "Networking Strategy: Twitter!" on Friday, July 3, 2009


About Suzi Pomerantz
Suzi is an award-winning, international master certified coach for executives and teams worldwide. She is the author of Deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business (HRD Press). Read more about Suzi and her activities at http://www.suzipomerantz.com/. You can read reviews and purchase Seal the deal Seal the Deal: The Essential Mindsets for Growing Your Professional Services Business at Amazon.com


Suzi has put together a 1-hour course that you can download and listen to on your computer or iPod, complete with the slides from the course in a handy guidebook that will give you all you need to know to get going now on Twitter! Click here for the audio version The Get Going Now Twitter Tutorial.


You can Follow on Twitter Suzi @SuziPomerantz, Martin @MartinDiano and BB[KC] @BoomerBuzz

Meet Boomer Authority - Jeffery L. Davis

Meet Boomer Authority - Jeffrey L. Davis

@BoomerAuthority is a free Twitter-based communications service that places Baby Boomers in direct contact with over 275 professionals for timely advice. Jeffrey L. Davis is a member of the Boomer Authority community of experts.

About Jeffrey L. Davis
Jeff’s company, Davis International LLC --- www.davisinternationalllc.com, offers domestic and international “travel companion services” available to individuals and businesses for any number of travel situations, e.g., seniors, groups, international flying, global excursions, cruises. Related articles may be found at www.careminds.com/article/show/15 and www.greatplacesinc.com/Blog/EntryDisplay.aspx?EntryID=560 Contact information is available at the website.


You can ask Jeffery a question right now @BoomerAuthority.
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Or click the Boomer Authority information site for more details and how to access other members of the community.

The Sunday Funnies

Heart and Soul in Rock and Roll

Heart and Soul in Rock and Roll
By Karen Lyons Kalmenson─Boomer Poet Laureate


Most days she felt as old as some treestainted by some unknown disease,
mulling over a life misspentwondering where all of it went.


At times she heard music that touched her soul the once current hits now solid gold,
the brown spots faded her lines erasedsadness, regrets, by the music chased.


She danced so freely around the roomsinging away her sense of gloom,
the teenage girl who loved to roll and rockcame out again, to beat the clock.
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About Karen Lyons Kalmenson
“I am an almost 57 year old, happily married and proud to be baby boomer. I have lived through wars, disco, cheesy 80’s music, the now out of fashion peace and love, gen X…and still think we had the best pop culture and music. Like most aging hippies, I still shelter within me the peace/love ethos, which I pour into my love of animals and, of course, my hubby.”

Meet Boomer Authority - Patrece Banks

Meet Boomer Authority - Patrece Banks

@BoomerAuthority is a free Twitter-based communications service that places Baby Boomers in direct contact with over 275 professionals for timely advice. Patrece Banks is a member of the Boomer Authority community of experts.

About Patrece Banks
In 2005, Patrece founded Invisible CareGiver Innovations, LLC (ICGI) focused on innovating quality tools for aging in place. Patrece writes and speaks about bed falls, fall prevention, design safety, aging in place, risk management, compliance, ageism, medical devices and assistive technology. Patrece works with government, elected officials and organizations to help get information out about topics that are often misunderstood and unaddressed. In 2008 was recognized as one of the most innovative product designers.


You can ask Patrece a question right now @BoomerAuthority.
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Or click the Boomer Authority information site for more details and how to access other members of the community.