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Before she gave up writing for the New York Times, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, Anna Quindlen, used to produce thoughtful essays ("Public and Private") about the events in daily life that remind us that everything we do as individuals matters. She made clear her view that private choices can have public consequences; that the personal is political. Too often, politics and political action remain a side show to the main drama of our lives. A close presidential election may set our pulses racing, then our interest begins to fade even as the last pundits and prognosticators are teasing out the final shreds of meaning from the outcome. Recently, friends were transfixed by the local election for mayor waged in our neighboring town of Hoboken, New Jersey. We all love the excitement of the game, yet the majority of us don't vote. The truth is, in a free society like ours, we are "voting" all the time in the choices we make, whether we act consciously or not. Take, for example, the 2young2retire people profiled in True Stories and the scores of you who have written to us over the past two years. Maybe only one among us has actually been elected to political office (Al Freiss, who served as mayor of Corning, New York), yet each of us, in our own way, is making political waves by choosing renewal over retirement in the conventional sense. We continue to contribute -- whether for pay or pro bono -- not only to the economy, but to the general welfare with our talents, maturity, life skills, and wisdom. We create jobs and opportunities for others by starting businesses. We enrich the arts, literature, music with our mature vision and understanding. We mentor colleagues and younger friends, whether we call it that or not. As back-to-schooler, we bring a "bigger picture" perspective to classroom discourse. In all the above ways, we redefine what it means to be 50, 60, 70 and beyond, and that has an enormous impact on our world. True Stories profiles show that we are far more diverse, complex and interesting than our working lives often allowed us to be. Ending a career, even if it was enjoyable and rewarding, may be the liberating event that enables all kinds of other "selves" to emerge. Passions, interests, avocations can now blossom. We may begin to ask: why am I here? what is my life's work? what contribution have I yet to make? There is another way we contribute to common good. Simply this: by actively seeking possibilities for growth and renewal, we keep ourselves healthier and vital -- hardly the drain on the health care system and the resources of future generations depicted by some "experts." Perhaps by our choices, we will one day eliminate the stereotypes associated with mature age, and escape the labels marketers are so eager to apply to us. We will make them irrelevant. What could be more political than that? Self CPR? Read On Let's say it's 6:15 p.m. and you're driving home, (alone, of course) after an unusually hard day on the job. You're really tired, upset and frustrated. Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the hospital nearest your home; unfortunately you don't know if you'll be able to make it that far. What can you do? You've been trained in CPR but the guy that taught the course neglected to tell you how to perform it on yourself. Without help, a person whose heart stops beating properly and who begins to feel faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, heart attack victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest. A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.. Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a phone and, between breaths, call for help. From: Health Cares, Rochester General Hospital via Chapter 240's newsletter AND THE BEAT GOES ON. (reprint from The Mended Hearts, Inc. publication, Heart Response) Thanks to friend and neighbor, Joan Harmon, for bringing it to our attention. On Friendship Let yourself be inspired by this from Philip Humbert (The Innovative Professional's (TIP's) Letter, http://www.philiphumbert.com). Feel free to share your quotes and ideas on friendship for a forthcoming newsletter with marika@2young2retire.com. "When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate now knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares." Regardless of your politics
please consider participating in a demonstration of conservation... it could make a difference. Mark your calendar to remember! ROLL YOUR OWN BLACKOUT
THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
JUNE 21, 2001 THURSDAY,
7-10pm worldwide, all time zones There will be a voluntary rolling blackout on the first day of summer, June 21 at 7pm - 10pm in any time zone (this will roll it across the planet). Its a simple protest and a symbolic act. Turn out your lights from 7pm-10pm on June 21. Unplug whatever you can unplug in your house.
Light a candle, kiss and tell or not, take a stroll in the dark, invent ghost stories, anything that's not electric - have fun in the dark. The Latest True Stories (over 60 of them in the library now, and more coming)
When Beth Allen was a young mother, she made personalized gifts cards for new babies, anniversaries and birthdays. Now, the former advertising agency owner has a site that makes you the artist, see: http://www.2young2retire.com/bethallen.htm Three-time novelist Joan Schweighardt knows the joy of being published. Now she makes that possible for other authors, with GreyCore, a small press she established. See http://www.2young2retire.com/joanschweighardt.htm Philip Danze has been writing since he was in college in the 50's. His first published novel comes out this fall: http://www.2young2retire.com/danze.htm Health insurance executive Dick Dunn tapped his business network to give needy children bicycles each Christmas, see http://www.2young2retire.com/dickdunn.htm Globetrotters Rita and Walter Rosenthal are returning to some of their favorite places, this time with a grandchild or two for company, see http://www.2young2retire.com/rosenthal.htm BOOK SITE
Free agent, independent contractor, self-employed or telecommuter. Call yourself what you will, you are among millions of people who, by choice or chance, do some or most of your work out of your home. The Joy of Working From Home: Making A Life While Making A Living (Berret-Koehler Publisher, 1994) by Jeff Berner is an indispensable guide to how to succeed in business for yourself, without sacrificing the rest of your life.
Graphically a pleasure, the book packs clear, readable, practical advice into 163 pages on everything from setting up your work space to managing your time; from how to stay motivated (and avoid excessive trips to the refrigerator) to making money and getting paid. For detailed instructions on how to write a business plan, you'll want to look elsewhere (in fact, the book is full of excellent resources). However, Berner does a great job of demystifying this often daunting task by reducing it to six basic elements. He also simplifies the tax issues surrounding a home-based business. Although computers and other equipment have changed since the book was published, Berner's common sense approach holds up: assess what you need to do your work before you buy.
While The Joy of Working From Home celebrates "the freedom to work around-the-clock or to skip work for entire day," it stresses the need to establish good habits and self discipline to stay on track. Here are a few recommendations that resonated with this home-based worker:
"...do the most unpleasant thing at the beginning of the day so you don't spend the rest of the day building resistance. Do one thing at a time rather than thinking about all the things you have to do."
To foil creative block, "get active on something completely unrelated. Take a short walk or swim."
On finding and keeping clients: "...do something at least every day or two to get our your message...make sure your story is told to the right people, at the right time, and often."
On balance, "Don't short-change your personal life in pursuit of financial success."
Berner writes from personal experience and practices what he preaches. President of Jeff Berner Creative Services, he has been his own boss for more than 30 years, as a writer, photographer and marketing consultant with clients such as Nikon, Office Depot and Apple Computer. He also frequently speaks on the subject of making a life while making a living. The book is a classic. MEDIA WATCH
The government took official notice of our growing numbers by proclaiming May Older Americans Month (see: http://www.agingstats.gov./pressroom/Pr2001/WHOAM2001.html and http://www.agingstats.gov./pressroom/Pr2001/hhs-OAM-20010501.html), recognizing our contribution to society. Kinda nice to go from invisible to celebrated in one month. What do you think of it? Vote for commerce that benefits people and the planet with your wallet (and shop without guilt) Take a look at www.GreenMarketplace.com. 1-888-59-EARTH. Sales and Father's Day specials, too. According to CBS News: Every 79 seconds a thief steals someone's identity, opens accounts in the victim's name, and goes on a shopping spree. That's bad enough, but the impact on your credit rating can be equally damaging. Now there's help. Check out ww.privista.com which monitors credit reports and ratings, alerting you to changes. Ever since our grandneice Natalie used this wonderful tool to assemble the family for a "no special occasion" party last fall, we've been sold on www.evite.com. Take a look and say goodbye to paper cuts and messy mailings, and let the good times roll. See what a real woman looks like, sans silicone. Gorgeous Charlotte Rampling in Under the Sand (French with subtitles) is in theaters now. Where has she been all this time? Don't know how we got on their mailing list, but for some reason the message was so compelling, we had to try Hope Magazine. The first issue arrived the other day, and this may be the best $19.95 we've spent this year. In fact, we'd call Hope priceless. Full of great writing, like the feature Second Chances with essays by Anne Lamott, Marion Winik and Michael Perry. Publishing with a heart! 1-800-513-0869 and www.hopemag.com POTPOURRI
When we lived (briefly) in Manhattan's Flatiron district, we used to find ourselves at the Quad on 13th Street, next door to a theater where Brother Theodore, famous for his rants against just about everything, held forth several times a week. He had been a fixture on the New York scene since Howard was a student at NYU, so we were saddened to learn of the passing of this long-lived original. Our visitors write: Great site!! it's needed by people who are rubbed the wrong way when told they need to retire (at whatever age). I have a web-site that I'd like to offer as a link. It's hipadventure.com. It's for active adventurers who want to have fun while going through a transition from one life to another. "Get a nudge from mother nature with a personal success coach at your side." The new three 'Rs': retool, reconnect, regenerate! I'm 55 and cannot fathom any other way, now or in the next 20 years. Christchurch, New Zealand, 8002
comment: Hi: I have been reading some articles in your website. Good Luck with your new careers. I am 60 years old and just helping some younger people start a centre for the development of the whole person. I am putting the younger ones together with the older and wiser generations in a business mentoring situation. After 23 years of a career in the human services field, I retired. Then I started looking at my retirement savings and knew quickly if I lived to be 90+ more than likely I will. I had best recareer. At first I felt resentful and angry. Then I met a woman who introduced me to PrepaidLegal service. I became a member and an associate doing sales and marketing. Found that I enjoyed the challenge and meeting people from all over the country and traveling. Then I VENTURED into taking training to become a career coach. In May (01) will become certified. Then I will start my own practice. Through Life Purpose Institute learned that I am what is called a Rainbow person, meaning I like diversity and can do many things outstandingly well once I am committed and focused. I feel more alive and happy now than I have for a long time. I want to volunteer with children in the studies of Science and assist them with science projects. I am looking forward to many more years of career and new, exciting living experiences instead of rocking in my rocking chair in the Rockies as I once had thought of doing. I will do this too, however, just on occasion for relaxation and enjoyment Even to much of a good thing could become boring. And that old saying that older people find it hard to learn new things just does not apply to me. The year 2000, I bought my first computer and except for a little help am learning to use it on my own. Love it. I read on the average l2 books every two weeks, do research in the library keeping up to date on the latest information about what is happening in the business world. It is never too late to begin a new. I have new dreams to fulfill. The latest tumble in the stock market surely gave me cause to be glad that I decided to recareer. To you out there who may think it is too late to renew your life purposes--think again! Happy Father's Day!
Marika and Howard
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