Tuesday Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative Photoshop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.


PADE Cells

You may not know what that means--I didn't! What I knew instantly was that this unique, creative process produces some marvelous images!

Valerie Jagiello is an artist who takes classes from time to time at the community college where I teach. She is generous in sharing her work with us, as well as ideas and tips for using Photoshop Elements' many filters.

I'll let her explain:

"These images show examples of my PADE cells imprinted with altered images taken from photographs shot in the upstate New York and Connecticut. The PADE cells are a clear plastic 0.10mm weight (similar to the type used in overhead projectors). The backgrounds are all different. Some sheets are scrapbooking papers, others are a paper collage, or a textured paper.

In this group of images I used four basic filters on each example...always in the same order. I started with an initial "Sharpen" to give the image an extra crisp edge. Then added "Equalize" to remove some color or correct for any camera filters that may have been used. Once a natural color was established I used "Ink Outlines" to refine, define and add texture to the image. The final fliter was the "Sharpen" again (for at least one time). By using the "Sharpen" filter more than once you can soften or reduce the color and shape even further...this helps create a mood.

Below, you will see "Morning Mist"...I was looking for a surreal Renaissance type look for "Morning Mist". The background the imaged cell was placed on was a vintage looking sheet of scrap booking paper with sepia ink written words. The combination of the two was just the Renaissance look/effect I was looking for.

"Blue Trees"....The original photo had several other trees in back of the main tree on the left hand side. After cloning out the other trees the beauty of this tree was fully revealed. The picture started to evolve. Sometimes you have to remove certain parts of an image to make it work and this is one of those cases. The background paper I used was a very free interpretative study of clouds done in oil on canvas. It you look closely at the top you can see the canvas texture.

"Garden Shed"....This original photo was processed using the above Photoshop filter steps as I was looking for an "old postcard color" effect. It was placed over a collage of papers (visible near and around the sky) with a signature from one document running along the side of the shed at the left hand side. The wonderful yellow color of the papers help to create this final piece.

"Ruby"....An original photo taken in Connecticut. All the same steps from above were followed and I added the same background from "Morning Mist" to compliment this wonderful picture. You can see that even though the same backgrounds were used the look it totally different.

"The Granny Tree'.....The original was just an interesting photo of a tree. This is an example of using the "Sharpen" filter many times. By using it the top part of the tree and the trees on the horizontal line were reduced and just the shapes remained. The background paper used was with a impasto type image that looked like scratches and it added to the mood of this piece 100%.

If you are in the Dallas area, I hope that you will come to see the entire 25 piece collection I call "A CHANGE OF SEASONS" at the Jesuit Museum Christmas Bazaar, 12345 Inwood Road Dallas Texas 75244 December 5, 2009 9 a.m. to 5 p.m."

Directions: The Jesuit Dallas Museum is located in North Dallas, south of the Galleria Mall and LBJ (635) Freeway west of the Tollway."　

A special thanks to Valerie Jagiello for sharing her wonderful images with us.

Make it Happen Monday

All over the USA, Seniors and Boomers are using their years of experience and knowledge in servant leadership capacities in their communities because they are waaay to young to retire! On Mondays we will be sharing the stories and inspirational thoughts of some of these remarkable "make it happen" people.

Seniors and Volunteering: A Whole New Life

This is an interesting article I found on the Healthy Me website http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/volunteer. I love the picture they use as a header on the webpage:

Anyway, here is what Chris Woolston of CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE has to say in his article on seniors volunteering:

When Bebe Fitzgerald first started working as a volunteer for the Audubon Society at age 53, it was something of a lark. For three decades she led birding trips and lobbied Congress.

In addition to her work for the Aubudon Society, Fitzgerald coordinated volunteers for the Global Village, a charity organization that sells crafts, clothing, and other products from the third world. She never had any trouble finding people who were willing to donate their time. Perhaps that's because so many people have discovered what she found out 30 years ago: The benefits of volunteering can go far beyond the satisfaction of a job well done.

"You want to reach out and do what you can," Fitgerald said. "And volunteer work keeps you busy and active instead of sitting and brooding."

What do senior citizens get out of volunteering?

Over 18 million senior citizens in this country have already discovered the sense of purpose and accomplishment that comes from running a church rummage sale, teaching English, or recruiting donors for a blood drive. And the work comes with a hefty bonus: Seniors who volunteer may actually add years to their lives.

Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered a remarkable link between volunteer work and longevity by surveying 1,211 adults over 65 (mostly retirees) in 1986 and checking up on them eight years later. The subjects who volunteered at least 40 hours each year to a single cause were 40 percent more likely than nonvolunteers to be alive at the end of study. The trend held even when researchers took differences in the two groups' incomes, health, and number of weekly social interactions into account. Interestingly, focus seemed to be crucial: Volunteers who spread their time among several organizations didn't gain an advantage in longevity.

Of course, senior citizens who volunteer their time do much more than help themselves. Their experience, expertise, and attitude make them valuable members of many organizations. According to the Administration on Aging, the demand for older volunteers is increasing dramatically. If you have the hours to spare, somebody can use your talents.

How can I find volunteer opportunities?

Your church, synagogue, mosque, or local community center can be an excellent starting point.

You can also find volunteer opportunities in the telephone directory under the headings "volunteer centers," "volunteer action centers," "volunteer bureau," or "United Way." Or you can contact one of the following national organizations that recruits older volunteers:

• Administration on Aging: http://www.aoa.gov, (202) 619-0724. The AoA enlists 500,000 volunteers nationwide, many of them senior citizens, to help older people in need. (Studies have found that senior citizen volunteers are especially effective at aiding the elderly.) Volunteer activities include delivering meals to the homebound, escorting frail seniors to needed services, repairing homes of low-income and frail seniors, assisting at senior centers, and counseling older people on health, nutrition, and finances.

• Volunteers of America: http://www.voa.org, (800) 899-0089. A non-profit founded in 1896, the VOA is a national, faith-based organization that provides services to millions of Americans in need.

• Senior Corps: http://www.seniorcorps.gov, (202) 606-5000. This branch of the federally funded Corporation for National and Community Service helps people 55 and over find volunteering opportunities in their community. The corps runs a foster grandparent program that helps children with special needs; a senior companion program that helps at-risk seniors live independently; and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) that provides many different services. Senior Companions and Foster Grandparents must be 60 or over and willing to work at least 15 hours each week.

For many seniors, volunteering is something they can hardly imagine themselves not doing. Among them is Leon Gurny, who finds his volunteer time as an English tutor to adult professionals profoundly gratifying. The 73-year-old Chicago resident has taught his students, who hail from China, Poland, Bulgaria, and many other countries, to work crossword puzzles ("they love it and it's great for their vocabulary"). He also keeps them busy with reading and Henny Youngman joke books. "Sometimes when I go on vacation, I feel guilty and start having withdrawal pains," Gurny says. "I get juiced up to go to class; it keeps my mind alert."

Since human beings are social animals, it makes sense that helping others and being connected to our community is a mutual benefit -- especially since people are living longer and healthier lives. Berkeley psychologist Bruce Linton puts it simply, "By volunteering and helping others, we're able to enjoy the greatest of all human pleasures: caring for others and being cared about."

Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the northern California Society of Professional Journalists.

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

Encourage, Don't Discourage

As I have shared many times before (very proudly), we have three wonderful grandchildren. They're bright, so full of life and a real joy to be around. They smile, play, laugh, run and enjoy life filled with a lot of self-confidence. Why? Because their parents love them and make a conscious effort to encourage them while at the same time helping them understand the difference between right and wrong decisions.

As parents, for the most part, I think all of us took the same approach to parenting. We made a consistent, conscious effort to encourage our kids. We praised them, congratulated them and tried to make them feel good about themselves and their accomplishments.

Unfortunately, as we grow older, I think a great many of us have a tendency to forget the importance of encouragement. We tend to be a little more critical and judgemental. It's not a bad idea for us to take inventory every so often and check to see if we are as encouraging and nurturing today to the people around us as we once were to our children when they were small.

Commit Yourself to Adding Value to Others

Nineteenth-century English preacher Charles Spurgeon advised,

"Carve your name on hearts and not on marble."

The best way to do this is to add value to others...to be an encourager...to look for the good in others. When possible, help others discover and develop their ability just like loving parents do for their children.

Author John Maxwell says, "Some people approach every interaction with others as a transaction. They're willing to add value, but only if they expect to receive value in return. If you want to make good relationships a priority, you must check your motives to be sure you are not trying to manipulate others for your own gain."

John Maxwell also wrote, "Every day I make the conscious effort to deposit goodwill into my relationships with others. That means I give more than I expect to receive, love others unconditionally, look for ways to add value to others, and bring joy to the relationships I hold dear.

If you want to improve your relationships through your everyday actions, then do the following:

• Put others first
• Don't carry emotional baggage
• Give time to your most valuable relationships
• Serve others gladly
• Express love and appreciation often
• Be an encourager rather than a discourager

"The best way to help people is to see the best in them."

Saturdays with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

The Benefits of Volunteering

A surprising article appeared in the Journal of Gerontology a couple of years ago. A university of Michigan researcher studied people in faith communities – synagogues, churches, etc. There were two groups that were the same in terms of their ages and health. The only thing that divided them was whether they volunteered in their communities. Hundreds of participants were involved n the study. The conclusion was that people who gave of themselves – who volunteered – were medically healthier over the course of the ensuing years.

Are you surprised? I was. Maybe it should be obvious. Those who volunteer to help others are more connected. They have a sense of purpose. The study has actually been replicated in different forms and venues and has now become part of medical therapy. We’ve known for a long time that helping others is good morally. We now know that it is good medically as well. Stephen Post has written a book along these lines, telling of how and why good things happen to good people.

We are told in the Bible in a number of different places that we will be rewarded for doing well for others. We surely understand that if we do good acts only for the purpose of being rewarded, we will likely be disappointed. Goodness must be its own reward. But it is comforting to know that the Bible has met science here. In doing things for others, we serve our own interests as well.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at http://www.copingwithadversity.com/. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Friday Star Spotlight

On Fridays we will feature special projects, photography and ideas contributed by talented seniors along with information about the Internet.



Keep Smiling & You'll be a Star!

Well, it's "Black Friday" and some of us are venturing out into the biggest shopping day of the year. Be brave, be careful, and above all keep smiling!

Recognize the Liquify Tool, Photoshoppers?!

I'm getting a late start today, and decided to put Valerie Jagiello's images off until next Tuesday. Be sure and visit us that day. You'll see some terrific pictures.

So for today, some quotations about the biggest shopping day of the year.

"Advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it." ~Stephen Butler Leacock, quoted in Michael Jackman, Crown's Book of Political Quotations, 1982

"Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping!" ~Bo Derek

"Shopping tip: You can get shoes for 85 cents at the bowling alley!"

"I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist." ~Tammy Faye Baker

"Shopping is a woman thing. It's a contact sport like football. Women enjoy the scrimmage, the noisy crowds, the danger of being trampled to death, and the ecstasy of the purchase." ~Erma Bombeck

"People will buy anything that is one to a customer." ~Sinclair Lewis

"Anyone who believes the competitive spirit in America is dead has never been in a supermarket when the cashier opens another checkout line." ~Ann Landers

"The only reason a great many American families don't own an elephant is that they have never been offered an elephant for a dollar down and easy weekly payments." ~Mad Magazine

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination." ~Oscar Wilde

Anyway, if you go shopping on this very busy black Friday, be a Star by being careful out there. You will be safer if you keep smiling and laugh with the people around you at the holiday mess!!

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER:

The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years…

A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

Let’s continue our study of the many aspects of educational travel by taking a few minutes to look at its history.

Explorers, since the time of the Arabs in 800 A.D., Marco Polo in 1200 A.D., and more recently from the Middle Ages on, have written memoirs about their travels. Those writings opened the world up for the rest of us to experience. This was the first real incarnation of educational travel.

In the 16th century, northern Europeans traveled to great centers of learning and to the ruins of the classical civilizations of Italy and Greece. These travels were chronicled in letters and other writings sent back to their homeland and formed the basis for further exploration and learning. As is evidenced by these works, while they were covering the ground outwardly, they were also advancing inwardly.

In the mid-19th century, thanks to social change and the new technologies of the Industrial Revolution, intrepid men and women traveled throughout the world in organized pursuit of knowledge. And, it was during the 1830s that Baedeker wrote the first modern guidebooks.

It has been said that the writings of the men who traveled during this time tended to cover the “what” and “where,” while the women travelers (especially those who traveled during the Victorian Era, the golden age of women travelers) tended toward the “how” and “why.” Their writings, even today fuel the desire in many of us to learn more.

Judith Adler, writing about the history of sightseeing (1989) says that “Most travel was not for sightseeing, but to encounter important people and civilizations and to visit sacred places.”

In the 19th and early 20th century, independent travel by those who could afford it, was just about the only way to learn about other cultures. The Chautauqua Movement that we talked about previously, brought education to the common man. To learn, however, people did not have to travel much further than their own hometown.

Today, things have changed. People are living longer, have more free time and more money. Thanks to technology they can travel wherever and whenever they want. But the emphasis of most of this travel has not been on education. It’s been on having fun, relaxing, and de-stressing.

Colleges and universities have tried over the years to shift that emphasis toward educational travel by offering opportunities to their students and graduates through student-exchange, study abroad, and alumni travel programs. Many other people, however, were missing out on the opportunity of learning and traveling at the same time. And of those, most were older adults. There was nothing out there geared specifically to their needs and wants in the way of educational travel.

The lack of educational travel opportunities for older adults came to an end in 1975 when Elderhostel, Inc. came into existence. These modern-day explorers have opened the door to the world-wide opportunities of lifelong learning for older adults. They have brought educational travel into the 21st century.

Today, thanks to Elderhostel, the field of educational travel is booming, not just for older adults but for all ages. We will take a look at both the history of Elderhostel and the current state of educational travel in the next few weeks.

For now, however, think of travel as an educational, spiritual and even a creative atmosphere, an atmosphere that broadens our self-understanding. And self-understanding is what the journey of our “After-50” years should be all about.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…
Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” The early educational travelers began the difficult task of trying to eliminate these prejudices. It’s up to us to continue the work they started.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Tuesday's Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative Photoshop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.


Happy Thanksgiving!

I have asked two friends of our blog, Edie Kirkbride and Karen Barnett, to contribute festive images to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and as usual, they came through with flying colors. So lets go Over the River and Through the Woods...

Over the river and thru the woods,

To have a first-rate play;

Oh, hear the bell ring,"Ting-a-ling-ling!"

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day-ay!

Over the river and thru the woods
Trot fast my dapple gray!

Spring over the ground,
Like a hunting hound!

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

Over the river and through the woods
Now Grandmother's cap I spy
Hooray for the fun
Is the pudding done?
Hooray for the pumpkin pie!

And while we gather as families and friends, bake and eat, watch football games, and all the rest that goes along with "turkey day" let's take a moment to put our hand on our heart and thank God for our country and our troops.

God Bless America and Our Troops
at Thanksgiving and all year long!

Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

Change Your Thinking

My wife Mimi teaches computer classes to seniors at a community college in Dallas. It's exciting for her to see enthusiastic students, some in their 80's and 90's eager to learn new skills. Some of her classes are more difficult than others dealing with Adobe's Photoshop software programs. But that doesn't stop them. They want to learn. They want to change their thinking. They want to embrace modern technology. They want to be able to communicate with their kids and grand kids via the Internet. They want to be connected instead of being disconnected.

How great is that! They are thinkers. They are doers. They embrace change instead of resisting it. Claude M. Bristol, author of The Magic of Believing, said, "Thought is the original source of all wealth, all success, all material gain, all great discoveries and inventions, and all achievement." Now that's a bold statement. What kind of value do you put on good thinking? Like Mimi's students, do you think you should learn new skills? Do you think you should change the way you are currently doing some things? What do you think about on a daily basis?

Try to improve your thinking every day

It's true that the more thinking you do, the better you become at it. But you can quickly improve your thinking if you do the following on a daily basis according to John Maxwell:

Focus on the Positive: Thinking alone won't guarantee success. You need to think about the right things. Negative thinking and worry actually hinder the thinking process rather than improve it. Philippians 4:8 reads..."Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Gather Good Input: Read good books. Look for good ideas. When you read something that impresses you, write it down, file it away. Refer to it later. Seek knowledge. Every senior student that signs up for one of Mimi's classes is looking for good ideas and seeking knowledge. They are expanding their minds.

Spend Time with Good Thinkers: If you spend time with good thinkers, you will find that the exposure sharpens your thinking. Our brains like to be challenged.

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

A Friend’s Help at a Difficult Time

At a recent talk, I was asked what to say to a friend whose elderly parent is near death. Depending on the situation, it’s probably disingenuous to speak in optimistic tones about recovery. Yet the pain of the impending loss is great, and talk of the loved one in the past tense may be insensitive. So, what to say?

First, offer to help – in big ways and small ones. Is there a need for transportation of children? Other family members? Will others in the family be coming in from out of town? Do they need logistical support? Can you help with meal preparation? Are there any obligations that you can help with? Errands of various sorts?

Though you may not see the need to say it, be sure the friend knows that the parent’s illness is not your friend’s fault. They did not cause this. Nature can sometimes be cruel, and people are not necessarily to blame for illness. Certainly, a family member is generally not responsible. This may seem an obvious point, but you would be surprised to learn how often others feel a measure of guilt when a loved one becomes sick, and especially when they die.

Your friend should be told how much they meant to their parent and how much better their parent’s life was because of your friend. Again, this may seem obvious, but the point here is to remind your friend that they were a positive factor and a source of joy to their parent. Tell your friend how very proud their parent was of them.

If no words seem appropriate, that’s OK. The important thing is to just be there for your friend. A comforting presence is more valuable that an empty and endless stream of words. So if words seem hollow, just a hug will do.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.
Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at www.copingwithadversity.com. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Friday Star Spotlight

On Fridays we will feature special projects, photography and ideas contributed by talented seniors along with information about the Internet.


Special Effects for a Rainy Day

I don't know how the weather is where you live, but here in Dallas we have rain, rain and more rain! And I have some fun special effect images to post today that remind us of sunnier days!

Lionel Ruiz was in the Special Effects class I teach at a community college here in Dallas. He came up with some gems and has generously agreed to share them with us.

Lionel is a photographer and he and his daughter are balloon enthusiasts--that's a recipe for cooking up some cool images! Here are some of his images, along with quotes I've found from various sources:

Winnie the Pooh said, "Nobody can be uncheeered with a balloon!"

In The Twenty-one Balloons, William Penne du Bois said, "The best way of travel, however, if you aren't in any hurry at all, if you don't care where you are going, if you don't like to use your legs, if you don't want to be annoyed at all by any choice of directions, is in a balloon. In a balloon, you can decide only when to start, and usually when to stop. The rest is left entirely to nature."



In 1908, Le Figaro said, "I have known today a magnificent intoxication. I have learnt how it feels to be a bird. I have flown. Yes I have flown. I am still astonished at it, still deeply moved."



And how about this creative idea--two images combined to cause you to do a double-take if you see the picture! Yes, that is a train following the car!

A special thanks to Lionel Ruiz for his contribution to our blog!

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER:

The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years…

A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

Last week we started exploring the world of Educational Travel. Let’s continue our journey.

Today, people tend to think the words “travel” and “vacation” are synonymous. They think of them as a break from work, as ways to seek out leisure, and avoid anything “serious.”

But please, don’t confuse the two. There is a real difference.

Vacations are just that–vacations, and they certainly have a valuable place in our lives. But in these blogs we will be talking about travel–Educational Travel.

Yes, educational travel is certainly fun, but at the same time you are learning about the history, the culture, the politics, and absorbing the essence of the place you are visiting. You are not soaking up the sun on a beach or heading toward the 18th hole. That belongs in another part of your life.

As technology shrinks our world and brings us all closer together, the opportunity to learn about our neighbors grows. Don’t we owe it to ourselves to delve into this landscape and explore the cultures of different people?

By doing so, we learn all about their history, the rise of their civilization and perhaps its downfall. By viewing both the highs and lows, we come away with a much better view of not just them, but also ourselves. Educational travel gives us the ability to do this in ways nothing else can. It gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the exotic spectrum of life on Earth.

Educational travel leaves us with much more than a typical vacation. We gain a deeper knowledge of the world. We get to experience life; to truly live it.

It can be a life-changing experience, as I can personally attest to what it has done for me. Once we are through exploring the concept, benefits and opportunities of educational travel, I will chronicle for you in this blog, the story of how educational travel changed my life.

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

St. Augustine said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” I can’t imagine reading only one page of a book. Even if you don’t have the ability to travel a lot (and most people don’t), making educational travel a small part of your life gives you yet another opportunity to help turn your After-50 years into the very best years of your life.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Wednesday Aging in Place

Each Wednesday, Laurie Orlov, tech industry veteran, writer, speaker, elder care advocate and Faculty Advisor for the Aging in Place Technology Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing her insightful research on how seniors can safely and successfully live independent lives in the home of their choice.


Retirees' Second Acts

By Lauren Young - Business Week

More than a quarter of workers age 50 and older switch jobs and employers. They also tend to take pay cuts while giving up all-important pension and health-care benefits. No wonder so many older workers are writing their own second acts. Sure it's a risky move, but the rewards—at least in terms of personal satisfaction—can be tremendous. Here is a look at some people who have launched new careers, often motivated by a passion, on their own terms.

Atkins has transformed her commuting pastime into a profitable venture.

For 15 years, Dorothy Atkins kept a diary during her long train rides back and forth to work as a project manager at a large San Francisco bank. "I always used commuting time to write out my hopes and desires," Atkins says. She also did a lot of drawing, illustrating "pearls of wisdom" imparted from friends and family, sometimes even making a card for a friend from the scribbles.

When Atkins was offered a buyout in 2002 at age 60, she was caught off guard. "The package scared me to death. I had not planned for not working," she says. After meeting with human resources to discuss her options, she went to Nordstrom (JWN) and took comfort from a little shell-shocked shopping, buying a pair of shoes and some Godiva chocolate. Later that week, after reality had sunk in, she consulted her wish book and realized she wanted to turn her doodles into greeting cards.

Now Atkins has a successful company called From Where I Sit. Her cards are sold in museums and high-end boutiques. Her income doesn't match her old salary, but provides a good supplement to her retirement savings.

More older workers are trying to make second or third careers work. The unemployment rate for persons aged 55 and over hit 7% in October, continuing the recent trend of high jobless rates for older persons not seen since the late 1940s, according to an analysis of Labor Dept. data by Sara Rix of AARP's Public Policy Institute. The average period of unemployment is nearly 34 weeks for older job seekers, more than 13 weeks longer than it was at the start of the recession.

"The chance of a 60-year-old finding an ad on Craigslist that says, 'Wanted: Vice-president of marketing and sales. Must be 60 to apply' doesn't exist, so you might as well take your skill set and make it into an encore career," says Mary Furlong, a baby-boomer marketing expert and author of Turning Silver into Gold: How to Profit in the New Boomer Marketplace.

Making a leap into a second or third career may mean taking financial risks. Some people use severance payments as seed money. Others tap credit cards, family, savings, even retirement accounts. Dipping into reserves to fund the next stage of your life may not feel great when cash flow is a concern. But it's often necessary.

Melding Expertise

Ideally, a later-in-life career change means turning a passion into a profit-making enterprise, as Atkins was able to do. It also often involves finding a way to blend different areas of expertise, which is what Laurie Orlov is doing. From 1998 to 2007, Orlov was an analyst at Forrester Research (FORR), a technology research firm. A well-respected figure in the tech arena, she also served as the primary caregiver for her mother, even self-publishing a book for caregivers called

When Your Parents Need Elder Care: Lessons From The Front Lines (it cost $1,500 to produce). After her mom died in 2006, Orlov moved to Florida and began thinking of ways to meld her skills. Last March, she launched Aging in Place Technology Watch, a research firm analyzing the market for technologies that help boomers and seniors stay in their homes.

To gain an edge in the field, Orlov, 58, spent about $5,000 to get an online graduate certificate in geriatric care management from a local university. Starting a blog has also been crucial to building credibility, she says. Orlov makes a point of accepting speaking engagements as well as attending conferences to get the word out about her business. "If I pick up a new client at every conference I attend, it is worth the registration and travel costs," she says.
Another place to make connections and find resources to help build a new career is your alma mater or local college.

Michael Lesner, who is "fiftysomething," worked for decades as a marketing and media executive at firms such as Leo Burnett and CBS (CBS) before founding AcuNetx, which makes diagnostic tools to prevent senior citizens from falling. He's using his marketing and media experience to serve as a board member and mentor for MBA candidates at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business. "It's an incredible networking tool," he says. He persuaded the graduate school to use his new venture as part of the curriculum. In return, he's getting free marketing, financial, and management advice.

Finding Seed Money

While Atkins, the card entrepreneur, got a buyout package that equaled more than a year's pay, not everyone has the luxury of a retirement package or savings to fall back on. That leads some people, like Adele Douglass, to raid retirement accounts.

After working as a lobbyist on animal rights and children's issues, Douglass left her job at 57 and cleaned out her retirement savings, worth more than $80,000, to launch Humane Farm Animal Care, a nonprofit in Herndon, Va. Her organization certifies that livestock for meat, poultry, and dairy products was treated humanely. She doesn't regret using her savings. And with the popularity of the local-food movement, the timing was perfect. Thanks to her group, she says, nearly 23 million animals were raised under certified humane standards last year, up from 143,000 animals in 2003. Her financial safety net right now, she says, is her three children: "My kids would never let me be out on the street."

Other self-starters have tapped into the value of their homes—an option no longer available for many would-be borrowers. Connie and Thomas Betts sold their Portland (Ore.) home in 2003 and bought a farm in central Oregon. They sold their 41-foot sailboat for $50,000, and used the money to buy the four pregnant alpacas and a herd sire needed to start Cascade Alpacas ranch. They also borrowed $30,000 to buy inventory for a yarn shop on an American Express (AXP) OPEN Card, a credit card geared to small business owners.

The business is thriving. They have 50 alpacas and make the bulk of their income selling pregnant females to other farms for as much as $22,000 each. Recently, to cover the cost of purchasing a neighboring farm, Connie, 56, who formerly worked as a writer of technology training manuals, returned to work. For now, that leaves Thomas, 55, a former marine-supplies executive, to run the ranch and shop on his own. The trade-offs are worth it, says Connie. "It's a wonderful life."

Tuesday Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative Photoshop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.



Strength and Gentleness
Both of the images I am featuring today came into my classroom on the same day. Both of them are powerful in their own way.

The first one was created by Bob Westphal. This is a collage of one of his experiences in Iraq. He is the soldier on the left.

The setting is a Black Hawk helicopter. He is training his replacement.

Bob told us that they flew 150 miles an hour, 150 feet above the ground. While the enemy could hear them, they were moving so fast, so close to the ground that they couldn't see them coming until they were there and gone.

When I first viewed this image, it made the war so real to me. We read about it in the papers and see images on the news, but they often seem far away. Until someone we know is looking back at us from a seat in a chopper. A picture of courage, concern, strength...someone I know, in battle gear.



The second image was created by Anne Jordan. It was constructed using images from a family vacation. These are her grandchildren and daughter at the beach. She said the family climbed the tower, but she and the little one wisely stayed on the ground and enjoyed the beach!

This is such a lovely glimpse of peace. The beach, grandchildren, a hand holding a shell. So simple and sweet. Precious and poignant. A way of life protected by brave men and women who stand in the breach for us all.



Times are tough, it is true. But we are blessed with so much in this fine country of ours. I for one am especially grateful to the men and women, fellow citizens, who travel to foreign lands, going in harms way to help protect our way of life.

Our hope is one day...

They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. -- Isaiah, II:4

Make it Happen Monday

All over the USA, Seniors and Boomers are using their years of experience and knowledge in servant leadership capacities in their communities because they are waaay to young to retire! On Mondays we will be sharing the stories and inspirational thoughts of some of these remarkable "make it happen" people.

Just Try

Two simple words that are such an important part of making things happen!

I got the following post from my daughter's blog---- which of course I read daily! She is writing to her children, but the message is for us all.

"Whisper in their ears...

There are so many things I want to whisper in their ears. When they are still and sleepy and holding my hand...

There are so many things that I want to say to them after a busy and fun day.

I want to say how special they are - but I want them to be humble.

I want to tell them to be happy but I want them to be able to handle it when they are sad.

I want to tell them that they can do anything that they want but I really don't want them to do anything that they want - think of the chaos in my van alone!!!!!

Tonight I decided as I whispered in the soft little ear and tucked the little footed jammie under the covers that I would whisper...

Try

I want you to try.

I want you to try anything and everything but learn from your choices.

I want you to try hard.

I want you to do your very best at everything you do.

There is so much that can be solved with just a little try.

So that is what I whispered tonight

In the soft little ear

I kissed the sleeping cheek and I tucked them in a little tighter and all I whispered was

Try

A very special thanks to my Hawdy at http://iheartbowheads.blogspot.com/

Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

It Takes Commitment

As many of you know, Mimi teaches computer classes at Richland College to Seniors. She is very good at it. She was even honored with an Award of Excellence as Teacher of the Year in 2005/2006. When she first started teaching almost ten years ago, it was a real leap of faith. She had never taught before and she wasn’t sure she should be taking on a new career in her late fifties. But she made a commitment and did it. It was hard but she stuck with it. And she obtained success.

About the same time she received her award, one of her 90 year old students told her he could not attend any more classes due to health reasons. He asked if it would be possible to put her Lesson Plans on the Internet so he could continue to do them from home. The idea for Computer School for Seniors was born (http://www.cs4seniors.com/).

For the last three and a half years we have been committed to building an Internet Campus that encourages seniors to learn the joys and benefits they can find in their computers and on the Internet. It has been a rewarding learning experience. One of the most important things we have learned is the importance of commitment. Whether starting a new business…losing weight…dealing with a difficult child…learning something new…whatever your challenge, it is going to take commitment to succeed.

In his book Today Matters, John Maxwell explains what it takes to be committed to something.

Your Commitment Will beTested Every Day

I think many people see commitment as an event, something that is done in a moment. They say “I do” in a wedding ceremony. They shake hands to close a business deal. They buy a treadmill in order to exercise. But the commitment doesn’t end with that decision; it’s just getting started. And you better believe that any time you make a commitment to something, it will be tested.

That happens in any number of ways:

· Experiencing Failure: Perhaps the greatest challenge to commitment is failiure. You have to get through the failures. You’ve got to be able to pick yourself up and try, try again.

· Having to Stand Alone: When you want to accomplish something special, there will be people who will distract you, either intentionally or by accident. You will get a lot of opinions. Many of them will be in conflict with your goals. There will be times you need to stand alone.

· Facing Deep Disappointment: Let’s be honest, a lot of things can go wrong in life. When you get knocked down, how are you going to respond? How strong is your commitment? Remember, it’s the bounce that counts.

“Always bear in mind that your own resoulution to success is more important than any other thing.” - Abraham Lincoln

Saturday's with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, MD, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

Counseling the Seriously Ill

A dear patient was in the office this week. Several months ago, the news about his lung “mass” wasn’t good. Now the end obviously was very close, and there was no sugarcoating it. He and I went back too many years for simple platitudes to do during this visit. We had been through too much together.

In Judaism, there is a traditional prayer for healing that is said on the Sabbath. So if it is obvious that physical healing is not going to take place, what do we make of the prayer?
There is more than one type of healing. And since we all will reach the point when physical healing is no longer possible, the other type – spiritual healing – becomes of paramount importance as we age. The good news is that we don’t have to await our final days before become healed.

So what did I say to my patient? I told him that he should be very proud of what he had done with his life. Sure, he wasn’t a famous person in the traditional sense, but he lived a life of dignity and purpose, and had children of whom he could be very proud. They would carry on his values and the family’s traditions.

He had worked hard and contributed to society by his work ethic and his actions. He must use his remaining days to communicate his love to all those who mattered to him – his family and friends - and he must let them know how much he loved them, and how his live was enriched by them.

Although physical healing isn’t always possible, spiritual healing is available to all of us, at any time.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.
Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at www.copingwithadversity.com. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Lifelong Learning Thursday

Nancy Merz Nordstrom, author of Learning Later, Living Greater: The Secret of Making the Most of Your After 50 Years will share the benefits of Lifelong Learning on Thursdays.

LEARNING LATER, LIVING GREATER:

The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.

Lifelong Learning in Your Later Years…

A Health Club for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit!

Now that we’ve taken a thorough look at lifelong learning programs, let’s spend some time over the coming weeks discussing the concept, benefits and opportunities of educational travel – another way to keep your mind challenged, your body active and your spirit soaring.

Elderhostel says, “The world is your classroom.” What an exciting thought for those of us planning for our “After-50” years. What a wonderful vehicle for our continued exploration of ourselves and all we have to offer to society.

Educational travel is tremendously helpful in this self-exploration. It helps us understand and appreciate different cultures. It also changes us by broadening perspectives and teaching us about new ways to measure our quality of life by what we see in other lands.

While we are still part of the workforce, however, we usually can not take the necessary time for truly in-depth educational travel. Despite our dedication to free enterprise and the American way, it is said that people in the United States actually work more hours than any other country on earth. Unfortunately, we are not given enough time to really explore what the world has to offer.

All that changes, however, once we leave the workforce and embark on the journey of our “After-50” years. Now is the time to explore and appreciate the amazing world around us, and we are so much the better for it.

Benefits of Educational Travel
Here are just a few of the many benefits you will derive from educational travel.
• View beautiful and historic sites.
• Learn about the culture and history of faraway places.
• Discover, learn and grow.
• Challenge inhibitions while gaining new perspectives.
• Gain a global viewpoint.
• Satisfy your curiosity about places of special interest.
• Develop lasting memories and friendships.
• Step outside your comfort zone.

That’s quite a list! Next week we’ll delve even further into the many nuances of educational travel.



THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…
Paul Tournier, a Swiss author has said, “The real meaning of travel, like that of a conversation by the fireside, is the discovery of oneself through contact with other people. And its condition is self-commitment in the dialogues.” I think this is an excellent summation of the value of educational travel.

For more information on Learning Later, Living Greater visit www.learninglater.com

You can purchase Learning Later, Living Greater at www.amazon.com

Till Next Time…

Nancy Merz Nordstrom is Director of the Lifelong Learning Department at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Aging In Place Wednesday

Each Wednesday, Laurie Orlov, tech industry veteran, writer, speaker, elder care advocate and Faculty Advisor for the Aging in Place Technology Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing her insightful research on how seniors can safely and successfully live independent lives in the home of their choice.


100 is the New 65

Why do some people live to 100? Researchers are trying to find out, reports Meera Lee Sethi, and they're discovering how we might live better lives, not just longer ones.

Will Clark, 105, recently bought a van for a 5,000-mile road trip across the Midwest with his wife, Lois, who is 102.

Elsa Brehm Hoffmann loves bridge and is always ready for a party. Rosa McGee enjoys singing hymns to herself all day long. Will Clark makes a mean spaghetti and meatballs. What connects these three? They belong to the single fastest growing segment of the United States population: people over a hundred years old.

Hoffmann, McGee, Clark, and the nearly 100,000 other centenarians in the U.S. provide inspiration to the rest of us. But they also provide researchers with a tantalizing puzzle: Why do some people live so long? For years, medical researchers have been studying this select group, identifying some key factors to a long life. Now, a growing body of research is suggesting that longevity isn't just linked to good genes and a healthy lifestyle; it's also tied to cultivating a positive, resilient attitude toward life. These results validate a simple idea: that centenarians can teach us how to live not just longer lives, but better ones.

At the fore of this research is the New England Centenarian Study (NECS), which has enrolled more than 1,500 centenarians from around the world over the past 15 years. The study's director, Thomas Perls, says these participants dispel the belief that the older someone gets, the sicker he or she becomes. Instead, he says, "the older you get, the healthier you've been." In other words, people who demonstrate exceptional longevity tend to have had a lifelong history of good health.

Indeed, people who die in their 70s or 80s are plagued by degenerative illnesses in the years before their death; in contrast, Perls has found that nearly two thirds of centenarians either delay the onset of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes—or escape them altogether. Plus, a substantial proportion of centenarians who survive such age-related illnesses do so without developing physical disabilities, enabling them to remain socially, mentally, and physically active. As a result, in a culture that romanticizes youth, Perls argues that centenarians embody "a thoroughly optimistic view of aging"—one that shows that prolonging life and enjoying it go hand-in-hand.

Tuesday's Treasures

On Tuesdays we provide our Faculty an opportunity to feature the talented work of some of our students and friends. You may see a display of creative Photoshop work, their beautiful photographs or an interesting story about an individual’s meaningful contribution to his or her community, country or the world.If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com.


Nine Square Novelty

This week we are featuring the work of five of my Collage Class students. The assignment was the same, but the results as usual were as diverse and interesting as the students themselves.

I love the Fall! If we keep our cameras with us, we can get some wonderful pictures this time of year. Tom Whitman and his wife took a trip to the Ozarks to see the color and returned with the lovely pictures collaged in the image you see below.

And how about this one. I didn’t realize that we have a butterfly pavilion in Ft. Worth, Texas. That is where Barbara Maimbourg went to gather these delicious images.

And of course the nine square template lends itself to pictures of loved ones. Ed Relder did this charming image using his great grandchild as a model.

Below Alyce Fisher features her son at his graduation. This is a really effective way to present a series of pictures of the same subject. If you had these as individual pictures you might quickly thumb through them, thinking they were pretty much the same. But the nine of them, gathered in one place, along with the text, present an image of a very special moment in time.

And how about this one that Karen Barnett came up with?! It is the The Cullen Family from the movie Twilight. But isn’t this a great idea. I was thinking how much fun it would be to do a collage like this with family members gazing out of the squares and put the family crest in the center square.

As always I am struck by the ability of our age group to continuously create unique images. When we get that technical skill in place, we're dangerous!!

Marcel Proust said, “The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Special thanks to Tom Whitman, Barbara Maimbourg, Ed Relder, Alyce Fisher and Karen Barnett for their contributions to Tuesday's Treasures.

Make it Happen Monday

All over the USA, Seniors and Boomers are using their years of experience and knowledge in servant leadership capacities in their communities because they are waaay to young to retire! On Mondays we will be sharing the stories and inspirational thoughts of some of these remarkable "make it happen" people.

6 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Alzheimer's and Dementia

So what does this have to do with making it happen? Pretty much everything!! We all know by now that we need to take care of our bodies and minds. I was especially interested in the third section of this article called Mental Challenges since I preach about this in the classroom. Always good to have the experts support what you are teaching, I say!!

This article came from U. S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT and was written by Sara Baldauf:

We all want to dodge the Alzheimer's bullet. And lucky us, Mother Nature has counterbalanced the power of our hard-wired genes by allowing multiple lifestyle choices to greatly influence our aging. Read: Your destiny is not fated; you do have some control. Yes, genes are powerful forces, but they "are not even the dominant factor" for the vast majority of people, says Paul Thompson, professor of neurology at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine. Here are some actionable factors that can help your brain stay healthy over the long term.

Physical activity

Recent research from the University of Illinois has suggested that regular aerobic activity—like running, walking, or bicycling, which require oxygen to produce energy—may do a better job of protecting brain function than nonaerobic activity, which does not recruit oxygen and uses short bursts of motion (golf, tennis, and lifting weights). Reaping the cognitive benefits of pumping oxygen- and sugar-rich blood to the brain won't require high intensity exercise, says William Thies, chief medical and scientific officer of the Alzheimer's Association. The Alzheimer's Association advises picking activities you like and doing them regularly for at least 30 minutes a day.

Weight Control

The heavier a person is, the more likely he or she may be to develop Alzheimer's. Thompson published research in August that found that the brains of older individuals who were obese (with a body mass index over 30) had approximately 8 percent less brain volume than subjects of normal weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25). When brain-volume loss reaches about 10 percent, Thompson says, symptoms like memory trouble or confusion appear. Earlier studies have suggested that people who are obese in midlife have a threefold increased risk of developing Alzheimer's, and those who are overweight (considered a BMI between 25 and 30) have a twofold increased risk. This is due, at least in part, to the fact that with added pounds, fat gets deposited in the brain and narrows blood vessels that deliver fuel, Thompson theorizes. Over the long term, brain cells die and vital connections and volume are lost.

Mental challenges

No, it's not just about doing sudoku—though puzzles do fall into the category. The brain's ability to reorganize neural pathways with new information or experiences means it's regularly changing; we can even generate new brain cells. But you need to work it. The general guideline, says Neil Buckholtz, chief of the dementias of aging branch at the National Institute on Aging, is regularly engaging in "some kind of new learning that challenges you." No one knows exactly what works, though population research has shown that having more years of formal education seems to be protective. Folks with lots of schooling can still get Alzheimer's, but the disease may appear later. From that, some extrapolate that lifelong curiosity and learning may have benefits.

Social connections

Research has found that people with larger social networks, while they had similar amounts of the plaques and tangles of Alzheimer's as did more isolated people, were less affected cognitively. And separate research suggests that psychological distress over the long term significantly raises a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's. Thies predicts that science will eventually reveal that "this kind of interaction stimulates the brain to make new connections" that perhaps help compensate for decline. To get a threefer, try learning the intricate steps of the tango in a dance class with your friends.

Healthy diet

"What we have pretty good evidence for is that a diet higher in vegetables and lower in fat is [protective,]" explains Thies. While the evidence doesn't offer up any recipes for success, the general recommendation is to get plenty of veggies and fruits with dark skins, like spinach, beets, red bell peppers, onions, eggplants, prunes, blackberries, strawberries, red grapes, oranges, and cherries, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Some evidence suggests green, leafy cruciferous vegetables, in particular, are helpful. Eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids may be beneficial. So may some nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans, that have high levels of vitamin E, an antioxidant. Research published in February in the Archives of Neurology suggested that the Mediterranean diet appears to be protective against Alzheimer's. Some animal research has shown that curcumin, which is in the curry spice turmeric, suppresses the buildup of beta-amyloid, a main component in the harmful plaques in the Alzheimer's-afflicted brain.

Chronic disease control

Buckholtz notes that "high blood pressure in old age is a very strong risk factor for developing Alzheimer's later on, but if you can keep the blood pressure down, that decreases your risk." And a study published in August in the journal Dementia & Geriatric Cognitive Disorders found that people in their 40s who had mildly elevated cholesterol were at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's later in life. A sizable body of evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes and heart disease affect the brain and perhaps the development or severity of Alzheimer's.

Inspirational Sunday

Bill Witcher, co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing words of encouragement, inspiration and hope with you each Sunday.

Have a Successful Day

A successful day is a matter of choice. And sometimes, with so many different things going on in our lives and so many people entering our lives (some uninvited), it's hard to make the right choices. It's tough to have a successful day. All of us have had days (sometimes weeks, even months) when it seems nothing is going right. I've had a few of those days this past week. We struggle. We get sad. We get discouraged. We get down. What do we do? How do we pick ourselves up and get back on the right path?

John C. Maxwell is a New York Times bestselling author who offers some very practical advise in his book Today Matters. He helps me get back on track by reminding me of some practical steps to take which involves determining to make good decisions. Now that's easy to say. We all know it is not that simple. But he helps clarify what he means by identifying 12 important areas of our life and making a recommendation on each of these important areas.

OK, let's look at these 12 areas that we all deal with and see what he says about each one:

Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily.

Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.

Health: Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.

Family: Communicate with and care for my family daily.

Thinking: Practice and develop good thinking daily.

Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.

Finances: Make and properly manage dollars daily.

Faith: Deepen and live out my faith daily.

Relationships: Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.

Generosity: Plan for and model generosity daily.

Values: Embrace and practice good values daily.

Growth: Seek and experience improvements daily.

Now I think, John Maxwell's life is a little more busy each day then mine. That's quite a list. I'd be tired at the end of the day. But I don't think he is telling us that we must do all of these things every day. He's telling us to decide in our heads and our hearts how we should handle each of these areas and then when they arise we can manage them properly.

In other words, make the decision once that you are going to have a positive attitude, that you are going to be a generous person, that you are going to try and grow and improve. You can settle an issue once and for all, and you won't have to revisit it daily. It will become a part of you.

That's a good idea for two reasons: it takes the emotion out of the decision and it makes managing your life easier.

Saturdays with Dr. Roffman

Each Saturday, Dr. Joel Roffman, a prominent Dallas cardiologist and author will share meaningful experiences he has had with patients who are dealing with a variety of physical and emotional issues. You will find the manner in which they deal with life’s problems to be practical, inspirational and uplifting.

Days of Repentance

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur was celebrated this past week. On that holiday, Jews ask God for forgiveness for sins committed against God – dietary laws and other laws that involve ritual. Significantly, sins committed against other people are specifically excluded. For those sins, we must seek forgiveness directly from the person against whom we have sinned. (I can assure you that for those of us who take this seriously, the thought of apologizing at this time of year has a definite effect on our behavior the rest of the year – it is not a comfortable prospect!)

I’m always struck by the emotional distress in patients who I see in my office when they are involved in a fractious relationship – especially with someone in their family. It has been shown that stress of this type has a decidedly detrimental effect on one’s health. I can also report that those with “normal” relationships with others seem much more at peace with their lives in general.

Forgiveness is offered by God in the Bible – when David is confronted by the prophet Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-13) he acknowledges sins he has committed and is forgiven.

Those carrying a grudge against another person carry a burden as well. It can be a constant source of tension and distress. For those who reconcile with others, it is as though a great weight has been lifted. Far from a concession to another person, reconciliation is a gift we can give ourselves.

If you have a comment or question about this blog entry, email Dr. Roffman at drroffman@cs4seniors.com.

Dr. Joel Roffman has spoken to many church, synagogue and support groups. His book, Coping with Adversity: Judaism’s response to illness and other life struggles is enjoyable, uplifting and informative. It is meant for people of all faiths and can be viewed at http://www.copingwithadversity.com/. It is available at Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Amazon.com.

Friday Star Spotlight

On Fridays we will feature special projects, photography and ideas contributed by talented seniors along with information about the Internet.

Flying High in the Sky!

Arthur Koelster said, "Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual." I believe that to be true, especially where learning computer software is concerned. For years I have watched my students start, many times with very little computer knowledge, learn the technical skill, and go on to learn and create exceptional things on their own.

And it helps to have a good sense of humor as well! I just recently taught a Special Effects class, and it was such a delight for me to watch one unique image after another appear on the screen.

Today's images feature moving about in the sky. The first one is by Karen Barnett. New to Photoshop this year, Karen has made great strides and can create some very cool images as you can see below. "Cloud Climber" was created using four layers...the background, the rapelling rope, the ladder and the climber.

The next three images were done by Bob Barretto whose creativity, Photoshop skills and artistic ability come together to create truly impressive work. We have all seen and heard a lot about balloons lately. Here we have a canine friend gazing wistfully at an enormous Alpo balloon.

And here we have a Stork balloon delivering its bundle to a castle home.



This road sign was already created. Bob added the biker and pump to give it a very different look!

Our minds are filled with so many of life's experiences, and once we get to know how to use a computer we fill the screen with unique, often powerful images.

I love the quote by Franklin Roosevelt, who said, "Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort."