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.

Cell phones and smart phones

What phone is right for you?

Today Jitterbug owns the message in this market.

Laurie Orlov of Aging in Place tells us - "Great Call's Jitterbug reputation was built around its no-contract, easy-to-use phone. Buy just as many minutes as you will need, no more no less. There is a bit of grousing here and there on the Internet about service issues, but the overall story remains senior-focused and friendly."

Some interesting Cell Phone Options

* Consumer Cellular and particularly the Nokia 6085h, no-contract phone plans along with a phone description that is particularly appropriate for seniors.

* Tracfone and Hop-on.com offer no-contract plans as well, and Hop-on presumably offers a senior phone -- ChitterChatter HOP 1890 -- a GSM offering, although the overall Hop-On website looks like it was designed for twenty-somethings headed out for a night on the town.

* BlackBerry - many seem very happy with the sound quality and the combination of useful functions available in a single device. There is even an application for those seniors who are suffering from vision loss -- expensive, but it will read the text out loud. There are even free applications for BlackBerry -- I noticed one that lights up the screen more effectively than the standard product.

Remember - don't get locked into a contract until you know what you are getting into and research, research research before you make a decision. There are plenty of choices out there!

For more information, visit Laurie at http://www.ageinplacetech.com/ and at the Aging in Place Technology Department at http://www.cs4seniors.com/

The Rolling Rains Report

The Rolling Rains Report
Dr. Scott Rains

We are very honored to announce that Dr. Scott Rains will be a periodic contributor to our blog and the Travel Department of Computer School for Seniors.

Dr. Rains writes daily on travel and issues in the tourism industry of interest to people with disabilities. His work appears online at http://www.rollingrains.com/ and http://withtv.typepad.com/weblog/travel/. He is the founder of the global forum on Inclusive Tourism – Tour Watch. Rains’ articles have also appeared in New Mobility, Emerging Horizons, Venture, Brave New Traveler, Challenges, TravelBiz Monitor, Enabled Online, Contours, Accessible Portugal, Audacity, Travel and Transitions, eTur Brazil, Success & Ability, Turismo Polibea, [with]TV, and Disaboom among others.

For his research on the topic of Universal Design and the travel and hospitality industry he was appointed as Resident Scholar at the Center for Cultural Studies of the University of California Santa Cruz (2004-05). Rains has been retained as a consultant on Inclusive Tourism traveling as Visiting Journalist at the invitation of India, Australia, and South Africa. He is a lifetime Honorary Member of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT.

His 2009 schedule includes invitations to address the third International Accessible Tourism Conference in Singapore, the first conference on neuromedicine, disability and tourism in Milan and the third i-CREATE conference sponsored by the Princess of Thailand in Singapore.

He was co-convener of the second International Accessible Tourism Conference hosted by the United Nations November 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand and was consultant for the September 2007 World Assembly on the U. N. Convention, on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Seoul, South Korea. He is Resource Person for UNESCAP on the topic of inclusion in tourism.

Starting next week Dr. Rains will be sharing information with us about “Inclusive Tourism”—a concept arising from the vigor of a global disability community that both enjoys and asserts the right to full social inclusion.

To learn more about Dr. Rains work, visit http://www.rollingrains.com/.

Dr. Rains will also be serving as a faculty Advisor to the Travel Department at http://www.cs4seniors.com/.

Photo Tips Monday

DID YOU KNOW ?

I sincerely appreciate Nancy Nordstrom's passion for Lifelong Learning. Her post several weeks ago was outstanding as usual and I really liked her Henry Ford quote:
"Anyone who stops learning is old, whether they are twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young."

As a photographer, I consider myself a lifelong learner. I am always reading the latest photography information in numerous magazines and websites. I read all the equipment reviews and stay up to date with the latest equipment and newest trends. As I have stated in my March 2nd Post, I am a gadget person. I love new technology. I have an iPhone. A Mac. A Kindle. I get excited reading about all the technological advances that are being made everyday.
With that as background, you can appreciate how a video titled "Did You Know?"caught my attention on You Tube. Sony played this video at their Executive Management Conference this year. I think it is very thought provoking and affirms why all of us need to continue to be lifelong learners and encourage our kids and grand kids to be lifelong learners. Enjoy and think about it !!!

(HINT***** This video has music - before you hit play - go to the box that has our Computer Savvy Seniors Playlist and hit pause. Then hit play on the video - that way the blog's music will not be playing at the same time as the video's music.

When you are finished listening to the video, go back down and click the arrow to restart the music for the blog.)



Dave Berry shares his Photography Tips at Computer School for Seniors (http://www.cs4seniors.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.

Easter Prayer
By Susan Helene Kramer

Halleluiah. He is Risen.
Lord, you have arisen forever
In my heart!

May the sunrise
Remind me to shine in Your light.

May the caress of a gentle breeze
Remind me of Your compassion.

May the fragrance of a flower
Remind me to blossom in Your love.

May the singing of birds
Bring a song of joy to my lips.

And in the closing of each day
May I remember to quietly pray.

Wherever I am, whatever I do
May my thoughts in joy return to You!

Bill Witcher is co-founder of Computer School for Seniors

Saturdays With Doctor 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.

Welcome Dr. Roffman!

We are honored to welcome Dr. Joel Roffman, MD to our Computer School for Seniors campus and to our Blog.

Dr. Roffman is a cardiologist practicing in Richardson, Texas. He graduated from Boston University School of Medicine and after completing his post-graduate studies in Hartford, Connecticut, moved to Dallas, where he and his wife Nancy raised their family.

In addition to maintaining a busy office practice, Dr. Roffman is chairperson of the charitable foundation for his sixty-eight member physician group. He has taught Sunday school and high school science, coached youth sports for fourteen years, and is a past president of the Southwest Region of the American Jewish Congress and the Richardson Chapter of the American Heart Association. He is currently a vice president of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society. He is also an author with a newly released book, Coping with Adversity.

Dr. Roffman is excited about being able to share inspirational real-life stories that he encounters in his practice. He said in a recent email, "Just yesterday, I encountered two patients with compelling stories for our Blog - one is a realtor who has come by hard times (no surprise) and has gone back to teaching middle school science - and is more rewarded - almost emotional - about the effect she is having on children. The other is an elderly woman who is severely limited by arthritis and other conditions, yet was exuberant about all the blessings that have come about in her life since the last time we visited."
Starting next Saturday, April 18th, our Saturday Star Spotlight posts will be replaced with our new Saturday with Dr. Roffman posts and the Fitness Center on our Computer School for Seniors campus will be expanded to become the Health and Fitness Center with Dr. Roffman, MD as our new Faculty Advisor.

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.

Dr. Roffman is also the Health and Fitness Center Faculty Advisor on the Computer School for Seniors campus. He can be reached at drroffman@cs4seniors.com

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

Why not do a little social networking on Facebook. It’s reported as being one of the cleanest, safest and easiest on the web. And, no, it’s not just for kids. Now if you prefer, there are a number of good social networking sites just for seniors. AARP has an online community, and one I recently discovered is http://www.notoverthehill.com/ Go ahead and check them out. Google “social networking sites for seniors,” and of course one click leads to another – you’re off and running. If you have the time and inclination, you can join more than one.

Most of the other networking sites present you with their entire “membership,” then leave it to you to decide (pick and choose) the people you want to communicate and connect with. The thing I like about Facebook is that as soon as you join (and remember, it’s free at the present time, as are most of the others), you actually know or have known these people in real life and have, or have had, a relationship with them.

So before you click around on Facebook, here are a few essential terms and tools:

Friend: Someone whose friendship you accept on request via the site. The term “friend” can include anyone – your family (kids, grandkids, siblings, etc.), a childhood pal, high school or college friend, co-workers, even a local political candidate you support. The point is, it’s up to YOU whether you add them to your “friends” list or not. Once you join Facebook, you can Find Friends (search Facebook) and send out electronic invitations for people to become friends with you. You will be invited to become friends with others who know you when they see you are registered on the site.

Friend Request: A notification that someone has asked for your friendship. You can confirm or ignore the request. You can also remove a friend at any time.

Status Update: At the top of your Profile (Home Page), you are prompted (What’s on your mind?) to type in up to 160 characters to let people know what you’re doing, thinking, or feeling. These posts by you and others are those wonderful little moments and insights into others’ lives (or your life) that we so seldom get (or send) on a daily basis. To me, this is the best part of Facebook.

You and your friends can also post photos and videos for others to enjoy. Just remember, these are visible to all your “friends.”

You start by setting up your Profile page (and uploading a picture of yourself). Thereafter, when you go to the site (www.Facebook.com and sign in), your News Page comes up first. This is a stream of posts from your “friends” on a real-time basis that shows the short Status Update messages they have written to you or to each other about what is on their minds (remember, they are all 160 characters or less). For longer messages, you write directly on their Wall, or they on yours.

From your News Page you can go to your Profile Page (which shows only the posts directly sent to you). This is also what is referred to as your Wall (meaning, a friend can go to your Profile Page and write directly on your Wall). By the way, only friends that you have confirmed can go to your Wall or Profile Page.

Anyway, don’t be daunted by all this rhetoric. Just go to www.facebook.com and click around for yourself. As with most everything on the Internet, you can always “opt out.” Happy Networking!

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.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!

As mentioned at the end of last week’s blog, a wise older woman once told me that the ideal life, after leaving the 40-hour work force, should be composed of 1/3rd work, 1/3rd play and 1/3rd giving back. This was her life philosophy, a philosophy she felt would keep her connected to society as a productive, contributing, and respected elder. She wanted nothing less than a complete redefinition of the societal roles of older adults, and was determined to do her part to make that a reality.

What’s your later-life philosophy? Have you though about how you can put it into action?

Certainly there is more than one way to make your life philosophy a reality. In these blogs, however, you will discover a tool that can help you reach your goals, a tool known as lifelong learning. By choosing the challenge and excitement of personal discovery that later-life learning offers, you’ll get the help you need to create a life that reflects your own personal philosophy. Think about it. Lifelong learning really can help make your life philosophy a reality.

Reaching that goal however, can be challenging. But - throughout our lives, we’ve met many challenges and persevered. From the turbulent years of our youth, through the years we struggled to raise a family and succeed at our chosen careers, into our mid-life crises, we’ve seen it all. Now, in our Third Age, we are perfectly positioned, not only to improve our own lives through learning, exploring, and serving, but to redefine the role of older adults in our society. Our experiences, the wisdom we’ve earned, and the knowledge we gain through lifelong learning, become the very tools we’ll use to reshape society’s views of what it means to be an elder.

We know traditional cultures of the past held older adults in high esteem. Unfortunately, today for the most part, elders are often viewed as burdens, a useless drag on society, interested only in taking, not giving.

Nothing could be further from the truth. According to a 2002 study undertaken for Civic Ventures, the San Francisco organization dedicated to redefining our Third Age, Americans over 50 now devote more time than ever before to bettering their communities. It makes perfect sense: we have the time and energy to do so, now that the pressures of raising a family and laboring in the job market are behind us. But our society as a whole still does not take that into consideration when picturing older adults.

This has to change, and we can make it happen by using lifelong learning as our tool. Seventy-eight million of us are standing on the brink, ready to pass into the Third Age of life. Others are already there. With little effort, working together as we learn, explore and serve, we can blow the tired stereotypes of retirement and older adults right out of the water. We can become treasured resources, guiding other generations, and society as a whole.

The pioneers of modern-day lifelong learning, most from the “Greatest Generation,” are still working hard to make that change a reality. But there just aren’t enough of them to change the mindset of an entire society. They need our help. Our sheer numbers, combined with our proven zest for adventure and challenge, will make our work easy. And all it takes is one simple step…

Getting involved with lifelong learning!

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Lifelong learning is an incredibly valuable tool, not only in our quest to create better lives for ourselves, but in our quest to create better lives for everyone.

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.

Welcome Laurie!

We are thrilled and honored to welcome Laurie Orlov to our Computer School for Seniors campus and to our Blog.

Laurie Orlov grew up in the corporate high-tech world, working for 30 years as an information technology executive and later as an analyst for Forrester Research, the respected technology research company. More recently, she has been applying her knowledge to a pressing question facing baby boomers and seniors: how to age in place safely and successfully.

“Eighty percent of older people today live in their own homes,” said Laurie. Not surprisingly, 90% of you would like to stay there – and if you move, according to the AARP, it will be to another private home. In fact, one survey of seniors revealed that they fear nursing homes worse than death.

Within that context, aging in place reflects the ability to successfully age and remain in one’s home of choice, whether it is a private home, condo, apartment, or group home. So why is the technology to enable this, important now – versus years from now? Because successful aging means independence.

When asked what’s important for successful aging, seniors rank as the most important:

Being in good health

Having the ability to do things for myself

Having friends and family there for me

Feeling safe and secure.

"Aging in Place" is the ability to live in one's own home - wherever that might be - for as long, as confidently and comfortably as possible. Livability can be extended through the incorporation of universal design principles, telecare and other assistive technologies and services.

“I have a passion for this subject and that is why I started Aging in Place Technology Watch. It is a market research and analysis consultancy focused on technology for aging in place. My mission is to understand, categorize and advise technology vendors and their constituents in this important area. By helping them select and offer the best products possible, it will enable seniors to remain in their home of choice.”

“Through my website, www.ageinplacetech.com, this Blog and others and my Computer School for Seniors Aging in Place Technology Department, I will share my research findings with you, your family, caregivers and technology vendors in order to help improve your quality of life.”

For more information, visit Laurie at http://www.ageinplacetech.comand at the Aging in Place Technology Department at www.cs4seniors.com

Tuesdays Treasures

On Tuesday's we are going to take a trip down memory lane with some "remember when" photos and stories submitted by our students. It could be photos from a high school prom; a nostalgic look at a 1950's TV program or a collage of photos that were just taken last week. If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com

Linda is one of my bright, artistic students. She has created some great images in the 6 years I have known her. Her Photoshop skills are excellent and her creativity a true gift.

I do believe this is one of my favorites. It incorporates a number of special effects to enhance an already charming picture. And I love the story that goes with it.

This is her grandson Mason taken on Easter last year.

Linda told me, “He showed up for the Easter egg hunt in his 'hunting cap' ready to hunt and refused to take it off! So that was his Easter bonnet - very chic, don't you think?”

“Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life.”

- S.D. Gordon

Enjoy!

Mimi

http://www.cs4seniors.com/

Photo Tips Monday

Dave Berry, Director of the Photography Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing his insightful Photo Tips with you every Monday for Capture the Moment Mondays.

4 Tips To Better Photography

As you are reading this post, Patti and I are on a Cruise to the Caribbean on the beautiful Caribbean Princess. We will be visiting the ports of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Barbados,Tortola and St.Thomas in the Virgin Islands. I can't wait to share my pictures with all of you in my future blog posts. Before we sail away I would like to share with you four photography tips I share with friends when asked...

These may seem basic but I always follow the Berry photo plan before I go out shooting..

1.) Always look at the scene without the camera. Look for interesting things around you, fill the scene in your mind and than put it together. Visualize what you want the picture to say before you press the shutter.

2.) Put yourself in a position to take great shots. Don't be afraid to move around. Look what's behind you. Hit the streets and hit the shutter a lot.

3.) Don't be afraid to make mistakes---that is the beauty of Digital Photography. Experiment with your photography because you can make instant corrections while you are still shooting. Adjust shutter speeds and apertures to change the photo you are taking. Remember, If you don't like it delete and shoot another one.

4.) Take alot of Pictures----this is the most under discussed thing in Photography. Digital Camera's make it all worth while. There is no reason for not taking alot of pictures and when you go home you can delete the ones you don't like.

Until next week thanks for dropping by--Meanwhile go out and have FUN WITH YOUR CAMERA !!!!!!!!!

Bon Voyage !!!!!!!!!

Dave Berry shares his Photography Tips at Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.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’s All about Attitude and Effort
I remember many years ago Robert Schuller saying how “Attitude determines your Altitude”. A positive attitude will help you fly high and achieve great things. A bad attitude will keep you down and hold you back. Right now in today’s world there are so many terrible things taking place, our ability to maintain a positive attitude is being assulted. Read the headlines, watch the news on TV, listen to the radio, we are being bombarded with so much doom and gloom that it can ruin our day if we let it.

Well John C. Maxwell wrote a book Called “Today Matters” in which he offers 12 daily practices to guarantee tomorrow’s success. The very first practice he talks about deals with our attitude. Here’s what he says:

Why Attitude Matters Today
While it is possible for people with great talent or drive to achieve with a bad attitude, it doesn’t happen very often, and it takes an incredible amount of effort. And even if they do achieve some degree of succes, they aren’t happy. And they usually make the people around them miserable too.
On the other hand, even barely average people can do great things when their attitudes are great. In The Winner’s Edge, Denis Waitley observed, “The winner’s edge is not in a gifted birth, a high IQ, or in talent. The winner’s edge is all in the attitude, not aptitude. Attitude is the criterion for success. But you can’t buy an attitude for a million dollars. Attitudes are not for sale.”

Here’s why your attitude makes such a difference as you approach your day:
1. Your attitude at the beginning of a task affects its outcome more than anything else
2. Your attitude toward others often determines your attitude towards you
3. Your attitude can give you a winner’s perspective
4. Your attitude – not your achievements- gives you happiness
5. Your attitude is contagious

Next Sunday, we’ll talk about how you can consciously make the decision to choose and display the right attitudes daily.


Bill Witcher is co-founder of Computer School for Seniors

Saturday Star Spotlight

Our students are doing a lot of exciting things and we're looking forward to featuring their impresssive accomplishments every Saturday in our Star Spotlight.

This week our Saturday Star Spotlight falls on
Alice Schear and her mother.

New Skills and Loving Care

This is a picture Alice Schear took of her Mother on her 92nd birthday which was Valentine's Day.

Her Mom loves teddy bears and is holding the one that Alice’s brother gave her for her birthday along with his Valentine.

Alice is a lifelong learner, and is presently taking classes at Richland College in Dallas, Texas. She put the photo in Photoshop Elements 6 and began doing some things to it that she had learned about enhancing skin tone and lighting and showed it to her mother last weekend.

All her Mom said was, "Oh, I should have straightened my collar."

So Alice kept thinking about her comment and finally remembered that you can copy, paste and flip pieces of a photo in Photoshop Elements. She did that very thing to flip her left collar to the right side. It worked as you can see in the second picture below!

Look at the difference between the two pictures.

The second one is brighter, better skin color; highlight in the eyes, brighter ear rings and of course that perfect collar!

She plans to show this 3rd photo to her mom this weekend. I’ll bet she will be pleased with the image and the thought and effort that went into it!

Arthur Ward said, "There are three keys to abundant living: caring about others, daring for others, and sharing with others."

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

Social Networking. Should You?

For years we’ve heard the word “networking.” It’s a computer-age word that I first remember hearing in the 80’s, and related to computers themselves. Wikipedia defines “networking” as, “the act of using a computer network (computers that are connected so they can communicate either by a wired or wireless network); the act of meeting new people in a business or social context.”

So, we initially heard the “networking” word related to computers themselves, then in a business sense such as “networking” to find a job, leads or prospects for a business, babysitters, or the best auto dealer. But in recent years, we have begun to hear more about Social Networking – connecting with people with like interests. Why? Because networking is effective. People find it useful and meaningful in their lives.

Thus the “springing up” of Social Networking sites on the Internet like My Space, Utube, Facebook, Twitter and the dating sites. At first, I sort of turned up my nose at all of them. After all, I’m not looking for a date, and I don’t want to post a video of anyone I know dancing on tables or playing air guitar.

But there is one social networking site that is different, and you may want to check out – and that’s Facebook. Facebook is different. For one thing I have not found it to be provocative or in bad taste as I’ve found other sites to be - and it’s not just for kids. You find people of all ages there. Not just businesses or celebrities either - just plain everyday folks. And Facebook is free – so far!

Giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. That’s Facebook’s stated motto. Since joining Facebook, I have made contact with several (long-lost) relatives, former classmates, and my kids’ friends from grade and high school.

But the real magic of Facebook for me is that in just a few minutes of surfing each day, I learn what my children, grandchildren and friends are thinking about today, what they are planning for the weekend, what movies they’re raving about, if they are sick or blue or happy – little “snippets” of their lives that I would never have known. And I can, in turn, share my thoughts and opinions with them. The “posts” are always short, and they are like personal glimpses into their lives, a special moment that might never have happened because I won’t see them in person or talk to them today. It’s like getting “face time” with special people in your life - even far flung family and relatives that you almost never see in person or even talk to on the phone.

I get to see the pictures they took on their cell phones, what my former classmates and kids’ friends look like now. Can you believe George in now a doctor? Imagine that my niece is now a college professor!

Well, that’s the WHY. Next, we’ll discuss HOW TO. First, though, just go to www.facebook.com, then the menu, and click “about.” This will give you an overview of the site.

Here’s my Facebook page. If you want to join, set up your own profile page and start communicating with friends and family, come back next Friday.

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 you know how lifelong learning became my passion, with today’s blog we begin our exploration of this fascinating subject. But first, let me ask you…

Do you want more out of life? Do you want to make the most of your “After-50” years?

If the answer is yes, then fasten your seatbelts – we’re about to shift into warp drive and take a journey into an exciting new world. Before we start, however, a few words about “retirement.”

What is your image of retirement? Think about it.

What I can tell you is that for most people, that image is one of early-bird specials, golf games, and retirement communities in the Sun Belt. It’s early-to-bed nights sprinkled with bingo and grandchildren. We’re used to images like this because of the way retirement is portrayed in the media. It’s how most people, over the last century or so, lived their later years.

But, for those of us who took part in re-shaping the country during the 1960s; for those of us who have worked our entire lives to produce an outstanding quality of life, and for those of us who have endeavored to improve our society’s cultural mores, the face of retirement is about to change. A redefinition of that old image is definitely in order.

In fact, let’s start right now by not even calling it “retirement” any more. From now on, we’ll call it the “Third Age of Life,” (First Age being our childhood and the Second Age being our working/family years). Remember those three-stage rockets that powered our quest to reach beyond our planet out to the moon? Well, like them our own Third Age of Life will propel us to explore realms never before seen and will enrich our lives in ways we never imagined.

Forget going quietly into the good night; we can and will turn our Third Age into the best years of our lives!

So, how will we do this? Quite simply, by taking control of our destinies. After all, recent studies show a huge upswing in longevity; people are living longer than ever before. Half of all the people who ever lived to age 65 are alive today. By the year 2030 between 20% and 25% of the country will be made up of adults over age 50. That means most of us have a good twenty or thirty years left of life once we leave the working world. That’s plenty of time to take control.

According to an AARP study conducted in 1999, 80% of us plan to continue working, but in new and different ways. Only 16% of us plan a retirement like that of our parents. And 4% are undecided about their plans. If only 16% of retirees want the same lifestyle as their parents, where does that leave the rest of us who yearn for a more exciting and challenging Third Age?

Well, we have a choice.

We can join that 16% and allow the popular portrayal of retirement to continue – we’ll wile away our hours cooling pies on windowsills and sipping lemonade on our porches while we contemplate “the good ole’ days.”

Or, we can take charge of our lives and boldly begin a new phase of exploration. We’ll indulge in lifelong learning at home and seek it out in exciting new venues . We’ll give back to our communities. We’ll once again work to raise the quality of life in our society.

Our minds will lead; our bodies and spirits will follow.

A wise older woman once told me that the ideal life, after leaving the 40-hour work week should be composed of 1/3rd work, 1/3rd play and 1/3rd giving back. What a wonderful philosophy!

THURSDAY’S THOUGHT…

It was David Lloyd George who said, “Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.” For many of us, dipping our toe in the waters of lifelong learning may be a big step, but it can be the first step on an exciting new journey.

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)

Tuesdays Treasures

On Tuesday's we are going to take a trip down memory lane with some "remember when" photos and stories submitted by our students. It could be photos from a high school prom; a nostalgic look at a 1950's TV program or a collage of photos that were just taken last week. If you have memories, old or new, you would like to share, send them to me at mxw8110@yahoo.com

Traveling Partners

I met Jane Kennedy and Linda Baker several years ago in a class I was teaching. They are two of the finest examples I know of lifelong learning. Their keen interest in the world around them makes them good company and quick learners.

They met in a piano (keyboard) class they took after they retired. They started talking about a fellow student's trip to Machu Picchu and discovered they both had wanted to go there for years but couldn't find a travel companion that wanted to go. So, they made plans to go to Peru and Bolivia in September 2001.

Their trip was canceled because of 911 travel restrictions but they finally made it in June, 2002. They struggled with the high altitude in Bolivia and a transportation strike in Peru, but it was a great adventure.

They discovered they were great travel companions and had a lot in common. Since then, Jane and Linda have been to China, South Africa, Zambia, Egypt, Jordan, Croatia, Russia and the Balkan states.

This colorful, creative collage contains photos that Jane and Linda took on their trip to South Africa and Zambia in 2004.



Jane says, “We started taking classes at Richland College in Dallas, Texas where we discovered Photoshop. It provided us with a venue for editing and preserving our travel photos as well as restoring old family photos. This has turned into a hobby and given us the skills to impress our computer savvy grandchildren. (If you have teenage grandchildren, you know how difficult that is!)”

Mark Twain said, "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Capture the Moment Mondays

Dave Berry, Director of the Photography Department at Computer School for Seniors will be sharing his insightful Photo Tips with you every Monday for Capture the Moment Mondays.

I-Phone Photography

Since we started our Blog you are learning a lot about some of my favorite toys that I can't live without. One I would like to share with you is the all purpose I-Phone that goes with me wherever I go. To be honest with you it is ALWAYS with me.

I love the phrase, "The Best Camera is the one that's with you."

That couldn't be more true than when I have my best friend with me everyday. The beauty of the I-Phone among other things is that is has a great camera built into it. When I first bought it I was surprised to find that it took outstanding pictures. I take between 1 and 50 I-Phone images every day and share at least one online with the world via Twitter and Facebook for my family and friends. As you have heard me say in the past

"Sometimes I get to places just when God's ready to have someone click the shutter."

Thank God I always have my I-Phone with me to capture that Kodak moment! Here are some of my most recent:

Dave Berry shares his Photography Tips at Computer School for Seniors (http://www.cs4seniors.com/).

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

“Learn to Deal with Stress”

Pick up the newspaper, turn on your TV, look at the Internet and the news you see is terrible. Foreclosures are up. Stock prices are down. Layoffs are up. Investments are down. It is certainly understandable why more people are stressed-out now than ever before. Stress can kill you.

So how do you handle it? A friend sent me an article that contained some good suggestions.

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued,

"And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.''

So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Bill Witcher is co-founder of Computer School for Seniors (http://www.cs4seniors.com/

Our students are doing a lot of exciting things and we're looking forward to featuring their impresssive accomplishments every Saturday in our Star Spotlight.

This week our Saturday Star Spotlight falls on Betty Levy

I first saw one of these fascinating paintings on a computer screen at the junior college where I teach classes to seniors and boomers. As I walked by Betty’s computer, I asked her where she had found the image I saw there and she told me she had painted it!

Betty Levy was born in Argentina and exhibited a very creative nature at an early age. She told me, "I like to paint for the joy of it." And we all benefit from her riveting talent. (When she was in Greece she went to a pottery workshop taught by the man you see in this image.)

As a young person living in the Miami Beach area of Florida she had two notable accomplishments -- wining first place in the Canada Art Show 1984 and winning first place in the same year at a show at the Surfside Recreation Department. While in Miami she was an understudy to a remarkable painter -- Juan Manuel Segovia.

With two sons to bring up, her ambition of creative art was, for a time, placed on hold. Homemaking and motherhood created a little lapse in her career as an artist. She started taking classes again at Brookhaven College and most recently at Richland College in Dallas, Texas. She is currently exhibiting in the Brazos art gallery at Richland College.

I told her that I would love to share one of her images on our Computersavvyseniors blog, and she generously offered the paintings you see below. Betty has traveled extensively and she takes pictures wherever she goes. These pictures inspire her painting. The paintings you see below came from pictures she took in Prague.

Tour guide for Prague trip:

A base player on one of Prague's streets:

Prague fisherman:

Special thanks to Betty Levy for sharing her talent with all of us.

"Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade?" ~Benjamin Franklin

Internet Magic Friday

Jane Booras is the Editor of numerous newsletters including our Campus Times. She will be sharing how you can find whatever you need - photos, clipart, information, maps, phone numbers - on the Internet.

What’s on your mind? That’s the prompt you get when you go to your Facebook page on the Internet. Surely you’ve heard of Facebook. It’s the social networking site your kids, grandkids and friends talk about.

I intended to post this week about Facebook, but I got sidetracked with that question – “What’s on your mind?’ So I think I’ll just ramble with that.

When I started working in offices 52 years ago, state-of-the-art equipment was a manual typewriter. You know, the kind that if you type too fast, the keys got stuck in a clump right in the middle of the page. And obviously, you got in the habit of hitting the “return” bar at the end of every line!

The next innovation I remember was to the electric typewriter. Specifically, the IBM Executive® where space values for each letter were different. (This only makes sense if you were a secretary in those days. “M”s for instance were about three spaces, but the small “i” was just one). The finished product really looked professional, but if you made a mistake, and had three carbons to correct, you had to backspace according to the value of the letter to correct it. What? Carbons? You don’t remember carbon paper? Well, then, you’re too young. Carbon paper went out with hoop skirts, didn’t it? But that’s another story.

After the electric typewriter, I remember the IBM Mag Card®. You could “record” your letter or message or letter on a magnetic card. Then the machine (about the side of R2D2 in StarWars) would retype the message or letter (a personal original) to each recipient.

The IBM Selectric® (remember the little whirling ball?) was a great innovation. In fact I wish I had one today. You changed fonts (type face) by changing “balls”. You could adjust it from 10 pt. to 12 pt. type with a simple lever. It was magic.

Then came the word processor. This was a machine about the side of four bread boxes with a screen about 6” x 6”. You could correct your work on the screen by deleting or adding text or data and print it only when it was just the way you wanted it to look. Oh, by the way, it cost an arm and a leg. Not for home use for sure.

Eventually the computer changed all this. It was like a wedding between the computer (for processing data) and the typewriter (for processing text) and the children were prodigies. When the Internet came along, the whole world changed again.

Can you believe we’ve been through all this in just a few short years – well, 50 or so?

I wish I had that old Underwood typewriter that I started typing on in the Office of the Director of Admissions at Morningside College in 1956. I always say, “I never really appreciated antiques until I became one.”

Next week – Facebook. Really.

Jane Booras is Editor of the Campus Times Newsletter for Computer School for Seniors (www.cs4seniors.com)

Computer Tips Wednesday

Mimi Witcher, College Instructor, Teacher of the Year and co-founder of Computer School for Seniors will be sharing her user friendly computer tips on Wednesdays.

Change Your Internet Home Page

When you activate the Internet, the first page that appears is your "Home" page. It is really easy to change your home page to whatever you want it to be.

Decide what webpage you want to be your home page. Type that address in your Address Bar and go to that webpage. Right above the webpage you have gone to is the Command Toolbar:

2. Look on the right side of this toolbar and you will see the Home button. Click the dropdown arrow next to this button to get the following menu:

3. Click on Add or Change Home Page and a dialog box will appear:

4. Click in the radio button (next to the red checkmark above) called "Use this webpage as your only home page" and the Yes button will become active. Click the Yes button to close the dialog box and set your chosen site as the home page.

Now every time you open the Internet you will go to your new home page. If you decide you want to change your home page, you can quickly and easily make the change by following the four steps above.

Enjoy!

Mimi

www.cs4seniors.com