My blog has moved to a new home!

I've been trying to keep both this older blog and my new blog, taru.com, updated. It's time i simplified and chose one or the other. I've chosen http://www.taru.com, so there will no longer be any new posts here.

I really appreciate all the readers who have read and commented on my posts here, and i encourage you to do the same on taru.com.

Sayonara, Adios, Arrivederci, and so long!

The iPad is not for geeks; It is for us!

As an Apple lover, I had waited with anticipation for the rumored Apple “tablet”. Yesterday my wait was over; the iPad had arrived. I went to a lot of web sites where some of the younger geeks tended to bash it for its’ apparent limitations, some of which were:

• No multitasking
• No Adobe Flash
• No camera or iChat capabilities
• Still limited to AT&T's 3G service

First, I didn’t expect the iPad to replace my iPhone, or my MacBook Pro, or my iMac 27,” or my digital camera. I would have liked a carrier other than AT&T because of their abysmal service, but I’m saying a prayer that situation will change in the near future.

Steve Wozniak was unhappy that it didn’t allow him to edit movies or fool around with music. Steve, don’t you have a real Mac for that? I do.

Mashable has a great article about the purpose of the iPad. It proposed that the iPad is a device for consuming content, not creating it.
As such it is uniquely suited to this task. If I want to create content like this blog post, for instance, I sure as heck will use my 27“ iMac--not an iPad.

What do I find so valuable about it?

• It will save trees, millions of them. Right now I have literally hundreds of books lining the shelves of several book cases. I tend to read several at a time, and have to carry at least two with me--just in case. With the iPad, I can have all the books I’m currently interested in with me when I go to Cafe La Tartine for tea. I can de-clutter my house by passing along my unused book cases to someone who needs them.
• It has a much larger screen (9.7inches) than my iPhone. As we age, our eyes need help reading small print. I’ve tried reading some books on my iPhone, and it’s darn difficult! I’ll be able to read bigger text and enjoy it rather than struggling. We have a client who is trying to read a 600 page novel on his iPhone, and it takes 13,000 pages. On the iPad, it will take 600.

• At a mere 1.5 pounds, it’s light weight, and only 1/2” thick (that’s actually “thin”). My laptop is increasingly difficult for me to carry, and when I take it somewhere it’s usually to surf the web, check email, look at Facebook, or post to Twitter. I hardly need a laptop for those tasks if I have an iPad.
• It’s small enough to fit in a woman’s tote bag or large purse without having to carry yet another case. Men will have to figure out their own preferred method of transport.

How will I use it?

• As a book reader. I love reading but the arthritis in my hands sometimes interferes with holding the books pages open. No such problem exists with the iPad. I can have my current books with me wherever I go, meaning I’ll actually read more -- what a concept.
• To get email while I‘m away from my real computers. I’m CEO of Alive! Whole Life Fitness Studio and I need to be able to access my email wherever I am -- OK, except at the movies or maybe the bathroom.
• To browse the internet (of course). I’ll be able to look up the latest Onion articles and laugh my a** off. Laughing is good.
• I’ll finally be able to actually see the Facebook app and post updates; Twitter will be easier to see as well. It’s those eyes again!
• To keep my favorite photos of my family and friends so I can share them with people I meet. I promise I won’t force them to look!
• To access some of my favorite YouTube videos; the ones that either make me laugh or inspire me.
• I’ll use the Maps feature to find my way to a new restaurant or a business.

I hope Apple extends the iBook store to publishing eBooks created by us folks; what a concept! A friend of ours also had a great suggestion. Some of the publishers could subsidize the cost of the iPad in return for a long term subscription to their content. It could work kind of like the old book club model, only on steroids.

If Apple is smart (and I think they are really, really smart), they’ll market this to my demographic; the 50-pluser’s and above. As DTNick said in a comment in a PC World article :

“As I mentioned ..., we geeks sometimes lose touch of what real people use computers for: http://bit.ly/cLtQUy
My mom, for example, isn’t going to care about multitasking, the aspect ratio, the lack of an HDMI port, or any of that spec stuff. All she’ll care about is whether it’s easy to use, and whether it’ll get her online.”

DTNick, I’m not your Mom--but I could be. Thanks for thinking of me!

So, geeks who want more than what the iPad offers, please don’t buy one; obviously it’s not for you. Leave it for us, the 78 million plus Boomers and beyond (I’m a bit beyond) who will find it an extremely valuable piece of technology.

Finding My Voice

It’s been awhile since I sat down to write a post. Stuff like tax preparation, and a zillion other things I decided were more important than blogging (silly me) kept me from writing. Well, no more excuses. Here I am again.

Today I’m sitting in my home office with a ceramic heater at my knees, huddled in a turtleneck trying to stay warm. According to my husband, the barometric pressure is supposed to be lower than it’s ever been which is probably why my arthritic joints are so achy.
It’s been raining, windy and cold for days -- it seems like weeks -- here in sunny northern California. Four storms all stacked up in a pretty little row, waiting to jump on land and feed the earth.

Now, I love the rain, and the thunder, and even the lightning. Ok, even those freezing cold little bits of hail made me feel more alive than I’ve felt in a long time; I’m happy to report it was so small that no damage was done to my car. When we lived in New Mexico, I reveled in the daily afternoon autumn thunderstorms that swept across our four acre property outside Lamy. I even dared to go outside and stand under our tin-roofed porch, kind of daring the lightning to strike me. Of course, it never did so I am here now to merely remember that incredible feeling of aliveness, and power and vulnerability that overcame me during these storms.

I’ve found that the stuff nature has thrown at me so far in my life has been bearable and even exhilarating. I do not know how I would respond to a natural disaster as devastating as the one to hit Haiti. I watch news accounts, see the unbearable suffering and feel ashamed that I have complained about our home and it’s “defects”, or how food wasn’t cooked the way I wanted it so I sent it back. Or how incredibly ungrateful I can be when things aren’t going my way. Or how my dog eats better than the Haitians. I feel ashamed.

We donated money to AmeriCares and that helped my state of mind - a little bit - but there is so much more that needs to be done. Several of the people who send me email newsletters included the following links in them so I would have the opportunity to give to the Haitian people. I include them, below, so you can also have the opportunity to give if your heart is touched as mine was.

Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing had this to say in his newsletter:

“I don't know about you, but with the earthquake in Hatiti
I found myself glued to the television and feeling rather helpless
in the face of all that devastation.

It's really hard to comprehend, not just that tens of thousands
have lost their lives, but that the living have virtually lost their
whole city. It will literally take generations to rebuild.

It kind of puts our small problems in perspective.

And it hopefully brings up the question, "What can I do?"

The answer is that you can make a donation. Perhaps you can do
more, but every single person can, at the very least, make a
donation that will go directly to aid in Haiti.

My wife and I were on the verge of buying a buying a fireplace
heater for our living room. I told my wife that we could do without
it this winter and donate that money instead.

So, that's what we did. And I urge you to do what you can.

Below are links to a number of different trusted organizations that
will make sure your donation gets to Haiti and make a difference.
And even a small donation can help. I read yesterday that over
$50 Million has already been raised from small $5 to $10 donations
through cell phones and social media.

Here's a number of links that you can be assured will get your
money to Haiti. And, of course, fell free to donate to any other
reputable aid organization.”

Care
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=N.Jja&m=1ary0h20yaOQIo&b=NLOAGsZuHufet.QZmYsV1g

Habitat for Humanity
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=N.Jja&m=1ary0h20yaOQIo&b=xW7fDYytLBP2eHlYYjvKlQ

World Concern
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=N.Jja&m=1ary0h20yaOQIo&b=oPNPDXDVljHdct4tpQiU4w

AmeriCares
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=N.Jja&m=1ary0h20yaOQIo&b=iQjZnu7O5g2d5QXFWaRT3A

Avavaz
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=N.Jja&m=1ary0h20yaOQIo&b=O7q13ME4iy9dlO4xRgbqEA

Robert is someone I trust and whose integrity is without question. I couldn’t have said it better, and I am happy to pass this along as he requested.

Look around you, be grateful for what you have, and see what is possible for you to share.

The Gift

Have you ever received a gift from someone you love that absolutely takes your breath away?
Has this gift helped to ease years of the pain you felt over something you had to do, but has haunted you ever since you did it?
Have you ever received the gift of absolute love and understanding?

This Christmas I received a gift that did all that and more, and moved me to tears. My youngest son, Matt, gave me a scrapbook he had made, a scrapbook filled with pictures of me, my sons, and my husband. It was filled with quotes and one in particular brought home to me just how much he understands my pain:

“Children and Mothers never truly part - Bound in the beating of each other’s heart” -- Charlotte Gray

I keep re-reading this book of love and acceptance, and each time I do, I am moved once again to tears. Many. many years ago, my then spiritual teacher told me as I cried upon sitting in front of him, “Don’t hold back the tears; tears open your heart”. My heart is bursting open with love and gratitude for the gift this scrapbook has brought to me.

Thank you, Matthew, for showing me such love and understanding.

You're Tired Because You're Doing the Wrong Thing, the Wrong Way

My second installment of Michael Gerber’s BizTechDay presentation is very personal for me. There are several things he said that hit me like a bolt out of the blue and propelled me into action.

He said “you’re tired because you’re doing the wrong thing, the wrong way”, and “burnout means you are working with energy you no longer have”. I had been feeling exhausted and burned out for over a year when I came down with some illness that laid me up for over a month. I couldn’t do much of anything; even thinking was too much effort. So, I relaxed into what was, and discovered what I really wanted to do next. I realized I had been doing what I “should”, rather than what I’m passionate about. I had a lot of rational reasons for this, but while I was recovering I understood what all my explanations were -- excuses for not living the kind of life I really want. That illness was a blessing!

Another thing Michael said was truly hard for me to hear, but I absolutely knew it was true for me: “It’s not because you don’t have the time; it’s because you don’t have the will”. I felt like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over my head and woke me up. This was an incredibly valuable insight.

He made some other valuable points:

• There is no reason for a small business to fail.
• To realize your dream, the first thing to systematize is your client fulfillment system.
• Sometimes one must shut off income in order to make space to create.
• It’s about clarity. Be articulate and communicate the extraordinary gift you are bringing to the world.
• No one is going to do it for you -- it happens when you do it.
• Discover what you are capable of replicating, and what you cannot.
• Dream big, think small, act smaller.

He said he created his system on the fly, promoted it first, and then created it as he went along. This information was extremely useful for me as I tend to want everything perfect before I start, a mind set which frequently keeps me in analysis paralysis.

So, the price of admission to BizTechDay was a bargain. I was inspired by Michael Gerber to jump start my Powerful Aging Coaching Group, “Change the Way You Age”. And, just as inspiring is the impact he is making at age 73--still going strong, providing great value and inspiring others. I really admire this!

BizTechDay Star - Michael Gerber - Part 1

Of everything I attended at BizTechDay, Michael Gerber’s presentations stood out as the best of the best. Why? Because everything else was about using technology as an entrepreneur, and Michael’s was about the entrepreneur, the person behind the technology. All the technology in the world will not help an entrepreneur who lacks the appropriate mindset, or who lacks the insights required to succeed.

Michael gave us all this and more. And the most inspiring thing to me is that Michael is 73 years old and still going strong and contributing his gifts to the world. That inspires me because my vision and mission is to change the meme around aging, change the way people think and feel about aging, and inspire elders to share their wisdom.

Some of the first words out of his mouth were shocking, “If you don’t want to grow your business, pack it up now”. So, in easily digestible nuggets, here are some of the main points Michael made:

• Ask yourself three questions: What is the significant thing my company is here to do? Is it scalable? Is it transformational?
• Work on the model of your scalable, transformational business. Become a Master of Business Design (MBD).
• Create a perfect system that works so you don’t have to.
• This exquisite operating system includes every single component of your business.
• It makes no difference what product or a service you offer. This exquisite system is the key to success.

• Companies are started by Technicians who suffer entrepreneurial seizures; don’t just create a job, pretending to be a business.
• Replicate a company that is transformational.
• The very first system to create is client fulfillment.

Next Michael talked about the Dream and Creativity:

• What is your dream? What is the great result you want to produce?
• It’s about your destiny and you’ve got to know what it is -- the one thing you want to transform.
• Be creative right now in your own personal economy.
• The Dreamer has a Dream, the Thinker has the Vision.
• The Dreamer, Thinker, Storyteller, and the Leader must be present to create and sustain a successful business.
• We must transcend to transform! This is the spiritual work of an entrepreneur.

He said one must absolutely have a blank sheet of paper and a beginners mind, because you can’t fix a broken business, you have to create a new one. Think about this for your own business. I did this about mine, and it propelled me into right action.

I’ll have more juicy tidbits in the next post. Watch for it!

My Take-Aways from BizTechDay - Part 2

Here’s my second installment of what I learned at BizTechDay 2009. It’s about viral video.

I have really been admiring Elizabeth Potts Weinstein’s use of video. She’s consistent and produces really effective videos that are FUN to watch, and have great content. So, i had to attend the following session on Viral Video.

Video Entrepreneur: How to Turn Visitors to Customers Using Viral Videos

The presenters were Mike Koenigs of Traffic Geyser, and Justin Kan, Founder of Justin.tv .

Unfortunately, Mike talked so darn fast, my notes are not as complete as I’d like, and there were no handouts. So, I’ll do the best I can with what I’ve got. You can visit his web site for more information and his free Viral Video Secrets . It’s a bit “salesy” for my taste, but he has good information.

Mike’s points were:

• There are 1 Billion videos watched on YouTube in the US every day. (Staggering, isn’t it!)
• Just do it! Don’t wait for it to be perfect. There are low cost/low tech ways to create short videos.
• Make a short video (3 minutes or less) that has a beginning, a middle and an end.
• Send it everywhere; there are video directories like there are blog directories

Be sure you let viewers know:

• who you are
• something about you
• how to find you
• how to hear from you

Justin Kan was a bit easier to follow so here goes:

• Justin.tv hosts live videos; your very own TV show!
• Answer the top ten questions your clients are asking about your business (FAQ)
• Also and the top ten questions they should be asking (SAQ)
• Schedule your show at a regular day and time and be consistent -- show up!
• Do lifestyle pieces (these get viewed the most), and testimonials from clients
• you can outsource voice overs -- he recommends Voice123

I got really excited about this. I have a strong hunch that video is the way to go. I like it because it personalizes an already impersonal web experience. I’m all about building relationships and have come to love in-person networking because I can meet people face-to-face and get a feel for the other person. I think video will allow prospective clients, interested people, and friends to actually get a real experience of who I am. Yes, they’ll see my age lines, and I’m no Sophia Loren, but I’m a real person and that will show through.

Elizabeth has offered to let her followers know her process for doing her videos, and I’m eagerly awaiting it. Consider following her on Twitter, @elizabethPW, she’s a hoot! Oh yeah, I’m also on Twitter, @tarufisher, and I’m pretty interesting, too!

My Take-Aways from BizTechDay - Part 1

I recently attended the two day event, BizTechDay, which brought together hundreds of entrepreneurs, techies, social media networking gurus and the media. I was looking forward to learning more about how to use social media networking to really connect with other like-minded people and to promote our business. I learned a lot!

Facebook Fan Pages

I got a lot of extremely valuable information about Facebook Fan Pages from Hazel Grace Dircksen of SocialBees. Here are some of the suggestions given:

• Be sure you start your Fan page with the intention to consistently post daily
• To help you remember to post, set it as your home page in your browser
• Post a maximum of three (3) times a day
• Don’t “over-share” — i.e. overly personal comments
• Post about business needs and information
• Make all posts relevant to your brand/purpose/mission
• Make content very exciting - Don’t try to directly sell
• Offer your fans exclusive benefits and perks
• Simple contests are very good for engaging your fans, but avoid video contests — they’re too complicated
• Create custom tabs for ads
• Above all, have fun!

SocialBees services include building Fan pages for clients. They know all the Facebook apps that can be used on a Fan page, and how to make the page both visually attractive and effective. I’m going to have them do this! I have an Alive! Whole Life Fitness Studio Fan page, but it is not nearly as effective as it could be, and I wasn’t ever quite sure how to make it better.

I was very impressed with Hazel; she’s articulate, extremely knowledgeable and gracious; a winning combination.

Brand Building on Google Local Business

Before I attended #BTD, I had forgotten I previously used Google Local Business -- now I intend to really use it . It has some great features, namely:

• Your business will get found on Google and Google Maps
• You’re able to control the information on your listing and keep it up to date
• You can add your logo, photos, videos, coupons
• Add a thorough business description; select all appropriate business categories
• Add freeform information like a complete description of your services
• A version of Google Analytics specific to Google Local Business is available from your business’ Dashboard

In subsequent posts, I’ll share what I learned about viral video and virtual work teams. My last post on #BTD will be about Michael Gerber’s presentations. They were the best and contained the most valuable information of the entire event. He got a standing ovation and he deserved it.

I hope you find value in these posts, and I encourage you to post comments and questions. I will answer each and every one.

Powerful Aging Tip #11

A Bonus Tip

Aging is not a disease; it’s a normal stage of a human life. It’s how we THINK about aging that makes it a problem. If we believe the thought viruses prevalent in our society, we will look for those so-called problems of aging. Our very powerful mind will, in fact, create the very problems we fear.

We have in our brain, something called a reticular activating system. It’s job is to filter our experiences in support of what we THINK. For example, if on your way driving somewhere you start to think, I don’t want to hit any red lights, you’ll notice you hit almost (if not every) red light.

If you buy a black car, all of a sudden you’ll notice every black car on the road when previously you didn’t even notice them.

This means you need to have a positive mental attitude; see problems as challenges to be met and overcome rather than some insurmountable issue. Focus on asking for what you want rather than what you don’t want. It will make a world of difference in how you live your life. You can choose joy, or you can choose pain – your choice.

Healthy Bones, an Overview

This guest post is by Damon P. Miller II, MD, ND


Our bones are alive, constantly renewing and rebuilding themselves, and to have strong and healthy bones, there are some simple steps you can take.

The most important drug for your bones is exercise. Gardening and housework are some of the best exercises. Running, walking and cycling give a good workout to the legs, but do not do much to strengthen the bones of the spine and upper extremities. If your lifestyle does not include cutting wood and carrying water, you need to include weight training in your exercise routine. I prefer the slow motion weight training for its safety record and effectiveness (this is what they do at Alive! Whole Life Fitness). Yoga and Pilates classes that focus on core strength are widely available, affordable and useful.

Lessening the risk of hip fracture is important, but by my reading, the value of the pharmaceuticals such as Fosamax is over-rated. These drugs have some risks (ask your dentist about Fosamax induced osteonecrosis), and the decrease in risk of hip fracture is so small as to be almost zero. Research has shown that there is far better data for the value of taking adequate amounts of Vitamin D3 each day. Women who have hip fractures are almost always deficient in Vitamin D, and women who take adequate amounts of Vitamin D3 have a markedly reduced risk of hip fracture. I recommend at least 1000 to 3000mg per day of Vitamin D3. To put this dosage in perspective, know that a caucasian person in a sunny climate can produce almost 10,000mg per day of Vitamin D, with no known adverse effects.

The current recommendations for calcium intake are probably too high. Also, most women take far too little magnesium. I recommend that you take equal amounts of a soluble, well absorbed calcium and magnesium supplement, and for many women, recommend more magnesium than calcium. Use magnesium malate, which is less likely to cause diarrhea, 1-4grams per day, and calcium citrate-malate, 250-450mg per day.

The best food sources of calcium are organic dark-green leafy vegetables such as collards and kale. Milk from cows is not a good source of calcium for most people. The reasons for this are complex, and include the fact that the proteins found in milk (whey, casein and albumin) cause an exaggerated loss of calcium in the urine. People who consume milk, yogurt, cheese and ice cream daily lose more calcium than they take in from the milk, and end up in a negative calcium balance. We in the United States have the highest per capita consumption of milk and dairy products of any country in the world, and we also have the highest incidence of osteoporosis induced fractures. You figure it out. (Visit www.notmilk.com for some wild fringe information on the dairy industry)

Bone density studies do not measure the strength of your bone, just the density. Density does not necessarily equate with strength. Read The Myth of Osteoporosis by Gillian Sanson for a good discussion of this.

Use this affirmation: “My bones are alive, and I have strong and healthy bones.”


Dr. Miller has recorded a two-CD set of one of his best talks on bone health. You can get a copy at: http://www.bettereyehealth.com/item--Healthy-Bones-CD-Set--SU-001680.html, or by calling his office at 888-838-3937.

Powerful Aging Tip #10

Give back – you’ve gathered a lot of wisdom, so share it.

In Native American cultures, the elders are revered for their knowledge and wisdom. In our society the norm has been to discard the elders, ignore their wisdom, and make fun of the aged.

This has got to stop. We have a great deal of acquired wisdom and life experience to share and the world is worse for us not sharing it. It is a time to give back to society, to make a difference, to use the extra time we have in service to something greater than ourselves.

Volunteer where your passion lies. Is it with animals, children, disabled, poor, battered women, the environment? – you get the idea.

Powerful Aging Tip #9

Spirituality – as practiced under whatever name you call it.

Look for the meaning in your life’s experiences. Find activities and commitments that give you satisfaction and add purpose to your life.
Find activities that enliven you and give you a sense of courage, or heart fullness.

To quote from an interview with Jennifer L. Brower, a Unitarian Universalist minister, “Spiritual experiences are those events in life and moments in relationships which attune us to that vital or animating force within and which give greater meaning and depth to our day-to-day living.”

If you don’t have a spiritual community, find one that matches your philosophy and participate.

Good Genes Help

On Wednesday, I had the extreme pleasure of re-connecting with my Aunt Gerta and Cousin Sandy after 55 years. Yes, I said 55 years; that’s how long since we had last seen one another.

Several months ago Sandy found me through Ancestry.com. It was very fortuitous as I had been lamenting the fact that I didn’t feel like I had a family. I was really missing a connection to my Father’s side of the family. Sandy called me at the exact moment I needed and I was more than thrilled. When we were young girls, Sandy and I spent a couple of weeks together each summer at our Grandmother’s home in San Francisco. I always looked forward to these visits because Sandy was such a sweet girl and we got along so well. Those memories are some of the best I can remember.

Aunt Gerta is 87 years old and is a beautiful person, both physically and mentally. I felt such a strong connection to her and I remembered how much I had always admired her. She began dancing when she was 13 and continued dancing until a few years ago when a hip replacement finally stopped the dance. Well, it stopped the physical part of the dance, but she still choreographs for others. She’s a delight to be with and quite amazing.

Sandy, three weeks younger than I, is also a beauty and I felt the same sense of kinship and love I felt with her so long ago when we were girls playing together. She reads a lot and seems to have read some of the same books I have. There were other similarities and I felt so comfortable talking to her...like the sister I never had. I was an only child, so Sandy was, and is, very important to me.

I also got to meet John, Sandy’s husband. It’s good I brought James along because Aunt Gerta, Sandy, and I were totally engrossed in catching up. James and John hit it off too, and had much in common.

They looked me over and declared I had the Ogletree genes. After being with them again, seeing how physically and spiritually beautiful they are, I am truly grateful I have those genes!

Powerful Aging Tip #8

Community and connection – we are social beings and need to interact with others.

Make building social connections a priority. We are at heart pack animals who thrive in the company of others. Studies have shown that older people with at least one close friend have younger cardiovascular systems, healthier stress hormone blood profiles, and actually get less colds! People with a larger circle of friends do even better.

In other studies, larger social circles equated to greater longevity. Having a companion dog showed lower deaths from cardiac problems.

Social networking using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn is a also a great way to expand your horizons beyond your local area. I’ve re-connected with long lost friends and business associates who are now located across the country. Just be alert about who you choose to “friend” or “follow”. I strongly believe in quality over quantity. Too many connections mean lower quality interactions. Every minute counts and we want to spend those minutes in a meaningful way.

In other words, connect, connect, connect!

Grandma Lee Inspires Me

OK, I admit it. I watched America’s Got Talent last night. OK, not just last night, but almost all of them. Why, because Grandma Lee, the 75 year old comedian who is living her dream is actually moving up the food chain to the Semi-Finals. This is very unusual. Older people usually get passed over in these “talent” contests.

She really inspires me with her courage to face a generally much younger audience, her talent for writing her own comedy routines; she is actually very funny. Grandma Lee is definitely old looking -- wrinkles galore -- and I love it! She looks alive, not plastic and botoxed out of her face. She looks real, and she is quite feisty.

I hope she goes all the way! Grandma Lee, I’m rooting for you.

I am not a Senior Citizen -- I am an Elder

While perusing some elderbloggers blogs, I came across a discussion of the term Senior Citizen v.s. Elder. Language has always intrigued me, so I decided to dig further.

Did you know that Dictionary.com defines a Senior Citizen as:

• an elderly or aged person, especially one who is retired or whose principal source of support is a pension or Social Security benefits.

What a non-descript definition. How utterly boring and useless.

An Elder, on the other hand is defined as:

• a person who is older or higher in rank than oneself.
• an aged person.
• an influential member of a tribe or community, often a chief or ruler; a superior.

The Bible Dictionary (not one I usually frequent, but pertinent here) defines Elder as:

• a name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7).

Now, which would you rather be called as you age, Senior Citizen? Or Elder? I know without a doubt you can consider me an “Elder”. Don’t call me a “Senior Citizen” unless you want to insult me! You’ve been forewarned.

Powerful Aging Tip #7

Good Healthcare – absolutely a must have

OK, I know it can be difficult to find a health care provider that actually listens to you and is a partner in your health rather than a demi-god from on high who dictates to you. But they are out there, and it’s critical to find one (or even better, more than one) so you can take responsibility for your own wellbeing. If you feel you aren’t being heard, find someone else.

If your medications are making you sicker than you were before you started taking them, and your doctor won’t listen, find one who will. Get second, and even third opinions until you are satisfied the course of action being proposed is in your best interest.

Read up on whatever health challenge you are experiencing so you’ll be knowledgeable about how to take care of it in the best way possible.

Here are some resources for finding alternative health care providers:

http://www.medfinds.com/

http://www.talkinternational.com/directories/health-services-directory.html

My personal favorite is Dr. Damon Miller, M.D., N.D., located in Palo Alto, CA.

Powerful Aging Tip #6

Sex – otherwise known as intimacy

According to Dr.’s Oz and Roizen in You: Staying Young, “having monogamous, regular sex has been proven to extend your life.” Yes, sometimes (actually in many instances) women lose their libido as they pass menopause, if they have a hysterectomy, or have their ovaries removed. There are natural solutions out there. I highly recommend finding a sympathetic, knowledgeable health care practitioner who specializes in this area and get healed! One of the joys of aging is having the ability to give and receive love through intimacy with a beloved partner. It brings you touch, love and emotional connection.

In Younger Next Year for Women by Crowley and Lodge they state “Sexuality, which is the limbic component of touch and emotional connection, is more important than physical sex, and if you can’t have sex for some reason, snuggling works almost as well.”

Recommended Reading:

The Hormone of Desire: The Truth About Testosterone, Sexuality, and Menopause, by Susan Rako, M.D.

Ecstatic Lovemaking: An Intimate Guide to Soulful Sex, by Victoria Lee, Hugh Prather, and Gayle Prather

Powerful Aging Tip #5

Stress – some is necessary; too much is harmful.

One of the first things I recommend is de-stressing. There’s just so much going on in our lives, it’s become easier and easier to feel overwhelmed, burnt out and SERIOUS. Sometimes it’s stress related to health issues; sometimes to relationships; sometimes finances, you get the point.

Here are some tips to de-stress:

• Immediately focus on the present by feeling the physical sensations in your body. Become aware of your breathing and slow it down. Six breaths in, a slight pause and 4 breaths out works well for me.

• Notice the way your body feels, hear what you hear, see what you’re seeing. If it’s pain you’re dealing with, focus on the parts of your body that feel good rather than the painful area. Being present to what is stops the mind’s negative chatter.

• Stop worrying. Say to your self “ I don’t need to worry now, I can worry all I want in 5 minutes”. When the 5 minutes is up, give yourself another 5. The worry cycle is usually broken after the first 5 minutes!

• If your mind decides to focus on the problem situation anyway, see the situation resolved in the best possible way. To engage all your senses, first see what you’ll see when it is resolved, then hear what you’ll hear, and then feel how you will feel when the problem is solved.

For example, if it’s related to weight loss see yourself in a mirror looking like you want to look, hear what others will be telling you about how great you look, and feel the emotions you’ll have when you look and feel lighter!

All these steps will create a space between the “problem” and how you think about it. You’ll get new insights about how to handle it, and discover new, more effective strategies to create what you want in your life.

Powerful Aging Tip #4

Sleep: the fundamental way we rejuvenate ourselves.

Sleep is a lifesaver, especially as we age. It is during sleep that the body repairs itself and the mind resolves issues left over from the day’s activities.

So, how much sleep is enough? We’ve been told 7 to 8 hours a night is necessary, but one size doesn’t fit all. How do you know if you are getting the right amount for you?

There are several ways:

1. Do you feel rested and refreshed when you get out of bed in the morning?
2. Are you able to stay awake later in the day while reading a book or watching TV?
3. Do you feel sleepy when driving during the day?

If you answered "no" to any of these questions, here are some suggestions to help you get the sleep you need.

• Establish a routine sleep schedule.
• Avoid using the bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.
• Avoid substances that disturb sleep, such as caffeine and alcohol.
• Take a 20-minute power nap during the day. Do it no later than 3 p.m. While this seems counter-intuitive, it really helps rejuvenate you for the rest of the day and helps you stay awake in the evening. I use a wonderful software program on my iPod called Pzziz, accessed here bit.ly/JnFBH It uses NLP and hypnosis to put me in a restorative sleep and wakes me up in 20 minutes rested and ready to take on the world again.
• Develop pre-sleep rituals that help you relax, such as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
• Bedtime is a time to relax, not replay the stresses of the day. Leave worries behind.
• Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.
• If you can't fall asleep, leave the bedroom and do a quiet activity. Go back to bed only when you're tired.

For the best sleep, no TV or computer right before going to bed. Try reading a book until your eyes feel heavy, your comprehension drops and you start to nod off.

If your mind races, take a deep breath through your nose to a count of 6, hold briefly and exhale through your mouth for a count of 4. Repeat until you fall asleep.