Where you will live in retirement is a question worth careful consideration. We keep hearing that retirement is getting further out of reach of many seniors and many retirees are not retiring with the original plans they made intact. A financial plan that they may have thought would give them a decent standard of living through their retirement years. Where you live can be a huge factor in how you’ll live!

If you are over 50 you know that you’ll have some major changes ahead of you and you’ll probably have already figured it out that the older you get the faster time seems to go by, keeping that in mind it’s best to plan ahead of retirement where and how you will live to get the most benefit or at least what you hope will be your retirement date.

For many seniors there will be lifestyles changes ahead that will probably mean downsizing your living space and having one that is more adaptable to your needs and personal lifestyle. Besides the practical logistics there’s the financial aspect too, you’ll most likely want or need to reduce your living costs. A lot of people wait until they are past really benefiting from making a sensible living plan, they stay in a home that is too big, needs too much care and attention and eats up too much of their income until one day they are forced to make the move. Some struggle with the maintenance of the home until they can no longer physically do it, others scrimp and save and go without necessities to pay higher bills that are unnecessary when they could have been living more comfortably. It is important to look at the big picture and don’t put off something that can make all the difference to your future.

By the time you reach your sixties it’s a good idea to have a plan in place that will suit your needs for the coming years. It’s not only the size of the accommodation you should think about but also where you want to be located or where you can afford to live. Do you have family members or friends that you would like to live close to? Are you dreaming of a totally different place to live, somewhere where the sun shines a lot more often, where the cost of living is lower, where you can have a good standard of living on the income you will have available? A lot of your decisions will depend on the type of person you are. Some people like the idea of a totally new start and others like the familiar security that they have always known. Some people have close family ties and want to remain near their family others either have no family or are not so bothered about the distance between them. There are a lot of things to consider and access to affordable medical services is one of them. This is especially important as you get older.

Always try to keep an eye on the current situations with real estate and your financial portfolio if you have one. You can’t afford to take your eye off the ball because things can change quickly which so many seniors have already discovered in such a way that it has totally waylaid their plans for retirement. Funds that they thought they would be able to rely on are no longer there. If you happen to be living in an area where real estate prices are high you may want to sell up and look at another state where you can get back into the market at a much lower cost. This may allow you to have money over to help with your everyday living expenses or to afford to do some of the things you want to do. Many people sell and don’t purchase another place they rent. Renting can make a lot more sense, you have to work out what is best for you.

Here are 5 things you should do…
• Set out a budget for yourself. What will your requirements be? What can you live without? What do you have to have and if possible what would you like to have.
• Given the choice where would you like to live?
• What are your present expenses?
• If you are going to sell your home find out what it could sell for in the present market. Also is there anything that needs to be done to your property in order for you to get the best price.
• Keep in mind the hidden costs in selling and buying a home.

If you plan ahead you’ll know what to expect within reason. This way if things take a sudden change you will be better prepared if you have to do something in a hurry.
More and more seniors still have fairly high mortgage payments on their homes whereas many expected to be mortgage free by the time they retired.

It’s almost impossible to not have a credit card today. If you want to make online purchases, book a hotel room, or a vacation you really need to have a credit card. Credit card debt can soon become a real problem and end up controlling your life. It’s easy to get into the debt but often seems impossible to get out of it.
The real problem begins when you start to use your credit cards for everyday living expenses, or get carried away with shopping sprees and don’t pay off the balance within the month, so you start getting hit with high interest rates. These interest rates can be astronomical and before you know it debt gets out of control.
One credit card maxed out often leads to getting another card and then another, and before you know where you are things have totally spiraled out of control and your drowning in debt. It is not uncommonfor many Americans to have as many as 9 credit cards.

Credit Card Debt

So what can you do to help your situation if this happens to you? Well first of all you have to acknowledge that this is a problem that needs a solution that you will take action on. Here are some of the most important things that you have to do in order to get your finances under control.

1. Cut up all your credit cards bar one. As already mentioned you do need a credit card for certain things but you must put this one credit card away and use for emergencies only.
2. Add up the total of all of your debts – you need to know what you are working with. Knowing things have got out of control and feeling doomed a lot of people don’t even open their bills because they know they can’t do anything about it. You have to know what you owe.
3. If you have more than one credit card list them all and how much you owe on each one and what the interest rate is charged on each card. Once you have done that you are going to contact the credit card companies and request a lower interest rate. If you find one with the lowest rate see about transferring the total amount to this one credit card company. Don’t be afraid to ask as all these credit card companies are in competition with each other for your business and are used to offering incentives to get business.
4. What you are trying to do here is to consolidate your debt so that you have the lowest interest rate you can get and have only one payment rather than multiple payments. When you are paying the very minimal amounts on your credit cards you will take forever to pay off the debt. If you don’t get satisfaction with the credit card companies or this method doesn’t really help your situation make an appointment to speak with someone at your bank about debt consolidation. In the long run having one payment will end up costing less than multiple payments.
5. If you are a home owner and have a lot of other debt too you may want to consolidate your debts with your mortgage, this will usually reduce the monthly payment plus you get the benefits of tax relief at least if you are in the US.
6. You still need to do something more to reduce the debt so your next step- Add up all of your assets this means your savings, assets, retirement savings, investments anything you have. The fact that you get such little interest on your own money these days it is better to dig into your savings to reduce your debt.
7. Make a list of all of your monthly expenses and see where you can save money. Are you too frivolous with your utilities? Can you get a better price package on your cable, internet and phone bill, what about your vehicle costs and fuel, can you cut back here? If we really try most of us could find ways to cut back a bit on monthly bills.
8. Keep a track on every penny you spend for a month and that is everything from a newspaper, magazine, to every latte or other special coffee, muffin and anything else. These little luxury items add up over the month, you won’t have even realize how much you spend on them.
9. Consider ways to make some extra cash for a while and every penny you make pay it off your debt. Be a bit creative and remember that it doesn’t have to be forever but it will help relieve a lot of stress and put you on the right path to being unburdened.
10. Try using cash – I know that we are be discouraged to use cash but it’s the best way to manage your money. Take a certain amount of cash out of the bank from your income and allow yourself so much a day keep it a minimal amount and when it’s gone it’s gone. You can’t go get more until the next day’s allowance. You will soon learn to manage your money better. That’s how people used to live and they managed way better than people today.
If you have kids around get them on the right track now don’t set them up for failure and a life of debt by relying on credit cards. Most young kids think the money you get out of a bank machine is for free and that credit cards are great they have no idea what it takes to pay off the debt.
Things may seem hopeless and it’s easy to believe that you are doomed but it’s time to face the music and do what needs to be done. There’s a saying spend no more than 20% of your time on the problem and spend 80% of your time on the solution and it holds true!

If you really want to learn about getting out of debt CLICK HERE for details

Few of us like traveling alone and yet there are so many single people today many of us have done so at some time. Considering the demographics and an ever increasing demand more over 50s and singles cruises and vacation options are available. If you’ve always had someone to travel with before and now  facing the prospect of going alone you may find it a daunting prospect . You probably have a lot of concerns too.  But these days you don’t have to go it alone and you can let someone else like the best singles travel agents do all the trip planning for you.

If this is all new to you once you see how many options there are you’ll discover that when it comes to taking a vacation you don’t have to do what you’ve always done in the past. With so many options open to you now it’s time to choose what type of vacation you want and what you actually enjoy doing while you are on vacation. You need to decide if the idea of a single’s cruise appeals to you more or a vacation on land. Do you want to vacation in a US destination or international? Will be a relaxing getaway or action packed adventure?

Two single friends of mine both in their 60’s recently took a short vacation. It was a 4 day cruise and then 4 days in one destination.  They didn’t actually choose a singles trip because they had each other for company but during this trip they did learn a lot about what they liked and didn’t like for future reference.

The cruise they took was with a cruise line which attracts an older group and it sounds as if this was certainly the case here. While they enjoyed it for the most part and met some really nice people one friend said she would have preferred more of a mixed group.  She also felt that she would prefer to take a cruise with more activities that catered to her personal interests.  This same friend is planning to go to Buenos Aries to take a tango workshop next year.  So even when you have a friend to go on vacation with you may have very different interests and may decide to chose a vacation specifically designed to meet your personal interests.

If you are thinking about going on a singles vacation in hopes of meeting that someone special don’t put too much emphasis on this.  The purpose of the vacation should be to have a good time and meet new people in your age group. It may just happen that you’ll meet Mr or Miss Right but don’t count on it. The fact is it seems to be that women usually outnumber the men in most things that are not sports related. Go with having a good time in mind whether it’s a singles cruise or other singles vacation then you probably won’t be disappointed.

There are as many different types of vacations as there are places to go so check out your options and give some thought as to what you would like to do. If you are an active type you may want to choose a vacation with lots of physical activity. If you are not that active you don’t want to be worrying if you will be able to keep up with everyone else, so know your limits and stay within them if you don’t want to spoil your holiday.

There are vacations where you can go on wine tours, cooking classes in various countries like Italy which are great for someone that wants to learn to cook and enjoy the culture and food of another country. There are painting holidays and yoga vacations, the arts and culture.  You just have to decide what type of vacation you actually want. Maybe you don’t want anything more than an opportunity to sit in the sun and relax by a pool or on a nice beach, or take a cruise that will give you all you need in good food, good company, entertainment and an opportunity to go to various ports of call if you choose to.

There are some on land trips that are available for the over 50s and active 60s. Keep in mind that you do need to be in relatively good health for many of these trips such as some of the Island hoping tours. When you go on vacation as a single person it gives you a great opportunity to meet others like yourself and make new friends.  Often the tour company will set it up so that you can share accommodation with someone compatible to help with keeping costs more affordable. When it comes down to it you can choose pretty much any type of vacation for singles and if you are over 50.  The main thing is to try something new and have a great time.

When you are young you never think what life will be like at age 50 – 60 or older.  It seems such a long way off that middle age and beyond  don’t even enter your head. And then suddenly one day you look in the mirror and here it is your 50th birthday or even maybe a 60th. The things we worry about change at different ages but most women over 50 find that they are facing real concerns that at one time were never even on their radar screen.

We don’t want to put a downer on living life over 50.  We want it to be a great and special time in life but we also have to be realistic and look at what is on the mind of many women over 50 that are one day hoping to retire.

There’s no one particular concern that fits all over 50s women.  There are numerous concerns depending upon your personal circumstances. Regardless of being single or married, financially secure or poor the one thing that most women over 50 do worry about is their health.  And for those that are not financially secure, they worry whether they will they have enough money to see them through.

Besides the prospect of ill health itself many women are stressed out  about the ever increasing bills, and worry if one day they could become one of the homeless statistics, which they fear could happen if they get sick and can’t pay their bills. There are genuine concerns that if something happened that prevented them from making an income they could end up living in their car.  It’s a fact that the older you get the greater the risk of health problems, so finding ways to get and stay healthy is essential

If you are a woman over 50 married to someone that is successful and financially independent you are going to have different concerns than a single woman that is struggling to make ends meet. I’ve heard women jokingly say that they can’t afford to get old because they just won’t have enough money to see them through to old age.  It’s sad to say that although this is said in a joking manner there is definitely some truth and fear behind their words

Some women will admit that what bothers them most about being over 50 is looking older and finding ways to look more youthful by investing in  anti aging products to improve skin and looks, this is a genuine concern for them.  Others have very different fears like how they can keep the roof over their head and food on the table. The faltering economy has many facing layoffs, and pension cuts putting a lot more women over 50 at risk.

Many of these women are wondering where will they live as they reach retirement age, and more to the point is where will they be able to afford to live? Some single women over 50 as well as couples with a spirit for adventure move to more affordable countries where whatever money they do have access to will go further, and give them a better lifestyle than they could possibly afford if they stay where they are.

Many Women over 50 have nothing in reserve for their retirement, they wonder if they will ever be able to afford to retire, especially women on their own. Those with a spouse usually fair better as most men have often made more money than a woman does while employed giving them larger pensions and social security checkes.

Thing can happen that drastically change your life and it becomes very different to how you imagined it would be.  But women over 50 are mostly resilient and a force to be reckoned with. When you see that things could change and circumstances could get tougher it’s a good idea to make adjustments sooner than later. It’s amazing what we can cut back on and manage without.  There are usually ways around most things. If you need to cut expenses you can always try to find someone compatible in the same situation as you to share your home or find a place.  .Maybe a few of you could get together and rent a house, share a car and find other ways to cut costs and make your money go further.  Try to go at it with a good attitude; if you fight everything and let it get you down you will be miserable and wear yourself out, plus no-one will want to be around you. You never know things could turn out much better than you could have ever hoped for.

If you are concerned about getting older and know that you need to make some changes in your life, it’s time to stop thinking and start doing.  It’s time for your new life over 50 to begin.  So don’t waste your time feeling bad about getting older because it’s not a bad thing. Now that you are over 50 and have more life experience you’re probably a good bit smarter and wiser too. Put this wisdom into action and look at this as an exciting opportunity to create a new chapter for you. It’s true that your new life can begin over 50. In fact even if you’re over 60 or 70 it’s not too late for change either.

You may be thinking that you’ve made some mistakes, maybe that you haven’t always taken the right path in life when you had choices to make.  You are not alone most of us would have done at least some things differently given the chance again.  Often when we have to make choices we are not sure which one is going to be the best for us in the long run.  At the time we make our decision it’s based on the best knowledge we have right then.  Everything changes, we change, our needs change and situations change. You have a far better chance of getting what you want in your life over 50 when you take control, make a plan and have direction.

If you seriously want to make some changes you need to set some SMART goals which means they need to be:

Specific – You need to know exactly what you want. Be specific with what you want and not wishy washy.If you decide that you want to have better health for life over 50, well you need to know what that means. Do you need to lose some weight, lower your blood pressure, increase your energy level, need more stamina, or stop smoking? Better health can mean a number of things and be different for each one of you.

If you think that you need a make-over what needs making over?  Do you look way older than your 50s when there is no need to? Is it your wardrobe, do you need a different hair cut and style, make-up, skin care or all of the above. Do you need to be more organized?  What needs to be organized?

If you need an exercise plan to keep you fit over 50 what type of exercise plan is it to be? Do you prefer to work out alone or with a group, at home or at a gym? How many times a week will you exercise and for how long? Are you going to be training for a specific event like a charity run, a half marathon or are you planning on taking a cycling or hiking holiday?  These are all factors in making the type of changes you need.

You get the idea of being specific

Measurable – While you are working on making your life over 50 changes you need a way to measure your success, where you are in the process of your goals of making change. If it’s not measurable how will you know when you achieve it?  If your goal is losing weight you can set a number of lbs you want to lose or you may have a specific pair of jeans or a dress that you want to wear. This is measurable. You will know that you’ve reached your goal when you can wear the item or reach the weight that you’ve set for yourself. Finding a way to measure your success will help to keep you motivated and on track. It’s easy to get discouraged if you think nothing is changing and it actually may be but you are not measuring so probably not noticing yet.

Accountable – Be accountable and take responsibility for your actions. If you’ve said that you are going to do something and you don’t do it don’t make excuses or blame others. Whether your over 50 or any other age when you are accountable you will be able to pick up the pieces and get back to your original plan. We all suffer setbacks the key is to not use them as an excuse to whimp out. You will be glad that you kept going when you get the success that you want and deserve.

Realistic – Be realistic. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unattainable unrealistic goals. Give yourself a chance of success. Sometimes we get carried away and set goals so high we haven’t a hope of achieving them. This is your life over 50 now and you are not 20 so things will be a different in a number of aspects and so should your expectations of what you may be able to do.  If you want to lose 30 lbs in a month, honestly what are the chances of that happening?  It’s possible to have a good chance of success if you say to lose 5 lbs in a month and a 30 lbs loss over 6-8 months.  It’s still going to take effort and commitment on your part but at least that’s doable. So being realistic is required when making change.

Time Line – Having a timeline is important. Without a timeline you can drag things out forever and not see any results. If you want to start planning more vacations for yourself and you don’t have the funds available to put your hands on whenever you like, you’ll need to plan ahead and save. Let’s say that the trip you have your eye on is going to cost $850 and you know you don’t have the money set aside to go; then you have to put money away so if you can manage to save $150 a month you can set a timeline of about 8 months down the road that you will be able to go on that vacation. What you’ve saved will pay for the trip and give you a little extra.  Now your over 50 you may want o expand your interests so if you want to learn something new set a time line of when you will start and complete the project or you won’t have the same motivation and will keep putting it off.

If you follow the SMART Goals process you will be able to change your life over 50 whether it’s a big change that you just want some minor changes. Remember that you are in charge and you can do it if you want to!

Hair loss in women is a huge and growing problem, it can occur at any age. Each and every year there are hundreds and thousands of women that suffer from excessive hair loss. Besides those that are genetically predisposed to thinning hair there are a number of other reasons why excessive hair fall happens.

One of the most common causes of hair loss in women is due to hormonal imbalance. This makes pregnant and menopausal women prime candidates for female hair loss. You may be pleased to know that there are safe natural remedies available to help with your hair loss no matter what the cause is

Often the hair loss in women is only temporary so once the issue that initially caused the hair to fall out is dealt with the excessive hair loss should stop and things could be back to normal quite quickly.  Stressful situations can cause hair to fall out. It could be due to divorce, loss of a loved one, being involved in an accident or even being in place where a natural disaster occurs.

Hair Loss in Women

An example of this is a Study was done that showed in aftermath of the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand hair loss in women increased quite dramatically.  Many stressful situations like this even though they may be very challenging are only temporary when it comes to female hair loss. However not every woman dealing with hair loss is because of a stressful situation.  Those that are losing their hair both women and men alike are looking for answers to this problem!

When you have health issues or injury it’s possible to lose more than the normal 40 – 150 hairs that you shed on a daily basis. Research shows that hair will fall out to allow the blood flow that would normally go to the hair cells to go to areas that require the extra blood flow for healing. It’s a fact that we do not need hair for our survival.  However our hair does protect us from getting our heads burned from the sun and helps to keep us warm during the cold winter months. It is also a fact that hair goes through phases of growth and rest, while some hair is growing other hairs are resting and after a period of time the resting hairs will fall out as a part of the normal hair loss in women and men.

Healthy Hair

Many types of medications can also cause temporary hair loss so the last thing you need when you already have hair falling out is to be using harsh chemicals and taking medications that may make the situation worse. A lot of medications create a hormone imbalance and so does some of the acne products that are n the market which can lead to hair loss.

It’s important for women to know that many of the hair loss products that are available for men are not suitable for women so ladies be very careful what hair loss or hair growth products you use.  Is it any wonder that more people are into keeping treatments natural whenever possible?  Home remedies are a better option as natural remedies are safer, easy, affordable and available. You can find out a lot more about these home remedies and what to do in the Female Hair Loss Remedy Report.  Hair loss in women is worse than it is for men. Men can shave their heads and be called sexy but for women it can be embarrassing, a confidence stealer and cause emotional pain. What you really want is to stop your hair loss naturally and re-grow hair.

You should treat your hair and scalp kindly by using good natural hair products and not with the cheap harsh chemicals. Using excessive heat and chemical products on your hair may not cause your hair to fall out at the root but it could very well cause hair breakage which will make your hair look thinner. Massaging the scalp will help with circulation. Many have success with a hair  laser device for home use, they have found this treatment very effective and helpful in stopping hair falling out as well as new hair growth.

Once you get on the right track you will no longer have to look for a hairstyle, hat or wig that will camouflage your thinning hair spots, and you won’t have to take drugs which could negatively affect your health.  You will be able to use affordable items that you can get at your local grocery store and finally hair loss in women could be a thing of the past.

Our skin starts to age as early as our twenties so by the age of 50 most women have researched or experimented with a number of anti aging products. Maintaining great skin will surely give a more youthful appearance which can be further enhanced with a healthy lifestyle, the right hairstyle, b-glowing anti aging creams, serums and makeup plus an appropriate wardrobe.

In recent years more anti aging devices for home use have come available.  Treatments that were only available in clinics and spas are now available in your own home at a fraction of the cost.

It’s interesting and fitting to see how many men are becoming more open to taking better care of their skin and overall appearance too. As more males have treatments like manicures, facials, and waxing a growing number of them are now more aware of what women have been doing for years in the name of beauty and trying to maintain a more youthful look.

By the time they are 50 many individuals are starting a new phase in life and want to do it in style. They want to look younger and feel good about themselves. By this time of their life many of the over 50s have a lot going for them with regard to wisdom, life experience, knowing what they want, a decent career and financially more stable than they may have ever been in their life. They have the desire and the resources available to take better care of their own needs without feeling guilty about doing so.

Although looks are only a small part of being youthful and attractive, when you know that you are at your best you automatically feel better about yourself, have a better attitude, more confidence and it shows on the outside too. For a lot of people the way to great skin is good nutrition, adequate sleep, fresh air and exercise but there are others that need a bit more help than that to get the results that they want, so here are some anti aging products that can help you achieve great skin.

Light Therapy:

Both Red and blue light therapy can be a great asset to your skin regime. There are a number of anti aging products available in the light therapy range.

Blue light therapy is typically known to get rid of acne and skin break outs. The blue light kills the bacteria on the skin that causes acne. Acne can start at any age, and it’s common for menopausal women to experience acne due to hormonal imbalance.  Many teens are susceptible to acne for the same reason, hormone imbalance. Acne can break out on the face or other areas of the body at various times throughout life. Hormone imbalance can cause all sorts of problems for us including hair loss as well as skin problems

Red light therapy is recommended for aging skin. The red light helps rejuvenate the skin and helps to rebuild lost collagen. It also helps to reduce or eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, tones and balances skin color as well as being successful in treating rosacea and sun damaged skin.

Light therapy is not a quick fix. Results can vary both in individuals as well as time frame. You have to be committed to the sessions which are anywhere from 10 -20 minutes usually 3-4 times a week.

With the ability to have your own light therapy device you have the choice of when and where you have your light therapy sessions. There are a number of blue or red light therapy devices available on the market. There are also color combination light therapy devices available which a lot of people with problem skin prefer.

Although light therapy does not show immediate results many blue and red light therapy users report seeing a marked improvement in their skin even within a few days to a week.  A number of those using these anti aging products say that their skin is glowing and looks healthier in a matter of days. However, most people find it takes longer than this to get results.

The Clarisonic Pro and the Clarisonic Plus Skin Cleansing for Face and Body

I was only recently introduced to the Clarisonic skin cleansing device by a close friend of mine who is 60 years old. She is using the Clarisonic device in conjunction with red light therapy. When I saw her she had been using the red light therapy device she recently purchased for about 2 months and the Clarisonic face cleansing for 1 month. I can confirm that she’s experiencing amazing results with this combination treatment. After not seeing my friend for a while I was really impressed by the difference in her skin. It does look radiant, younger and clearer than I have seen it in the 15 years that I have known her.

The Clarisonic is a skin cleansing system that uses gentle sonic micro massage action to remove oil and dirt that has got embedded in the skin. It makes pores look smaller and leaves your skin more vibrant and healthy. Its gentle action is suitable for all types of skin and can be used on the face and body. it’s not only great for face but ideal for using on decollette, elbows, arms, hands and feet.

The Micro current Toner for lifting and toning the skin makes this a great anti aging product to consider.

The NuFace Micro current is a toner that rejuvenates the face giving a more youthful look.  It delivers low level micro current to create micro contractions to strategic locations restoring muscle, hence firming and toning the face and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles making a visible difference. You can customize the settings to suit you and this device is FDA approved for toning. It comes with an instructional DVD. There is a 1 year warranty plus the user feedback is very positive

Warning – It is important that you read the warnings as the micro current device must not be used during pregnancy, or by anyone with cancer, those subject to seizures and anyone that has a cardiac pacemaker or electronic implant.

All of the anti aging products mentioned here are simple to use and are very portable making them easy to travel with.

Author Shirley Price

There are the many different phases of our life that we have gone through, times that we don’t usually even think too much about until we get older. We flow from one period to another, most of the time the changes happening whether we are ready for it or not. The initial stages of a new life chapter usually starts with at least some apprehension and doubt, as well as some degree of stress but somehow we learn to adapt to our new circumstances.

Stop for a minute and take a trip down memory lane, just look back at what you’ve done with our life to date.  How have you changed, who has touched your life, who’s life have you touched and made a difference to?

Feeling great!

Where have you been what changes have you seen?  Are you satisfied with the life you have lead so far or is it time to change your life?

It’s a long line of changes from childhood, from the first day stepping into the big world of school. Going through the different learning experiences, grades and teachers, then maybe on to college/university and into a career, relationships, financial responsibility, and on it goes. Plus there are all the personal and emotional changes that we go through that are a given.

Even for those that are generally happy with their lot experience times when life can become humdrum leaving you feeling there has to be more and that it’s time to change your life.

There are certain times in life when things go along quite smoothly, times when you may feel happy and fulfilled, but unexpected and sometimes bad things happen to the best of us. Changes that we never saw coming can completely change our view of the world and the way we feel about ourselves. For some people it’s losing a loved one that can change your life forever. The loss of a loved one can take a lot of coming to terms with. It takes time, a lot of time especially when it’s your child or spouse. You have to be prepared that life will be different but it’s important to also remember that you still have a life that only you can live. A life that needs to be used responsibly and enjoyed as much as possible!

There are other things that present themselves to change your life, circumstances that at the time may seem like it’s the end of the world but given time it can end up being for the best. It’s usually not until sometime down the road after the event that you actually realize and can admit that something that seemed so unfair at the time could actually turn out to be positive.

Don't Waste Time!

For some it’s a relationship that ends or becomes so toxic that leaves them at a loss and forces the change in their life.  There are those that remove themselves from an unhealthy relationship even though it could mean giving up a home and other materials.  For others it’s because they lose a job or have to move far away from what is familiar and what they know. It’s disrupting and often leaves you feeling used and abused but sometimes these things are things that needed to happen but you just never got around to doing it yourself.  For some it may be a health scare that ends up being a wake-up call and gets them realizing how important their life actually is.  For others it’s been self sabotaging behavior such  as addictions.  They make significant changes and learn to value and enjoy what they have.  For many these changes can lead to better things in life.

Life circumstances are changing constantly sometimes they are by choice and other times they are out of our control but we have to learn to live with change. So how do you change your life? What is it that you want to change?

• Once you recognize that your life needs changing do yourself a big favor and acknowledge the fact that you are the only one that can make the change.
• Know what it is that needs changing – you can do this by writing a list of what is working in your life and what is not.
• Pick one thing from your list that you know you want to change.
• Once you pick one thing start to take action right away. Do something to get the ball rolling and then build upon it until you get the results you desire.
• Then repeat with others things you want to change
• Appreciate the things that you do have that are working.
• Don’t let age be a barrier or excuse- it’s never too late to make some changes.
• Do something worthwhile- help others, take up a hobby, get involved!
• Always remember that it’s not up to others to fulfill your life that is your responsibility.
• Find clues to happiness from your past, what worked then could work now even if you have to make some adjustments.
• Remember it’s rarely things that make you happy.
• People count- friends, family, companionship, it’s relationships that count the most and in the end it’s all that really matters.
• The quality of your relationships are usually at the root of all things, happiness, sadness, frustration and so on.  Whether it’s personal romantic relationships, family, friends, co-workers or the relationship you have with yourself.

Look at what you have right in front of you and see how it’s working. If it’s not working the way you think it should; try to come up with ways to improve it, if not then maybe it’s time to give it up and get on with something new.  You really can change your life at any age!

Have you ever started to learn to play the piano but gave up before you mastered it? I wish there were courses around like learn and master piano when I was young and starting to learn to play the piano, although we didn’t have DVDs and computers then either. Like me you may have started taking lessons as a child but had too many other things that you would prefer to be doing than practicing the keyboard and ended up dropping out.

When I was about 12 years old I started to take piano lessons but it was short lived. Of course I later wished that I had persisted. Back then for one thing I just didn’t want to put the time into it. I thought that I had more important

Learn and Master Piano

things to do. My situation is probably very similar to many of you.  We were not well off so my parents couldn’t afford a lot but they really wanted me to have piano lessons. A neighbor of ours was a piano teacher so one day my mother proudly announced that she had set up some lessons with her.  I wasn’t exactly thrilled about this but I went along with it. One of the problems was the only opening she had to fit me in for a piano lesson was 12.30-1pm Tuesday’s which was during my lunch break from school.  It would have been a different story had I had the access to a course like learn and master piano back then.  I may have even become an accomplished piano player.

There were just too many obstacles at that time. It was a bit of a challenge to get home, have the piano lesson then eat on the run back to school for my afternoon classes. When I think of it now it’s no wonder I didn’t want to pursue it.  Even so in the short time I attended lessons it had its benefits. I learned to play a couple of beginners classical pieces plus having to learn to read music took me to top of my class in my music that year, which was quite an achievement considering prior to that I was in the bottom half of the class.

Regardless of what age you are young or old here’s your opportunity to learn to play the piano without all the obstacles you may have encountered in the past. The learn and master piano course in primarily designed for adults so no excuses! And if you say I don’t have a piano or room for one even that needn’t stop you with the great keyboards available today.

There could be a number of reasons why you may be thinking right now this is the time for you to learn and master the piano. Perhaps you have always wanted to do so but just never got around to it, you may have more time now to pursue your own interests, or you may already know how to play the piano but not to a level that you are happy with. Do you want to be a part of a rock band or other musical group? Or you may have been looking for a new hobby and this fits the bill. All of these are great reasons to learn and master the piano.

Do you tell yourself that you are just too old to learn? You already know the answer to this is that you are never too old!  Now is the time because you are not going to get any younger so what are you waiting for?

Finding the right teachers and the right course that will take you from wherever you are now to an accomplished piano player whether you are a beginner or at an intermediate level. That’s where the legacy Learning learn and master series has it covered whether you want to learn and master piano, guitar, drums, ballroom dancing, photography or learn to paint they have the ideal teacher.

I am fortunate to own a few of the legacy learning courses and I can only say it’s an investment that you will not be disappointed with, you get the very best home teaching course for your money.  Where else would you be able to get top Nashville musicians teach you to play an instrument? Prior to courses like the learn and master piano were around you would have to go to the local piano teacher to book your lessons, most likely one lesson a week and then hopefully get in some practice between lessons.  This way you are getting top notch teachers and able to schedule your own lessons as often as you like and keep going over a lesson until you are ready to move on to the next one. Plus if more than one of you wants to learn to play the piano it’s no problem when you have the course to share with them.

The Learn and master piano video instruction is a complete DVD course and the only tool that you need to walk you through the experience of learning to play the piano from start to finish. As soon as you receive your package containing the course and open the box you know that you have a quality product in your hands.

Your instructor for learn and master piano is Will Barrow a teacher in Nashville. He’s also a singer songwriter and composer that has toured with and played piano for a number of major grammy winning artists in the US and other parts of the globe. Chances are you would never get an opportunity for a teacher of such high calibre in your local community.

You can be a total newbie and learn to play blues rock and jazz on the piano whatever your heart desires once you have the skill which you will achieve with the learn and master piano DVD course.

The learn and master piano course is simple to follow and interactive you can go at your own pace and not be pushed into trying to keep up. Once you feel comfortable that you have learned a specific part then you can move onto the next thing. This prevents you from getting overwhelmed and giving up out of frustration.

The course is comprised of 20 DVDs, 5 play along CDs, a 100 page lesson book plus there is access to continuing online support. The Learn and Master Series have a very active forum where students can share their experiences with each other and have their questions answered by the experts. You will realize that you are not alone as you read what others have to say about their learning experiences.

What type of music will you be able to play?

Rock, Jazz, classical, country, Blues, and boogie woogie etc. You will be playing popular songs and tunes that you already know right away such as Blueberry Hill and Let it Be.

Some of the things that you can expect from the learn and master piano course:

• A real time animated keyboard that will show you exactly what is being played plus onscreen examples of keyboard concepts.
• Easy to us menus
• How to accompany a singer in a way that really compliments the lyrics.
• How to develop your ear to hear the melodies and chord progressions.
• Gain a solid foundation of musical understanding ranging from reading music to basic and advanced chord construction and improvisation.
• Learn to play the piano in a simple step by step interesting approach
• The play along CDs are fun and a great way for you to practice as you’ll be jamming with an actual band.

Plus there’s a lot more available in this course to make sure you learn and master the piano proficiently. It won’t be long before you’ll be able to impress your friends with your new talent.

There’s lots of good feedback and great comments about the course from learn and master students. They say what an awesome teacher Will Barrow is and there is nothing they could suggest to improve this course and how it goes way beyond other courses. Legacy Learning has come up with the tools for everything a student needs to become proficient at playing the piano or whatever course they choose.

Guarantee

You can learn and Master the Piano risk free. Legacy Learning wants their customers to be happy with their purchase so if you are not happy and return the course within 60 days they will refund the purchase price no questions asked.

Now it’s up to you!

Life over 50 can be some of your best years.  Sometimes it just depends where you are, nearer 50 or 30 years beyond turning 50.  At 50 many people have aged well, they are taking better care of themselves than they ever have., and are more financially secure than they have ever been. They have had time to cultivate their career and many have reached the top of the ladder in their industry. Confidence comes with success to so many 50 years old and over are much more confident and self assured.

We all know people that look better in their 50s than they did in their 30s. They have grown into themselves, they are more relaxed they don’t sweat the small stuff so much, when it comes to their appearance they know what they like, what suits them and what they feel comfortable in.

We only have to look at some of the celebrities that have been around for a number of years to see how good it is possible to look and feel when you make the effort. There are a number of beautiful women over 60 never mind over 50. What a great achievement for Helen Mirren who was recently voted best body of the year at 67 years old. She certainly does look amazing and a great motivator for the life over 50 generation, it’s a reminder that it’s possible to look fabulous over 50. I don’t think she set out to win this type of recognition at this age but it’s wonderful to see that others have chosen her even over some celebrities years younger.

There’s many other celebrities that look amazing consider Madona and Sharon Stone both 53, Olivia Newton John 63, Jaclyn Smith 64, Suzanne Sommers 65, Susan Saranden and Susan Lucci both age 66, and  Raquel Welch 71, the list could go on you can’t deny that these women still look fantastic. It’s not just the women either there are some sexy, good looking senior men out there too.  Some of my favorites that are living life over 50 are George Clooney, Antonio Banderas, Hugh Grant and Colin Firth you can’t deny that the big 50 looks great on these guys. Simon Cowell  51, Andy Garcia 55, Denzel Washington 56, Richard Geere 61, and Robert Redford 74 and there are a lot more that could join this list.

I know what you are thinking, but these people are celebrities, they can afford personal trainers, treatments, plastic surgery etc, but they still have to put in their own effort too. No one can do it all for you no matter how much money you have. We have seen that even with celebrities, some of the richest people in the world struggle with weight and other issues.

There are lots of everyday people living their life over 50 that can and do have treatments and personal trainers too.  There are lots of non celebrities in the over 50s group that are fabulous. When you are healthy, fit and active, looking and feeling great and enjoying your life, age really doesn’t matter.

Life over 50 brings a time of kids leaving home which may give you a bit more freedom to travel and do things for yourself. You may become a grandparent over 50 which can be a great experience but at the same time some grandparents end up spending a lot of their time taking care of their grandkids rather than living their new found freedom after years of child rearing themselves. Many of us have done this if only for a while but remember that it’s not selfish to do things for yourself you know.

Celebrities or not there is also the downside of life over 50. Our bodies are aging we may become more prone to health issues including some that limit our ability to be active like arthritis, osteoporosis, and other join paint. We do start to slow down; things become a bit more of an effort.  There’s are a number of things we can cover to an extent such as wrinkles, and grey hair although grey hair looks great on some people with a good hair cut that suits them. And there is a lot we can do to help our skin such as red light therapy . Eye sight changes but even that can be improved with lasers and contact lenses and great eye wear. One of the things we really need to pay attention to is our mind. Issues around memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer’s could be waiting to pounce so you have to pay close attention to symptoms and keep your brain active with hobbies and learning new things.

We also get more loss in our lives when we are over 50 as parents, friends and relatives age and pass away. Life over 50 brings a number of age related issues including hormonal changes, maybe dealing with issues around aging parents, finding the right place to live during your retirement years. Maybe you will have to learn to live on less income, wanting to do so much but not always able to.

There are many variations of life over 50 depending on your personal circumstances that is why it is so important to leap at opportunities to do the things that you want to do while you are able. We have a habit of putting things off and saying one day I will but things change and sometimes that one day never happens.

Take the opportunities don’t say I wish I had done this or that when I had a chance or when I had my health.

Life over 50 can be great for many years to come so don’t wait – just live it!