Archive for Lifestyles
10 Secrets to Success Over 50.
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No matter how old you are you probably want to be successful, but once you reach 50 it’s often a time for making changes. It’s another phase of life and many people take stock of their life 
and realize there are things that they really want to change or do.
If you want to be successful at something first you need to know what success means to you. How would you know that you are successful? It’s hard chasing something when you don’t know what it is.
Do you want to be a successful at having great health and fitness into old age, to have a successful relationship or be successful at a specific sport? Do you want to be a successful teacher, grandparent, dancer, pianist, guitar player, writer, cook or gardener; the options are endless and also very personal. To be successful at something that has meaning to you is a great feeling and adds to your confidence and self worth.
Whatever success means to you there are certain rules that you do need to follow. Read More→
You Over 50 and Beyond
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What a difference a decade can make! As we get older we tend to look more at our life in decades, we think about what our 40’s were like then our 50s, 60s and so on. Each decade brings new 
experiences and new challenges. We think of things in more general terms as we age.
Three weeks before my 50th birthday my first granddaughter was born. When I turned 50, there were a lot of things going on in my life. I was newly separated, working on getting my degree and wanting to make a major move. Within a couple of years I had made the move, got my degree and things were looking up once again. My 50s were good and not so good just like any other decade, but the good over shadowed any bad. It was a decade mostly about me, and what I wanted, whereas my 20s, 30s, and 40s were about my family, my children and career. I feel that my fifties were when I found myself again. I made new friends, had fun, learned not to take things so seriously and learned to dance again. It was my most freeing decade.
The day of my 60th birthday I spent flying to New Orleans with one of my daughters, going to a coaching conference. That was a good part, the very start. But later that same year my grandson passed away very suddenly and everything changed so dramatically. My 60s so far have been more about others, especially my family and their needs. Life got to be much more serious again. My mum is a year away from being 90 years old so that’s a concern too, and one of my best friends of over 40 years passed away very suddenly. Thankfully I had visited with her a couple of months before, and we spent a few really good days together catching up and talking about the old times. So far my 60s have not been fun and freedom like my 50s but I’m hoping for better times to come again soon. It’s not been all bad there have been some good times peppered here and there. Read More→
Planning your way to a healthy 50 plus
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Once we reach 50 and over many of our main concerns are related to health, finances and the realization that retirement is quickly creeping up on us. There are certain age milestones that are 
more of a wake-up call and turning 50 years of age is definitely one of them.
There is little doubt that for many over 50s health and finances are very genuine concerns. Many of us realize that we are not as healthy and fit as we should be, making it time to make some serious changes to our lifestyles if we want to have a healthy retirement. Also many of us have not taken our retirement planning seriously either, we often get fooled into thinking that it’s much further away than it actually is. When you consider that once you retire you could very likely need to have enough money to sustain you for 30 plus years can be pretty daunting for most. If this looks as if it could be a problem that you may be facing then you can’t bury your head in the sand. You need to consider your options.
During the final years of their working career many will be earning more than at any other time during their working life which can lead to a sense that their financial situation is secure. This is also the best time to make additional payments into your financial plan. If you really are falling short of your retirement plan then it’s probably a good idea to consider working a bit longer while you are still able. It’s important to try to get rid of debts before you retire if possible. This can be a challenge though with the high cost of homes these days. A lot will depend on where you live but places such as Vancouver where I live the house prices are ridiculously high, making it almost impossible for people to become mortgage free by retirement. Read More→
Where on Earth is the Ideal place to retire?
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If you were to ask a dozen or more individuals for advice on where is the best country to live when you retire, you will probably get a dozen different answers.
If you’ve been doing some 
travelling yourself, you will probably already have your own favorite places, but would they be a good place to retire?
You are probably over 50 so I’m sure many of you like me have thought about the possibility of living either full or part time in another country when you retire. Like me you may have even gone deeper and done some research into what various places have to offer. One thing for sure is over the past 5 or 6 years since I started looking at options the recommended top places to retire have changed more than once. These changing stats can often leave you none the wiser by the time you’re actually ready and able to do something about it, so you really need to do a bit of research for yourself.
Obviously your financial situation will have a bearing on where you can even afford to live and the type lifestyle that you can have. If money is no object then the world is your oyster. It’s more about deciding what you actually want your life to be about, and where you will be able to live that type of lifestyle. Even if you are fortunate enough to have adequate funds you still have other considerations such as family and friends. How often would you get to see them? Even if finances may not be a problem for you; it could be for others in your life, meaning that you may not get to see the ones you love visit you as often as you would like! Probably most retirees expect that they will have lots of visitors if they move to the sun. Would being in a country where they speak a different language be a problem for you? Are you prepared to attempt to learn the native language? Is it important to have an ex pats community in the area you are interested in living?
For most people one of the biggest attractions of going to live in another country is the fact that they can have a lower cost of living which is important when you are on a fixed income. Many want to maintain a good lifestyle or even improve their lifestyle while living on a pension. While many retirees may have a struggle to make ends meet at home they may live very well elsewhere.
What is your criteria when considering living somewhere else? My brother has lived in Florida for a number of years and has now retired. He travelled extensively during his working years giving him the opportunity to experience many countries. One of his criteria when considering moving to another place is that it has a major airport. For many it’s important to know that if they need to visit loved in ones in a hurry they do have easy access to flights. This usually means being close to a major city. Read More→
Seniors Playing the Casino Slots
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When you’re over 50, retired or not spending a few hours at the casino is becoming more and more of a popular way for seniors to find entertainment. Besides the excitement from the potential of winning there are other aspects which draw seniors to the casinos. If you have ever walked into a casino in the middle of the day you would be surprised at just how many seniors are playing the slots.
The casino is a place that many seniors feel comfortable going alone at night. Many go with a spouse or friends but whichever way; it’s a place where they don’t feel alone. Many single seniors find being at home on their own very depressing; an outing to casino is the answer for numerous seniors. It’s one place where they feel they can go and forget their problems. While they may be able to forget their problems at home and in their life for a while they could well be creating other problems such as a gambling addiction.
Most seniors are smart gamblers, they set aside an amount that they can afford to lose and when that money is gone they will call it quits and leave. Others get deeper and deeper into debt; always believing
that they will win the jackpot and get all their money back and more. Unfortunately, many people have a problem quitting when they are ahead and that applies to gambling as well as other areas of our lives.
There are a number of perks when going to casino, besides being entertaining and fun it can be a lively place to hang-out plus players can get meals at reasonable prices. Plus players can acquire points by using a membership card. Also there is the attraction of the number of large prize drawers held at casinos. Read More→
Coming To Terms With Turning 50
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by Andrea Preece
by Andrea Preece
Not My Party!
No! I am absolutely not going. I can’t believe that you planned that for me and invited all those people from the office; they’ll all know how old I am.
She was horrified and I was disappointed as I thought that I was doing something nice for my friends 50th birthday. I was mystified as to why Karen, who is cute and so put together all of the time, would have this response. All us females would love to look like her, and yet she was the one that made the most fuss and got so upset out of all of us that had turned 50.
It’s our time to shine
After all, this is the age where most of us feel that we can claim the right to be who we really are, have the wisdom to share our opinion with some expert back-up.
This is our time, not for just us girls, this is for the men too. Men appear to go through similar experiences with aging; it is a reality for all of us.
Isn’t it amazing how different we can feel about our age from day to day? Some days we can accept things just as they are and others times it can really bother us. Some days we can look in the mirror and wonder who on earth is looking back at us.
The key is to accept and embrace this next stage of our life and yet some of us will struggle with and deny our age until the end of time. And I guess neither is right or wrong, it depends what we are brought up to believe, our societal messages, and how the people that surrounded us reacted to their changes throughout the years.
Media messages
Let’s be honest w e are constantly bombarded with messages about how we should look and feel from magazines, television and all types of media. Society has told us that if we are not youthful and have the right image we will not get the best jobs, find a husband, or be as successful as the prettier younger women. And for the men too if they are not handsome enough, rich enough, or look the part they will also get overlooked. Hopefully as we age we get smarter and don’t let this bother us, but when we are young this has a huge impact. We are much more likely to take all these messages to heart which really can affect our self esteem and confidence. Read More→
Career Moves for the Over 50s Job Seekers
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By Andrea Preece
By Andrea Preece
Keeping current in today’s job market
The workplace is changing at a faster pace than ever, it was just in the past few years that there seemed to be some panic that there would be a shortage of workers, but as the world market has changed the opposite seems to have happened, so as things change we must change too. Here are a few tips to help with the transition whether you are in the workplace and wanting to keep going or if you are re-entering the workforce.
So how do you keep your edge and keep fresh and vibrant in today’s fast paced employment atmosphere?
Keep up with the trends
Keep up to date with what’s happening in the workplace. Ask yourself what is needed and what do you need to do to meet the demands. Are you up to date with technology, are there some computer courses that you need to update?
Computer Savvy
Not only must your office skills be spot on your computer skills must be up to date. The needs of most offices and businesses will include: Navigating the internet, E-mail and it’s applications, Word processing, PowerPoint and Excel spreadsheets .
Go Back to School
Fill in the gaps with education. If you lack in any area of demand, especially computer skills, remember that it’s never too late for more education. Many instructional courses are offered at your local community college, library or Neighbourhood Association. “Lifelong learning is an important aspect of professional growth as well as keeping your mind sharp. Assessing your skills and determining if there are any gaps will help identify potential areas for additional education. Read More→
Tips To Preparing For An Emergency
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By Shirley Price
New Orleans
The situation in New Orleans back in 2005 should have been a wake-up call for us all. Having been in New Orleans just 2 months before Katrina hit and then later seeing on television the devastation that was caused was unbelievable. We had been at the centre where all those people stayed for so long. The hotel we stayed in had windows blown out, the streets where we walked, and the friendly people we met were changed forever. There is no way I could ever even imagine it could happen – but it did. Hopefully we will never see such an event again.
It’s important that we take precautions in our own every-day life too! Ultimate Family Preparedness Pak
Be Prepared
You never know when an emergency situation may occur. There may be severe storms, accidents and many other unexpected situations that happen in life. There have been many incidents of an afternoon hike turning into a Search and Rescue mission. How many people have we heard of that have gone off the road in their vehicles due to icy conditions, or from falling asleep at the wheel etc. and sometimes they have been missing for days. I’m sure not one of these individuals got up that day and thought they were going to end up in a situation such as that.
Safety for Outdoor Lovers
For the outdoor lovers particularly, the hunters, fishermen, rock climbers, skier, How prepared are you in the event of an emergency, an accident, or even getting lost? If you ever found yourself in such a situation you would hope that you would be capable of making some important decisions to get you out of the mess you find yourself in.
Smart Planning
Making smart planning decisions can help to avoid accidents in the first place. And, for those situations that arise that you have no control over at least be able to maintain self control and act accordingly to the situation at hand. Providing that you are not severely injured and in fairly good physical condition the last thing you would need is to be too stunned by the problem you are facing to be able to make decisions that may save your life or someone else’s. Here are some tips in case of emergencies: Read More→
How To REALLY Enjoy Your Kid’s Inheritance.
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The modern era of information and technology offers opportunities for parents to enjoy their kid’s inheritance; after all, they worked very hard for many years they deserve to have a break from the hustle and bustle of life and simply have fun.
Maybe a Harley Davidson Motorcycle is your style: When it comes to sports or non-sports motorcycle, Harley Davidson is on top of the line. They have all types of motorcycle that suit your needs. From the classic to the latest trends and model, Harley Davidson motorcycle can satisfy your craving for doing something new and exciting. Actually, this type of motorcycle brings out the famous bad boy image, which attracts many women.
Go on a Luxury Cruise. It is an exciting getaway vacation onboard a passenger ships with high standards of accommodation that sails across continents with destinations such as the Grand Americas, Asia and Africa, Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, New England and Canada. It is one excellent way of socializing with people of different backgrounds. Having several destinations in one vacation package is truly worthy.Online Exclusives – Find the Perfect Cruise Read More→
Time Goes By!
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By Shirley Price
The end of a year is almost upon us. It’s another year that seems to have flown by. I don’t know about you but the older I get the faster time seems to go by. While the New Year is a time when many make New Year’s resolutions and set often meaningless goals for the coming year, for most of us they are goals soon forgotten. I know I’ve done it myself on many occasions. The difference this year end is that it is also the end of a decade and we are soon to start another.
There is a lot to learn from looking back over the year just gone and see what you actually accomplished and what you are grateful for. Regardless of how good or bad it’s been we need to find things to be grateful for. Often it can seem that it’s been quite uneventful but even in the uneventful years there are successes even if they are small and it’s good to acknowledge them.
I look back at this year and it’s been far from the most eventful year in my life. In many ways it would be looked at as quite boring but boring is good compared to a really bad year. Other than a few days in Chicago earlier in the year I haven’t been very far from home. But I’ve been learning a totally new skill for me and I’m amazed at just how far I’ve come with it. Yes, there’s still a way to go but if someone had said to me even a year ago that I would learn this I would have said no way. We had a beautiful summer and I live in a lovely area so those are a couple of the things that I am grateful for.
We all have years that we recall with a smile and there are the years that when we think back we recall with tears. So how has your year been and more important how has your decade been? Read More→
