midlifejourney.com

I have an aunt who has lived a very long and wonderful life. She is 91 years young. Unfortunately, she recently suffered what they believe is a combination stroke and heart attack and is now in hospice care. They don’t believe she will be with us much longer.

She is one of a passing generation… those who were born during the depression of the 1930’s and World War II. She was married to an army career officer and traveled all over the world during the 50’s and 60’s. Such adventures. A few years ago we (the younger generation) were smart enough to record her thoughts on her early years: the history of the family that she knew, what kind of world she lived in. We drove her crazy asking so many questions. Her answers are invaluable to us now.

If you are in the fortunate position to still have members of your family who lived a generation back, try to capture their past, either in video or audio recordings. It’s worth the time for once they have passed, those memories will be gone forever.

Just a thought.

Author: Joanna Garzilli

Do you believe in Soul Mates or have you lost hope?

Are you someone who believes:

A) I’m never going to meet my soul mate

B) I used to believe in soul mates until I had a string of frustrating relationships

C) I’m not meeting anyone I like at all!

Please do not give up if you relate to any or all of the above comments. Believe me, I know, I’ve been there and it hurts. The good news is you can attract a soul mate. It’s not too late!

Would you like to know about the different type of soul mate relationships that exist? Why they exist? How to create the best relationships for yourself?

Remember you have FREE WILL.

Here are 3 tips to ensure you call in the right mate and that you make you’re present relationships the best they can be.

1) Treat Yourself with Love

Some people think this means they will become self absorbed and selfish. Then they feel guilty and self criticism kicks in. Oh the voice of that inner critic is so very quiet. Deadly subtle at times, they don’t even notice it. Can you relate?

When was the last time you took really good care of yourself?

My recommendations:

a) Book a lovely spa treatment
b) Arrange a hike with a friend in the fresh air
c) Have some quality time with your best friend (turn your cell phone off and be fully present)

Why do any of the above suggestions?

Because they get you in touch with your soul. When you’re connected to your soul desires this leads to;

2) Listen to Your Soul and You’ll Meet Your Ideal Mate

You have to know what you want. If you’re not clear about who you wish to spend your days with, you’re not going to get what you want. Get quiet and listen inside.

When you love yourself, take good care of yourself, you develop a sense of inner peace. This allows you to be specific about how you wish to spend your time and who you want to hang out with.

3) You Have to Believe Your Soul Mate Exists

You’ve done steps 1 and 2 and hopefully your soul is sensing the potential of a special soul mate. This is when the self sabotage is likely to kick in.

“I’ll never meet someone tall, dark and handsome. If I do, there’s got to be a snag. He’ll leave me, be unfaithful. I’ll get bored”.

The little self-sabotaging voice goes on and on until it wears down your positive expectations. What’s the outcome? You don’t meet anyone or you end up disappointed.

Be optimistic. Even if it feels weird. Look in the mirror and appreciate your beauty. SMILE : )

There is a soul mate out there just for you.

Article Source: Articlesbase.com

This past Sunday The Boston Globe had a feature article on the best cities in which to find a mate. After mounds of research they discovered what is probably obvious to those who live in the big cities of New York, San Diego and Boston.

If you’re a guy looking for a woman, head for the Big Apple. There are way more single women than men in the city. (Remember Sex and the City… the character Carrie often mentions this imbalance.)

If you’re a woman looking for a guy, head for sunny CAL… San Diego is swarming with single guys.

And, if you can stand the cold winters, Boston turns out to be the perfect place for both men and women, because statistics show that we (being a near Bostonian, I can claim ownership of the area) have a near perfect balance between the number of single men and women. Who knew Boston would be a near perfect place to meet the mate of your dreams.

Make your move. Welcome to Boston all you seeking singles.

A Note from the Publisher:

I’ve done my share of online dating. First tried match.com. No luck. Then eHarmony.com. Had a little more success there, but made a big mistake. I did not post a photograph. Anyone interested in dating online, wants to see your face along with your name. I don’t take the best photo, so I avoided the issue by not posting a picture of myself. It wasn’t a problem at first. I had several contacts to pursue, and one, a lawyer, seemed most eager to meet me… until I finally posted my photo. Then I got dumped. The problem - I don’t know if it was my face he didn’t like… or he just found someone else.

My Advice: Without a face, it is easy to assume the best or the worst about your potential online mate. Be upfront right from the start. Post your best photo and let the chips fall.

Here is more advice to follow for online dating.

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Author: Joe Davidson

Where does one meet mature women? It is more difficult than you might think. For those of us that prefer experience to the blush of youth, this is an important question. Younger women make themselves available to date, they regularly attend bars and other social functions whose whole purpose is to pair people off with one another. Not so the mature woman. She has tastes a tad more elegant and refined. There is no such sexual mecca for mature women, but if not the traditional meat markets where is one supposed to meet them?

I know one man who started attending church for just this reason. He was a divorcee in his early forties and not particularly religious. He had noticed that there were a substantial number of single (for one reason or the other) women his age attending church, so he became a regular patron. This worked out well for him. He was able to attend all kinds of social functions, and meet single mature women. But despite how well this worked out, it’s a lot of trouble to go to when there is an easier way to go about it.

Deprived of the meat market, mature women are now meeting potential partners via online dating. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, really. After all the whole point of online dating is to lay all your cards on the table from the start, and see who is interested. This suits that mature woman’s frame of mind. Nothing like the ticking of the biological clock to give a girl a sense of efficiency in dating. No time to mess around when forty is just around the corner.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that mature women make up a large percentage of online daters. Housewives play a lot of online games, and once one is accustomed to the feeling of an online community, it’s a short step from using it to find entertainment to using it to find love.

Article Source: Articlesbase

About the Author:

Joe Davidson provides KissCafe with interesting articles about online dating.His articles offer informative insight into Peterborough dating,Brampton Swinger,Brampton Swinging,Oshawa Dating,Brantford Swing dance , Mature Woman.

Author: Mark Webb

What makes the Great great? They are willing to be different from those around them. Friends and family may tell you to give up or that you are trying too hard. They may suggest games that incite a sense of jealousy. Whatever the case may be, you must decide whose calling the shots. You have to live with the decisions and the actions that you make. Make sure that this is done to the best of your ability.

Direction comes a lot easier when you have a model of how you want to be. When I am not sure how to model myself as a great partner in a particular situation I like to ask the question, “How would the partner I’d like to be do the thing I want to do?” Often, I get an immediate answer and proceed from there. Where you are right now in life is the result of the kind of questions that you ask. Make sure that you ask questions that promote a positive direction not only for yourself but also especially for the future of your relationship. Another example is “What can I do to have a wonderful relationship?”

Greatness as a partner demands that you expand your ability to love. Growing a better relationship will be in direct proportion to your ability to love. Strive to consistently love in all that you do. Be consistent in love with the words that you speak and especially in the words that you do not speak. Love requires sacrifice. It means doing things that you do not feel like doing and listening to the same complaint over and over again. Partner focused relationships are synonymous with love. Only through these sacrifices of love will you ever achieve greatness.

Maturity takes time. Some skills are harder to learn than others. Keep this in mind as you are suffering with new concepts like listening techniques. Advancement comes through hard work. You would never go to your supervisor and say, “Give me a raise and I’ll work harder.” Instead, you would make sure that your performance is top notch and if it is, then you probably will not have to ask for the raise. Promotion will be inevitable. Always be willing to go the extra mile. Your partner deserves it.

Do not compare your efforts to those of others who complain. Those who whine and complain never achieve the mature levels of greatness. They end up divorced and alone. Fear will be your biggest obstacle on your path towards greatness. Fear creates countless reasons why you should forget you ever thought about being a Great partner. Perhaps you could save yourself the embarrassment of failure and rejection if you just pretend that you have never heard the difference between good partners and great ones. Maybe you could blend in with the others who exist in a dead end relationship. It is normal to doubt your ability to transform into a great partner but do not surrender to this fear. It is a lie. I have transformed. I have seen hundreds of men and women transform. You can too!
Commit yourself to be GREAT.

About the Author: Mark Webb is the author of How To Be a Great Partner and founder of Partner Focused Relationships. Sign up for Mark Webbs Relationship Strategies Ezine ($100 value). Just visit his website at http://www.powerfulrelationshipadvice.com or http://www.therelationshipspecialist.com.

- Phyllis Goldberg

As your kidults begin to pack up for college, does the thought of creating a more grown-up nest sound good? Can you visualize more simplicity and less chaos? Think about what it would be like to clean out the drawers, give away the memorabilia your kids don’t want, get rid of all the stuff they’re outgrown and make your home yours again.

If you decide to make a change, it will be an ongoing process filled with both positive and negative emotions. This transition signifies the end of an important chapter in your life - the house full of family and activity, of growing children and all their antics. You may mourn the loss of many things, material and otherwise - valuable pieces of history relegated to the attic or sold for some ridiculous price, the hard discs of your past life, memories triggered by stuff. Yet, you’ll grow to feel content, surrounded by what is most important to you - perhaps the photo albums that trace your family history, souvenirs from your travels or your treasured books - and all the precious memories that you carry around in your head.

Soon, you may find yourself anticipating the changes and getting excited about making a fresh start. Altering your surroundings at home can stimulate you to modify your outlook on life. This shift can give you the impetus to explore new areas and discover adventures outside your familiarity. As you consider feathering a nest that works for you, here are some ideas to help get you started. Remember that any process takes time and, by definition, involves flexibility.

1. It is never too early - or too late - to begin gathering information about the changes you plan to initiate. What do you need to learn more about? Speak to as many people as possible who have already explored or gone through this experience. Surf the net and be on the lookout for books you can read or seminars you can take to learn more. Talk to anyone who is in a position to inform, educate and help you.
2. As the Greek sages told us centuries ago, know thyself. Increase your self awareness by examining who you are now and who you want to become. Are your old dreams still meaningful to you? What else are you committed to now? What ‘contracts’ have you made with yourself or your significant other that impact your choices today? Now that you do not have the daily responsibilities of 24 hour, hands-on parenting, will you have more time for yourself? Do you expect to work, play, volunteer, or continue to explore your options? Keeping a journal will provide some structure as you brainstorm, set new goals and put your plans in motion.
3. Once you have created the dream, let your priorities determine what is realistic. Are you alone in making the decision? Is this change financially feasible? Are there work or personal issues to take into consideration? Are there others in your household whose needs you will consider?
4. Understand that emotional reactions at times of transition are both common and normal. Allow yourself to express and accept your feelings as they emerge. Although you may regret what you have given away, you will also feel relieved about less clutter. Perhaps you will vacillate between enthusiasm about how your new digs reflect the current you and sadness about what you have left behind. Your interest in exploring new opportunities may fluctuate with your fears of the unknown.

As you begin feathering your grown-up nest, be mindful of what you need. Have confidence in yourself and trust that you will maintain in your life what is truly meaningful. While drawing from past experiences, traditions and values, you will create a present for yourself that is rich and rewarding.

(C) 2007, Her Mentor Center

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About the Author: Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. is the founder of http://www.HerMentorCenter.com, a website for midlife women and http://www.NourishingRelationships.Blogspot.com, a blog for the Sandwich Generation. She is the author of a forthcoming book about Baby Boomers and family relationships. She offers a free newsletter Stepping Stones.

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READ NEW ARTICLE ON STAYING HEALTHY PAGE: Positive Thinking Exercises and Activities

Author: Fatimah Musa

Living a happy and productive life is nothing more that the sum total of many happy days of doing productive activities. It is about creating as many “Now” moments as possible.

Know exactly what it is that you want.
Decide what happiness means to you. Search for what you want out of life and what you enjoy doing and having. Whatever you are seeking, you will find it within. Information from books, other people’s opinions and ideas are stimulus to trigger your thought process. The answers are inside you.

Have full control of your future.
You can become and have anything that you desire because you are in control. To be or not to be is up to you. You can choose to act instead of reacting. You remain dogged by the same situation repeatedly because you have not chosen to have control of your own mind and attitude. Once you decide to take charge, you will end your pain and misery.

Hang around with happy and productive people.
Disassociate and walk away from people and situations that cause unhappiness. Hang around with people you trust and are in harmony with your needs and desires.

Enjoy work that is fun and challenging.
Nothing is more stressful than doing work that you don’t enjoy. Find work that gives you pleasures and makes you feel excited. It is the kind of work where you can put you heart into it and will perform your best.

Enjoy your own company.
Learn to enjoy your own company. Lavish yourself with reading, learning or indulge yourself with any activity that makes you happy. Expect the best from yourself and you activities. Explore and discover the real you and persuade yourself to like whoever you are. The most important person and the only person you talk and listen to on an ongoing basis is the one inside your own mind.

Build better relationships.
Treat others well and with respect, appreciate them and you will get the same treatment. Invest time, energy, spirit and your heart into your relationships. Commit to promote each others’ welfare and happiness. Avoid misunderstandings and frustrations by communicating effectively. Share your concerns and understanding each others values and rules.

Create new things.
Do something different to create new interests. Working on new things personally and professionally motivates and increases your chances for personal growth and satisfaction. You will build better life skills, create new opportunities and meet new and interesting people.

Each activity and progress will lead to more growth each day and will have a cumulative effect on your future.

Keep your attention on your goal.
Guard your mind from negative and disempowering thoughts. Focus and concentrate on what you want even when you are confronted with difficulties and challenges. The more problems you solve, the happier you will feel and you will create more energy.

Heal your soul.
If you have made mistakes, forgive yourself, get up and get going. If someone has done you wrong, don’t let it blind you. Rise above it, don’t get intimidated and let it poison your future. Move forward to chase your dreams and purpose in life. Life is too short to pay long visits to old hurts and the unfairness of life.

About The Author: Fatimah Musa provides information, tips and quotes to help people become aware that any future success starts with their personal growth. You can visit Fatimah at http://www.about-personal-growth.com or read more articles at http://www.about-personal-growth.com/personal-growth-articles.html.

Source: articlecity.com

Author: Chuck Yoke

Once upon a time everyone believed that you “peaked” at age 40. After that it was all downhill - in terms of career, finances, health, and activity. Thankfully that has changed!

We mid-lifers are not ready for the rocking chair, we’re ready to ROCK! Our golden years will not be spent remembering the past; they’ll be focused on reaching for the future.

Our “mid-life crisis” is no longer about recapturing our youth and wondering what could have been; rather our “crisis” is deciding what we will do next! We’re not ready to slow down, we’re ready to move on.

We’re reaching for financial independence so we can live the life we want. We see the Internet as a wealth of opportunities that we mid-lifers can take advantage of to increase our income and help achieve financial independence.

As seasoned work force veterans, we aren’t deceived by “get rick quick” schemes. We know that with any potential business opportunity there needs to be research, thought, and careful consideration. And as with everything in life, we realize we get out of these opportunities what we put into them. We know it takes effort, but then we’ve already put forth effort…to make someone else wealthy. Now it’s our turn!

And to insure we enjoy the rewards of our efforts, we keep ourselves healthy. We’re not ready to sit down and let life pass us by. We’re jumping into life fully and living it to the max!

A healthy life is a life lived to the fullest. Whether it is with strength training, Yoga, circuit training, or Tai Chi (we do them all), we strive to keep our bodies and minds healthy and active.

And we don’t stop there. We combine alternative medicine with traditional medical care. We take vitamins and herbal supplements along with any needed medication. And we maintain our spiritual health for we understand that our mental outlook is key to our body’s health.

Recent studies have shown that lifelong learning is a key to keeping the mind healthy and alert. Activities such as learning how to play a musical instrument, learning a new language, or learning how to use a computer have been proven to grow new neurons in the brain and create new pathways that help fight mental decline and keep the brain young.

Many mid-lifers seek to learn something new everyday. We take guitar lessons, learn languages, play logic games, and acquire new skills. Some of us go back to school to take courses in economics, philosophy, science, or math. And some of us even obtain a new college degree - not for a specific career purpose, but as a way to keep the mind active.

But it’s not all work and no play for us mid-lifers. We enjoy our free-time to the fullest and view the world as our playground.

Saint Augustine is quoted as saying “the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” We mid-lifers want to read the entire book!

Through travel we learn new ideas, experience different cultures, taste new foods and see new vistas. We become familiar with people we once viewed as different and become more aware of the common bonds that bind us all together. By taking advantage of travel discounts, group tour specials, last minute trip deals, and packaged vacations we see the world without emptying our bank account.

We mid-lifers realize that living is life-long! Whether it’s through new business ventures, continued education, exercise, travel or a host of other ways, we’re kicking the rocking chair aside and heading out the door.

So get up and get moving! Your life awaits!

About the Author: Chuck is a mid-lifer who created the Gray Squad to help others turn their mid-life into the best life. You can find out more at The Gray Squad: Turning Mid-Life Into the Best Life

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If you are like so many single midlifers, you have friends who try to “fix you up.” They know someone who would be just perfect for you. Sick of staying home alone most nights, you reluctantly agree to meet this “perfect match.”

Being open to new relationships is a full time job. We are busy with career, education, maybe kids, parents, or who knows which relative or friend who needs our assistance. To keep all that in the air and at the same time start a new relationship takes energy. And often we just don’t have it. Or care. But our friends do. They want us to be happy. To be with someone special. To have a partner in our lives.

So you go on the date, or agree to meet this new somebody. And you know almost instantly. Electricity or not? Spark or not? Any chance or not? You don’t know how you know, but you know. Your friends won’t see it happen, most likely. And they will wonder why you don’t give this new “somebody” a second chance. And you can’t explain it except to say “there’s no there, there.”

And it’s ok, because you still have this career, and education, and maybe kids, or parents, or who knows which relative who needs your assistance. And if the right partner is “out there” you’ll find ‘em. And there will be electricity.