Archive for January, 2008

Women Over Fifty—Take the Challenge!

Posted on January 31, 2008. Filed under: Your Midlife Revival | Tags: 1960’s hippies, 50+, 60s hippies, aging, aging process, aging with grace, anti aging, attitude, baby boomer, baby boomer generation, baby boomer woman, baby boomer women, baby boomer women over 50, baby boomer women over fifty, baby boomers, body, body image, book, boomer, boomers, career, career development, career transition, careers after 50, connect, counterculture, creative, early menopause, Eileen Williams, emotion, empty nest, empty nesters, encourage, female forums, feminist, feminist history, feminist movement, feminists, Fifties, fifty plus, first-wave boomers, forum for women, forums for women, friends, fun, generation, goal, goal attainment, goal setting, groovy, health, healthy aging, hippie, hippie chick, hippie culture, hippies, hippies in the sixties, hippy, humor, inspiration, invitation, lifelong learning, M. Eileen Williams, making goals, marriage, Mary Eileen Williams, mature resources, mature women, maturity, menopausal symptoms, menopause, midlife, midlife crisis, midlife transition, old broad, older women, over fifty, peri menopause, post-menopausal, post-menopause, psychedelic, reaching your goals, retirement, retirement planning, senior discount, senior services, seniors, Seventies, share, signs of menopause, Sixties, speak, story, support, symptoms of menopause, the 50's, the 60's, tips for baby boomer women, turning fifty, voice, wisdom, women, women over 50, women over fifty, write, writer |

For those of you who have been following this New Year’s series—proven methods for achieving the success you want—I’m inviting you, now, to step up to the plate. For those of you who are new to my blog and haven’t, as yet, had a chance to review the guidelines, I suggest you take a look at the process. Each of the steps can be found under posts made in January or those under “Your Midlife Revival.”

As women over fifty, the majority of us have spent much of our lives putting the needs of others ahead of our own. In fact, all too frequently our goals fell to the bottom of our lists. In many ways, we’re hard-wired to do this. Mother Nature has graced women with the hormones and brain chemistry that cause us to nurture and do for those around us—especially as mothers of young children.

With age, however, our hormones shift and we acquire a renewed focus on our own aspirations. So, ladies this is YOUR TIME and there never was a better one. Numerologists tell us that 2008 adds up to a “one year.” Accordingly, this is an auspicious time for creating a vision for yourself, beginning new ventures, and setting and achieving goals. I’m not suggesting that you start believing in numerology (unless you already do) but this does seem like a great message to kick off the New Year.

So, without further ado, let’s take the plunge and commit publicly to achieving something we deeply desire. As promised, I’ll begin the process. I’ve wanted, for some time, to get rid of my middle-aged spread once and for all. This means I need to lose at least ten pounds. A few more wouldn’t hurt, but I’ve learned to make my goals challenging enough to motivate me but not so difficult that I’ll get discouraged and quit.

According to our guidelines, I need to keep my end goal in mind and work backwards to create smaller, achievable steps so as to monitor my progress:

I hereby commit to losing 10 pounds by May 1^st.

7 pounds by April 1^st

4 pounds by March 1^st.

I’m stating these goals publicly and will report back to you monthly. I recognize that the added incentive of declaring my progress, or lack thereof, in an open forum will help me overcome temptation and keep my eyes on my desired outcome. After all, I don’t want to have to tell you that I’ve failed. 

And, now who will be next to step up to the plate? I realize that this can be frightening but it can also be a huge motivator. Think of the stars who’ve advertised their diet successes on TV. When they started, they needed to lose substantial amounts of weight. But, with all those eyes upon them, they also knew that they shouldn’t and wouldn’t fail.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking only about goals that concern weight loss. These are just good examples of the power of planning, monitoring your progress at selected intervals, and using a network to support your efforts. But you may have very different objectives for yourself. Just remember to break your end result down into smaller steps so that you can schedule and check your results as you go along.

So, make your commitment public and go after what you want with the full force of your resolve and energies. This is truly your golden opportunity to define your goals, take on the challenge, and pledge to make your very own dreams come true!

Women Over Fifty—Success In ‘08, Part VI

Posted on January 25, 2008. Filed under: Your Midlife Revival | Tags: 1960’s hippies, 50+, 60s hippies, aging, aging process, aging with grace, anti aging, attitude, baby boomer, baby boomer generation, baby boomer woman, baby boomer women, baby boomer women over 50, baby boomer women over fifty, baby boomers, body, body image, book, boomer, boomers, career, career development, career transition, careers after 50, connect, counterculture, creative, early menopause, Eileen Williams, emotion, empty nest, empty nesters, encourage, female forums, feminist, feminist history, feminist movement, feminists, Fifties, fifty plus, first-wave boomers, forum for women, forums for women, friends, fun, generation, goal, goal attainment, goal setting, groovy, health, healthy aging, hippie, hippie chick, hippie culture, hippies, hippies in the sixties, hippy, humor, inspiration, invitation, lifelong learning, M. Eileen Williams, making goals, marriage, Mary Eileen Williams, mature resources, mature women, maturity, menopausal symptoms, menopause, midlife, midlife crisis, midlife transition, old broad, older women, over fifty, peri menopause, post-menopausal, post-menopause, psychedelic, reaching your goals, retirement, retirement planning, senior discount, senior services, seniors, Seventies, share, signs of menopause, Sixties, speak, story, support, symptoms of menopause, the 50's, the 60's, tips for baby boomer women, turning fifty, voice, wisdom, women, women over 50, women over fifty, write, writer |

Baby boomer women are known for following their vision, breaking barriers, and taking on challenges. These feisty traits have produced some pretty amazing results, as our generation has challenged and changed a number of social inequities over the years.

In this sixth installment of our midlife reinvention, I’m going to ask you to take on challenges of a more personal nature.

Don’t worry—you won’t be going it alone. In fact, I contend that the “Lone Ranger” style of making changes is usually doomed for failure. It is by calling on our friends and associates for counsel and support, that we truly will achieve results.

People can prove incredibly valuable resources by providing support in three key areas. First, they can help brainstorm ideas, methods, and actions to achieve the ends you desire. Secondly, they can supply an element of accountability—people with whom to “check-in” who will keep you motivated and moving ahead. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, they can give you the needed encouragement and invaluable emotional support that is such a vital element to creating success in your life.

After reviewing the previous posts, you already know the most effective methods and means to create an action plan. Now, I’m going to ask you to publicly commit to something you really want to make happen for yourself.

I realize that making one’s goals public can be uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I invite you to use this as an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk that will support your success.

I will begin the process in my next post and make a public commitment of my own. I invite each and every one of you to do the same. Let’s create a forum for the exchange of information, resources, and encouragement. Let’s make ’08 the year we truly commit to turning our dreams into realities!

Women Over Fifty—Success In ‘08, Part V

Posted on January 22, 2008. Filed under: Your Midlife Revival | Tags: 1960’s hippies, 50+, 60s hippies, aging, aging process, aging with grace, anti aging, attitude, baby boomer, baby boomer generation, baby boomer woman, baby boomer women, baby boomer women over 50, baby boomer women over fifty, baby boomers, body, body image, book, boomer, boomers, career, career development, career transition, careers after 50, connect, counterculture, creative, early menopause, Eileen Williams, emotion, empty nest, empty nesters, encourage, female forums, feminist, feminist history, feminist movement, feminists, Fifties, fifty plus, first-wave boomers, forum for women, forums for women, friends, fun, generation, goal, goal attainment, goal setting, groovy, health, healthy aging, hippie, hippie chick, hippie culture, hippies, hippies in the sixties, hippy, humor, inspiration, invitation, lifelong learning, M. Eileen Williams, making goals, marriage, Mary Eileen Williams, mature resources, mature women, maturity, menopausal symptoms, menopause, midlife, midlife crisis, midlife transition, old broad, older women, over fifty, peri menopause, post-menopausal, post-menopause, psychedelic, reaching your goals, retirement, retirement planning, senior discount, senior services, seniors, Seventies, share, signs of menopause, Sixties, speak, story, support, symptoms of menopause, the 50's, the 60's, tips for baby boomer women, turning fifty, voice, wisdom, women, women over 50, women over fifty, write, writer |

In the past several posts we’ve discussed how attitude forms the underlying basis for everything we do, the importance of establishing personal boundaries to make best use of time and resources, the need to set goals with the end in mind, and how to create objectives that are specific, realistic, and time targeted. The next step is an important one that is often overlooked.

In order to achieve your desired outcome, it’s necessary to move out of your comfort zone. It is impossible to grow and change without stepping away from the protective, but limiting, life you created for yourself in your younger years. Now, more than ever before, you need to take risks.

When a woman reaches her fifties, as most of us boomers have, she has likely developed a number of habits (some good and some not so good), routines, and default methods of acting and reacting. If these don’t shift, she’ll remain stuck in her same old patterns.

Not only is this lack of growth unproductive, it can also get pretty boring. We have all “been there and done that” a lot by this age and, if we don’t stretch and grow, life can start feeling mundane and dull.

A far better outlook and way of being would be to acknowledge the confident and accomplished woman you’ve become and choose to use these inner resources to provide the momentum for growth and change. Trying something new, accepting challenges, and taking risks can invigorate you and bring a sense of anticipation and excitement back into your days.

So, as you start this New Year, vow to take on at least one risk each week. These can be as simple as eating out at a restaurant alone, taking a class you find challenging, or openly stating your opinion even if it is in opposition to friends and family. If you’re unused to taking risks, it’s better to start small. Even then, you will build your character and self-assurance with every chance you take. And, you may surprise yourself by how easily your confidence grows and success comes your way.

Stepping out of the box can be frightening but it can also bring you tremendous energy, enhanced self-esteem, and a renewed joy in living. So, have the heart and find the courage to take risks, stretch yourself, and move forward to follow your dreams. There never will be a better time than January 2008 to do just that.

Women Over Fifty—Success In ‘08, Part IV

Posted on January 18, 2008. Filed under: Your Midlife Revival | Tags: 1960’s hippies, 50+, 60s hippies, aging, aging process, aging with grace, anti aging, attitude, baby boomer, baby boomer generation, baby boomer woman, baby boomer women, baby boomer women over 50, baby boomer women over fifty, baby boomers, body, body image, book, boomer, boomers, career, career development, career transition, careers after 50, connect, counterculture, creative, early menopause, Eileen Williams, emotion, empty nest, empty nesters, encourage, female forums, feminist, feminist history, feminist movement, feminists, Fifties, fifty plus, first-wave boomers, forum for women, forums for women, friends, fun, generation, goal, goal attainment, goal setting, groovy, health, healthy aging, hippie, hippie chick, hippie culture, hippies, hippies in the sixties, hippy, humor, inspiration, invitation, lifelong learning, M. Eileen Williams, making goals, marriage, Mary Eileen Williams, mature resources, mature women, maturity, menopausal symptoms, menopause, midlife, midlife crisis, midlife transition, old broad, older women, over fifty, peri menopause, post-menopausal, post-menopause, psychedelic, reaching your goals, retirement, retirement planning, senior discount, senior services, seniors, Seventies, share, signs of menopause, Sixties, speak, story, support, symptoms of menopause, the 50's, the 60's, tips for baby boomer women, turning fifty, voice, wisdom, women, women over 50, women over fifty, write, writer |

“I want to lose a lot of weight.” “I want to make some real money this year.” “I’m going to spend more time doing the things I love to do.”

All of these goals sound like great ways to start out the New Year. Yet, each one is doomed for failure. How can this be?

The top reasons that most New Year’s resolutions fail is because they are 1) either too vague and ambiguous or 2) they are too ambitious to be reasonably achieved.

In Part II of our series, we discussed the importance of beginning with the end in mind and working backwards to create specific benchmarks that can be tracked and monitored. It is through this systematic method that you will achieve real results. Otherwise, it’s far too easy to lose focus and drift back into bad habits.

By this age, many of us have mastered the fine art of self-deception. We can, and often do, fool ourselves into believing we are making real and positive changes. If we don’t devise a method to keep an eye on our progress, then we usually won’t end up where we want to be.

The same is true for setting goals that are either too large-scale, too time-consuming, or too energy intense. If our objectives are overly ambitious, we will only get discouraged and eventually give up. Going from being a couch potato to vowing to exercise an hour a day is a sure-fire recipe for failure.

Some of you may have heard of the acronym, SMART, when referring to setting goals. This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Targeted. As you design your action plan for 2008, try to think in terms of setting SMART goals. Then set your benchmarks and track your progress.

It is by taking small, actionable steps, ones that can be checked and monitored, that you can and will make life-altering changes that keep you motivated and achieve the results you want.