CREATIVE REFIREMENT-RETIREMENT

As we Sage our abilities and needs start to change. Today’s boomers and beyond, those over fifty begin to seek ways to continue life-long learning, provide leadership, mentorship, community and service. Sages want to continue their enthusiasm for life. They know that the challenges that lie ahead are best faced with well honed or newly developed skills and interests. As we add years, good relationships and attention to one’s health are vital components. Lately, I’ve been wondering if staying in my home town will be the best alternative for me in the long run. My family is scattered, so being near one member means leaving another. The idea of moving upsizing, downsizing, having more than one home, keeping or changing my immediate community are all challenging decisions. I anticipate that they will be made in fits and starts and with a lot of help from my family, friends and colleagues. I often ask myself; “What are the most import components in my life and how can I best keep them?” How can I plan ahead for possible health issues? What are my options? How do my economics impact my decisions? I find these questions exciting and anxiety producing. As a professional who deals with people trying to make these choices every day, I would have liked to believe that I would have an easy path to what lies ahead. As with the shoemaker who rarely makes his or her own shoes, although I am considered by many to be a Sage in this arena, I too will need the help of others as I wend my way on this aspect of my life long journey. I share this with those FiftyandFurthermore to remind you that for me, as it is for you, it is essential to reach out. Truly, life is too hard to do alone.

HEY GUYS, WE WOMEN WANT YOU AROUND

Women with access to preventative health care treatments, use them. Men, on the other hand do not. This relaxed attitude by men about their health has alarming long-term consequences. For example, all 10 leading causes of death affect men at higher rates than women. In addition, the average man’s life span is six years less than a woman’s. (This is a change from 1920, when a man’s average life span was only one year less than a woman’s.)

However, it’s common sense that if a man, at any age, begins seeing a doctor regularly, getting screening tests, and taking preventive measures, his quality of life will be greatly improved down the road. He will also reduce his risk of premature death and disability. Thus women need to do all they can to support the guys who they love to take care of themselves. It will help both sexes stick around. Even though the two sexes rarely talk the same language, I believe most women need the opposite sex to help keep life interesting and vibrant It’s getting through the verbal/thinking disconnect that makes those connective moments magical. So stay well all.