Get Some Sleep, Will You? By Leigh Anne Jasheway NABBW’s Boomer Humor Expert I have a theory that worrying about how to look young ages you. Last week, for example, I read an article on how to stay young-looking, and among the usual advice – eat well, exercise, don’t squint while reading articles on how to stay young-looking – was this tip, which has caused me to lose sleep for four days in a row : Don’t sleep on your side. You’ll add fine lines and wrinkles to that one side. Not only will you look older than if you sleep on your back, you’ll look lopsided. Oh, perfect! Now not... Read More

May Brings Us The Power of Maybe (And Some Funny Videos) By Leigh Anne Jasheway NABBW’s Boomer Humor Expert There is power in “No.” No, I can’t bake 400 brownies for the class bake sale tomorrow. No, I won’t be able to stay late after work again because the computer ate that file. No, I’d prefer no to talk to you about changing my cell phone plan. There is also power in “Yes.” Yes, I would like to try that new chocolate dessert. Yes, I will marry you. Yes, I am game for boarding this spaceship, but only if you return me to earth in time for dinner because I’m... Read More

Conflicts Can Be… Romantic? By Judith Sherven, Ph.D. NABBW’s Healthy Relationships Expert Romantic conflicts are as common as . . . Money, Sex, In-laws, Holidays, Feeling Ignored, Vacations Enough Time Together, Lack of Listening, Dirty Fighting The “Right Way” to Do Things, “You Just Don\’t Get It” and on and on . . . And whether you’ve been together for years and years, or you’ve become a couple just recently, no doubt both of you have your own unique trouble spots that make conflicts even more confusing. Add to that the entrenched ideas about... Read More

A Slice of Birthday Cake with Roses on Top By Julie Hall for the NABBW Remember when we were little kids and our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, when we saw the thick, sugary icing and special colored roses on our birthday cake?  Everyone fought over those colorful, sugary roses that contained enough fuel to shoot us to the moon and back, or at least until midnight when the sugar buzz finally wore off.  We were probably 5 or 6 years old, but already we had learned a lesson that would follow us throughout our lives. The voice in our heads beckoned us to eat as much as possible including... Read More

How Do You Begin In A Transition? By Natalie Caine, M.A. NABBW’s Empty Nest Expert An empty nest parent called shyly tearful about her daughter leaving for college and her not knowing what life will be like in the emptiness. When you leave the familiar to the unknown, tears fall and your inner doubter chats away in your sweet mind. You are not alone. You are on a walk where you are invited to go within and unfold new parts of you that had to go dormant while daily parenting. Who wouldn’t feel scared with a major life shift of roles?  The parent you were is called to step back. I wept... Read More

How to Turn Your Commitment for Change into Action By Rosemary Lichtman, Ph.D. and Phyllis Goldberg, Ph.D. for the NABBW In the wake of floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis and radiation leaks this spring, we\’re struck by the realization that changes in the Earth present in many ways. At times they\’re gradual or sudden and violent. They can come from the forces of nature or the actions of human beings. They can be unexpected and out of our control or planned and anticipated. In any case, the havoc they wreak can affect millions. The effects of the natural disasters this spring... Read More

Necessary Endings By Mary J. Yerkes NABBW’s Living with Chronic Illness Expert Endings are a necessary part of life. Despite their inevitability, most of us face endings with a sense of regret, anger, and even fear. Whether personal, job-related, or relationship-oriented, endings are tough. But realize this — to move forward, we sometimes have to give up relationships, businesses, and more to make room for the new. Recently, I’ve been working through a number of personal and professional endings in my life. As I began to explore this concept in my personal life, I came across a new... Read More

Imagine Yourself Enjoying a Perennial Cutting Garden By Deborah Clark NABBW’s Gardening Expert Mostly people think of annuals for cutting because of their continuous bloom over a long period.  But carefully selected perennials can also be used. I especially like the appeal of a garden that keeps coming back and has interest through the seasons. Here\’s how one of my favorite perennial gardens came into being: When the bulldozers plowed through the wild tangle at the back of this homeowner\’s lot, a dogwood, tall enough to provide mature beauty, was among the unexpected treasures. The... Read More

Energy Medicine for Men: What Every Boomer Woman Should Know About Helping Her Man Eliminate Stress from His Life By Jed Diamond, Ph.D., LCSW NABBW’s Male Menopause Expert Here\’s What You Must Know About Boomer Men’s Silent Health Crisis The Men’s Health Network (MHN) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to educate men and their families about the state of men’s health today and how it can be improved.  MHN details the “silent health crisis” of men as follows: 1. Life Expectancy Gender Gap In 1920, the life expectancy gender gap was only 1.0 year.  ... Read More

The Power of Journaling – Article 6 (Part 2) in a Series: Journaling Equipment By Erica Miner NABBW’s Journaling Expert Greetings, Boomers! By now I hope you have done a bit of research on last month’s “Equipment” article and with any luck have found a number of possibilities. Allow me to add a few more alternatives. Let’s start by revisiting the sketchbook option. If you are planning to do your journal in a sketchbook, you might want to look for one with a spiral binding; that way you can more easily add pages should you choose to include photos or mementos: With today’s... Read More