Create An Unusual File Folder Your Family Will Love By Chloe JonPaul A couple of years ago I never would have thought of doing this, but now I\’m certain that it will be one of the best gifts I can leave to my family. With Boomers living a longer, more productive life, one might be tempted to think that such a plan isn\’t necessary but we need to remember that tomorrow isn\’t promised to any of us. With that thought in mind, I\’ll describe the special folder that now rests in the hanging file at my telephone center. I labeled it The Big Event. It contains everything my... Read More

Nora Ephron Hates Me By Jaki Scarcello Nora Ephron hates me. I feel badly about that I really do. She seems to be an amazing woman, smart, funny and so talented. Nora, for those of you who thought she was just a film director, producer, screenwriter and journalist, is also the author of I Feel Bad About My Neck. Nora, I can live with your disgust because I am on a mission. Ms Ephron says that she can’t stand people who write about how great it is to be old. She asks “Don’t they have necks?” Well Nora I do have a neck and I am sticking my aged and wrinkled neck out and telling women it... Read More

This is What Bigotry Looks Like By Jaki Scarcello A few weeks ago the Los Angeles Times printed an interview with Gloria Steinem. In that interview Ms. Steinem gave her opinions on the current state of the women’s liberation movement. It is not Ms. Steinem’s interview or opinions that I want to discuss in this posting but one reader’s response to her remarks and I quote: “It’s time for Gloria Steinem to recognize the early stages of dementia. We’re not living in the 19th century anymore. …She and her fellow travelers need to think more about where to be buried than the so –called... Read More

Five Promises to Yourself for 2011 By Julie Hall for the NABBW Happy New Year! These days, it appears increasingly difficult to stay on the level emotionally. So much comes at us that it\’s depressing to just turn on the TV. To combat this heaviness that many feel, I have five suggestions to make us feel more buoyant this year. Please share them with your family and friends, since we all need to support one another during these challenging times. Let It Go! Let go of anything that weighs you down. Surplus material possessions and stuff that no longer has meaning, people and relationships... Read More

Are you an imploder or an exploder? So many of us have been taught to stuff our anger, never make waves, pretend all\’s fine….but is it? Underneath the masks of make believe can lie a seething discontent ready to boil up when least expected. This over-reaction causes much pain and confusion, while suppres- sion creates illness.  Read More

Wondering what all these W\’s have in common? They provide cases of excellent role models in sports that we can pass on to our children and grandchildren. After witnessing so many instances of poor sportsmanship over the years, it\’s impressive to have examples of positive behavior by athletes. Legendary U.C.L.A. basketball coach John Wooden was known for his inspiration and motivation, on and off the court. His philosophy of life – as well as his entire persona – exemplified the values we wish to impart to our children. His style was gracious, even as he focused on creating... Read More

I\’m sure you aware of some things you want to change in your life, that your heart longs for. It is likely that these longings have been with you for quite a while, but you have not been able to achieve them – yet. Now is the time to find out what has been stopping you, so that you can finally dissolve those blocks. Although objective real-life obstacles may sometimes exist, what usually holds us back are our inner obstacles – our fears and negative beliefs. Some of them we hear in our self-talk, the things we tell ourselves. This self-talk can be very harsh – we may even call... Read More

Holidays can be difficult for widows. Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, Thanksgiving or New Years, the memories of past holidays can keep widows stuck in the past and unable to move forward in their life. It can feel impossible to even consider participating in a holiday without one\’s spouse. Those shared traditions and memories from past years probably do not feel appropriate now. Sometimes widows feel guilty when they think about participating in special days without their spouse. These special days can also bring up a lot of sadness for widows. Widows can also experience a great... Read More

We are all on a personal path of awakening to our higher self. Let\’s call that “self” our Wise Woman. She is the non-judgmental observer part of ourselves who watches over our life\’s drama and gives us knowing nudges. Some call this awareness our inner voice, our authentic self or just plain intuitive knowing. Our ego, however, that finely formed false identity we\’ve molded and used for so long, rarely listens to the quiet voice of our Wise Woman. The ego\’s mask has hardened by our posture of performing its familiar acts. How can we listen to our Wise Woman when... Read More

People should behave like lobsters, says Rev. Sheila Pierce, and spend their lives continually molting. We have a lot to learn from a clawed creature that removes himself from his old shell in order to grow a new one dozens of times over, said the pastor on a recent Sunday at the Center of Peace in Philadelphia. Our inner growth process can change just as often in the search of our true self. While a lobster prepares for molting, his old shell cracks and he backs out of it, leaving it behind. In the new soft shell, he is vulnerable to predators, and must remain in hiding while waiting for his shell... Read More