I read a very interesting article the other day at MSNBC.com. The article is subtitled “But studies show that people actually get happier as they get older.” Here is the link to the article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13347198/

I have just completed the “Longevity Bible by Gary Small M.D and just love the concepts. It validates my thinking and programs I share with my clients. It is truly a holistic blueprint for a healthy and long life. It is an easy read and provides practical strategies you can use every day for living better longer, and it backs up these techniques with scientific evidence. This book will remind you of the importance of “re-firing” your life on a daily basis if you want to enjoy the retirement of your dreams.

If you’re like most folks, you have your doubts about retiring. On one hand you may be elated. On the other hand, you may be a bit frustrated because you have no idea what the future entails. We’ll, we’re here to tell you that shifting gears from a working professional to a successful retiree can be easy. In fact, we consider it like simply shifting gears to a different lifestyle and being open to redefining yourselves. It is not about giving up. It is about undergoing a career transformation, maintaining your professional and personal identity and taking control of your life. It is about being productive, not losing touch with that inner you that makes you special.

Well, Vickie, you caught something I didn’t realize I wrote.

Yes, I am working on a new idea. It does concern retirement. And, I think it will be very helpful to you and others in planning for a re-fired second half of life.

Please understand, however, that this is still just an idea. I don’t think it would be appropriate to start talking about it just yet. I need more time to work on making the idea a reality. Please keep checking the blog for additional information. As this begins to come to fruition, I will certainly want to tell everyone all about it.

I am sorry for posting late this week.  I’ve been working on a new idea that has had me wrapped up since my return from Alaska. So I had to tear myself away to spend the past week preparing for my annual empowerment retreat at a fabulous house on the beach in upstate Connecticut. Fourteen women joined me for a fantastic weekend of bonding, dreaming and making specific action plans for the life they want. 
 
The theme of the weekend was to live at your full potential by creating and designing the life of your dreams.  The highlight of the event was the cocktail party on Saturday night where the participants projected their dreams to the year 2011. They dressed as they would in that year, talked and mingled.
 
 My job was to function as a talk show host in 2011. I interviewed each participant, who shared how they had overcome a myriad of obstacles to achieve their dreams. I surprised myself with how natural the role felt to me! The thundering of drums as they played and danced to celebrate their accomplishments was a sight to behold!It was just awesome!
 
No one wanted to go home on Sunday.  I felt very humbled when they credited me with helping them to hold fast to their dreams. I was thrilled to see how fulfilled and happy they were to have accomplished them.

Last week, I asked readers to keep their eyes open for retirees who might be lonely or trying to connect with other people. I hope everyone connected with at least one other person this week.

If you are a regular reader, or if you are a new member of our community, I’d like to share three additional ways you can stay connected in retirement:

Build a strong social network. You can accomplish this by volunteering at your favorite non-profit organization, enrolling in a class, or joining a group. It doesn’t matter whether the network focuses on enjoyment of a favorite activity or helping others or learning or even changing the world. This is a wonderful way to meet new people with whom you share common interests.

I hope everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day weekend.

Let’s be sure to take a moment to think about the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and their families.

As the summer of 2006 unofficially begins, more people are coming out of hibernation. This provides the opportunity to connect with more people who can make your life more fulfilling. It is also a great opportunity to reach out to someone who is struggling with loneliness or emptiness.

A recent study conducted by the National Institute on Aging reinforced the findings of a study conducted by the Institute for Mind and Biology at the University of Chicago in 2001. Both studies documented the importance of staying connected with others. Those with little or no social interaction had blood pressure readings averaging 30 points higher than those who were in regular contact with others.

After retiring, you may find yourself needing to make new friends. Perhaps your other friends are still employed or maybe you simply want to find new friends with whom you can share this wonderful new experience. Whatever, the reason may be, making new friends after retirement can be a blast and doesn’t have to be a scary or frustrating process. In this brief but informative article, we will discuss five proven tips that you can use today to make new friends. So, sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee and get ready to learn.

Doctor Cynthia was this week in an article that appeared in U.S. News and World Report.

Here is a copy of the article by Emily Brandon.

A coach for the retirement years

By Emily Brandon
Posted 5/2/06

It may bring back memories of the high school guidance counselor who helped you get into college or the job coach who helped you switch careers. Now a retirement coach can help you map out your golden years.

Different from retirement planners who will financially prepare you for retirement, retirement coaches aim to get you mentally, socially, and psychologically ready for the next phase of your life.