Subj:  Re: A great Second half
Date:  96-08-22 10:16:50 EDT
From:  LMcKinzey       

It is heartwarming to know that there are so many people with the 
courage to try to find new answers on living the second half of our 
lives. I have been reading numerous books on the subject and have 
gathered a lot of the wisdom from the research that is being done 
in this area.  Most people think that health and financial resources 
drive the level of happiness they will have as they age.  However, 
studies have shown that the greatest drivers for successful aging, 
regardless of individual financial or health situations are:

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL SECOND HALF OF LIFE:

1. Having a sense of purpose that engages you in life and continued 
   growth.
2. Developing an organized, structured way of pursuing activities 
   you find meaningful.
3. Having rewarding, intimate relationships with family and friends.
4. Accepting the losses that come with aging, but focusing on the  
   gains that come with growing older.  

These ideas seem simple, but as we all know, they are easier said 
than done.  I feel that there is a need for self-help seminars 
designed specifically for people our age to work through these 
issues and develop a life plan for the second half of life.  
I am working on developing a book and seminars on this subject, 
and would love to get your input on what would be useful.  At 
this point, the main areas of emphasis would be:

1. UNDERSTANDING THE NEW REALITIES OF AGING in the 21st century:  
   How to accept the inevitable, prevent the prevent the preventable, 
   and treat the treatable.

2. DEVELOPING A LIFE PLAN for living the second half of your life:
   Discovering and pursuing a structured path that gives your life
   meaning, renewing and developing rewarding relationships, and 
   ensuring that you have the financial and physical strength to 
   accomplish your goals.

3. RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN: An introduction to services 
   and organizations that will help participants realize their 
   dreams (i.e. volunteer organizations, employers who are "age 
   friendly" and/or offer flexible work schedules, health services, 
   educational opportunities, support groups, etc.).

I'd love to get your input on whether or not you feel a book, 
seminars, or support groups would be helpful in guiding through 
these mid-life transitions.  

By the way, I highly recommend Gail Sheehy's "New Passages," 
and Letty Cottin Pogrebin's, "Getting Over Getting Older," 
if you're looking for books on the topic.

Laurie McKenzey

Collection notes from Boomers 
who are 50 or going to be 50! 

Subj: B/47 G/ 65 STILL TRAVELLING  
Date: 96-09-18 06:21:53 EDT  
From: MCBIRH1967  

I WAS BORN 6/30/47 FT. BRAGG N.C. LIVED IN JAPAN
AND PANAMA, AN "ARMY BRAT". GRADUATED CHERRY HILL HS (N.J.) 1965.
STILL MARRIED AFTER 29 YEARS, TO THE SAME PERSON I MIGHT ADD!!! 2 SONS
- 23 & 19. OWN MY OWN BUSINESS, (WAS A WOMEN'S " LIBBER",
BEFORE IT WAS POPULAR!) HAVE THE TRAVELLING GENE IN ME AND HAVE BEEN ABLE
TO EXPERIENCE MANY WONDERFUL TRIPS. AM IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING A 10
WEEK TRIP THROUGHOUT THE U.S. AND HAWAII (MAY-JULY '97) TO CELEBRATE THE
BIG 5-0. AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS!!!!!!!! 

Top Ten Reasons why 50 is NIFTY:

10. Cause I said so!
9.  It has a ring (NOT!)
8.  When you are 50 and over, you can just say: Been There, Done That!"
7.  You can always say ... "In the old days...!"	  
6.  You always know what your kids are up to.
5.  You always know what your spouse is up to. (NOT!).
4.  You only have to work 12 more years to collect social-security and
    pension plan.
3.  You've had the look and the fun, now you have the MONEY Honey!
2.  You've Been There and Done That!	   
1.  You Are There! 	
 
These are TOP TEN REASONS that I can think of.
If you can think of better ones let me know.  If your entry is pick as 
#ONE, you will win a prize. 

Here are the other reasons - some of you can skip some of it:
20. You are getting used to the idea of being the Grandpa or the Grandma!
19. Your generation invented them all, Hot Pants, Platform Shoes, Birkenstocks, 
    Nehru Jackets, Tied Dye, Mini Skirts, Topless, Bikinis, Hot tub, 
    jet boeing, calculator, computer chips, computer, VCR, CD ROM, etc. 
18. Your generation went to and walked on the moon.  
17. You are half a century old!
16. You are 20 years old with 30 years experience!
15. You are over the hill and you can see that it is greener on the other
    side of the hill.
14. You are only a baby to over 90'ers.
12. You don't have to worry about PMS anymore.
13. You don't have PMS anymore.
11. You can look forward to the Second Half Century of Your LIFE!