Since I began writing this blog two years ago, I have advocated the philosophy of mindfulness as an antidote for a variety of physical, mental and spiritual ills. Now, mindfulness has gone mainstream. It was the cover story for Time Magazine. Nothing is more mainstream than Time.
The February 3 2014 Time issue contains an article explaining some of those benefits as well some of the mindfulness techniques that work. The key to mindfulness is focusing on the moment, whether that is eating a raisin (the example cited in the Time article) or simply sitting and watching your breath.
What is a little disappointing about the article is the author's admission that he has not continued with the mindfulness program he studied for the purposes of the article. Anyone serious about the idea of mindfulness should consider continuing the program to make sure they maximize its benefits.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Monday, February 3, 2014
What the Super Bowl Taught Me
Like practically everyone else in America, last night, I watched the Super Bowl. We had some friends over for the game and munched happily on Buffalo chicken drummies. No, not chicken wings, but drumsticks prepared like wings, but better using a Sandra Lee recipe I saw on the Today Show and perfectly executed by my wife.
The game itself seemed to be almost anti-climactic after all the all day pregame hype. This morning I woke up with a start and realized that there was a valuable lesson I had learned watching the game last night. I just had to share it with you and I hope you will find it useful also.
Near the end of the game last night, they showed one of the NFL officials carrying the Vince Lombardi trophy, that Tiffany silver football on a stand that is emblematic of excellence in the game of football. I've seen the six that my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have won and they are awesome.
But, I digress. After they showed the man carrying the trophy with white gloves, they then flashed a picture of the steely-eyed man after whom the trophy is named.,Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach who won the first two Super Bowls. Of course, what immediately came to mind was his famous declaration that "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Quite frankly, I used to think that his statement was an arrogant manifestation of someone with a huge ego. Today, we are prone to tell our kids and ourselves that it is okay if you lose: "It's not important if you win or lose, it's how you play the game" is the mantra we repeat often to those children and ourselves.
After the game was over, during one of the interviews with one of the Seattle players, he said something that particularly resonated with me. When asked how he felt about winning the Super Bowl, he said that he had watched many Super Bowls on television over the years and now thought about himself and his teammates, "Why not us?"
"Why not us." What could he possibly mean by that.? This morning it struck me like a lightning bolt. Earlier yesterday before the game, I was doing some research for a new book on negotiations that I am in the process of writing. One of the sources I was consulting was a book by the famed trial attorney, Gerry Spence. In his book, "How to Argue and Win Every Time", he puts forth the following thesis: In order to win an argument, whether a court case or a negotiation over a contract, you must give yourself permission to win. And the most important corollary to that is that you must never give yourself permission to lose.
Last night, that was what drove the Seattle Seahawks, the underdogs going into the game. They not only gave themselves permission to win, they never gave themselves permission to lose. That's what that Seattle player meant when he said, "Why not us?"
And I now understand that was also what Vince Lombardi meant all those years ago, when he made that famous statement: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." He means never give yourself permission to lose. Oh, believe me, sometimes you will lose, whether it is a court case or some kids' soccer game. But if you have the mindset that you will not give yourself permission to lose,who knows, some day you or your kid may end up holding that Vince Lombardi trophy also.
Think about it.
The game itself seemed to be almost anti-climactic after all the all day pregame hype. This morning I woke up with a start and realized that there was a valuable lesson I had learned watching the game last night. I just had to share it with you and I hope you will find it useful also.
Near the end of the game last night, they showed one of the NFL officials carrying the Vince Lombardi trophy, that Tiffany silver football on a stand that is emblematic of excellence in the game of football. I've seen the six that my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have won and they are awesome.
But, I digress. After they showed the man carrying the trophy with white gloves, they then flashed a picture of the steely-eyed man after whom the trophy is named.,Vince Lombardi, the legendary football coach who won the first two Super Bowls. Of course, what immediately came to mind was his famous declaration that "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Quite frankly, I used to think that his statement was an arrogant manifestation of someone with a huge ego. Today, we are prone to tell our kids and ourselves that it is okay if you lose: "It's not important if you win or lose, it's how you play the game" is the mantra we repeat often to those children and ourselves.
After the game was over, during one of the interviews with one of the Seattle players, he said something that particularly resonated with me. When asked how he felt about winning the Super Bowl, he said that he had watched many Super Bowls on television over the years and now thought about himself and his teammates, "Why not us?"
"Why not us." What could he possibly mean by that.? This morning it struck me like a lightning bolt. Earlier yesterday before the game, I was doing some research for a new book on negotiations that I am in the process of writing. One of the sources I was consulting was a book by the famed trial attorney, Gerry Spence. In his book, "How to Argue and Win Every Time", he puts forth the following thesis: In order to win an argument, whether a court case or a negotiation over a contract, you must give yourself permission to win. And the most important corollary to that is that you must never give yourself permission to lose.
Last night, that was what drove the Seattle Seahawks, the underdogs going into the game. They not only gave themselves permission to win, they never gave themselves permission to lose. That's what that Seattle player meant when he said, "Why not us?"
And I now understand that was also what Vince Lombardi meant all those years ago, when he made that famous statement: "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." He means never give yourself permission to lose. Oh, believe me, sometimes you will lose, whether it is a court case or some kids' soccer game. But if you have the mindset that you will not give yourself permission to lose,who knows, some day you or your kid may end up holding that Vince Lombardi trophy also.
Think about it.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
How to Get the Best Deal Every Time: A Free ebook
I am pleased to inform you that my Ebook , "How to Get the Best Deal Every Time" is now available for FREE on Amazon until February 5, 2014. http://www.Amazon.com/dp/B00BRPVH4U. I think you will find it to be an extremely useful guide if you are making a large purchase such as a house or automobile. It will also guide you through other negotiations such as getting a pay raise from your boss.
I hope you will enjoy it. If you like it, please feel free to offer a review on Amazon.
Thanks.
P.S. The book i s now ranked #1 on the Amazon Kindle list of consumerism ebooks. Thanks!
I hope you will enjoy it. If you like it, please feel free to offer a review on Amazon.
Thanks.
P.S. The book i s now ranked #1 on the Amazon Kindle list of consumerism ebooks. Thanks!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Do Stock Brokers Need Help to Advise Boomers on How to Invest their Money?
Do stock brokers and financial advisors need help in preparing to advise baby boomers how they should invest their money as they plan for retirement and retire? Well, Bank of America Merrill Lynch apparently thinks so. According to a report on today's "onwallstreet" website, Merrill has retained a gerontologist, to assist in preparing its advisors to deal with the aging population in America, who are customers of Merrill. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, a gerontologist is a person who is trained to study the social,psychological and biological aspects of aging. It differs from geriatrics which is the medical study of aging.
The gerontologist named by Merrill, Cynthia Hutchins, has a degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC) and has worked for some 28 years in the financial industry and for 15 years with Merrill in various capacities.. She was named by Merrill to train Merrill's 15000 advisors on how they can better assist clients with age-related issues such as planning for retirement , use of resources in retirement as well as other health and finance issues, as well as issues arising from things such as dealing with adult children who return home and grandparents raising their grandchildren
Sounds like it might be a good idea. Let me know what you think.
The gerontologist named by Merrill, Cynthia Hutchins, has a degree in gerontology from the University of Southern California (USC) and has worked for some 28 years in the financial industry and for 15 years with Merrill in various capacities.. She was named by Merrill to train Merrill's 15000 advisors on how they can better assist clients with age-related issues such as planning for retirement , use of resources in retirement as well as other health and finance issues, as well as issues arising from things such as dealing with adult children who return home and grandparents raising their grandchildren
Sounds like it might be a good idea. Let me know what you think.
A Retirement Savings Plan for the Rest of Us
President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday, January 28, 2014, made a revolutionary proposal concerning your potential retirement. In case you missed it, here is a brief discussion of that proposal.
All of us are familiar with the so-called 401(k) plans that enable employees of usually larger companies and businesses a to put aside some of their compensation in certain investments which are not taxable as income when received and which are permitted to grow tax-deferred until withdrawn in retirement. The idea is that those investments will be taxed at presumably a lower rate at retirement than at the current rate.
Until now, if your employer did not offer such a plan, you were out of luck. President Obama's proposal would permit those employees to fund a so-called MyRA account by having a part of each paycheck deducted and deposited in US Government Bonds, where they would be given the same treatment as traditional 401(k) plans.
According to administration officials, millions of Americans who do not have access to the automatic deposit feature of a 401(k) plan are likely to take advantage of the MyRA proposal.
Let me know what you think and whether, if you qualify, you would take advantage of such a plan.
All of us are familiar with the so-called 401(k) plans that enable employees of usually larger companies and businesses a to put aside some of their compensation in certain investments which are not taxable as income when received and which are permitted to grow tax-deferred until withdrawn in retirement. The idea is that those investments will be taxed at presumably a lower rate at retirement than at the current rate.
Until now, if your employer did not offer such a plan, you were out of luck. President Obama's proposal would permit those employees to fund a so-called MyRA account by having a part of each paycheck deducted and deposited in US Government Bonds, where they would be given the same treatment as traditional 401(k) plans.
According to administration officials, millions of Americans who do not have access to the automatic deposit feature of a 401(k) plan are likely to take advantage of the MyRA proposal.
Let me know what you think and whether, if you qualify, you would take advantage of such a plan.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Not Just for Boomers ---But for Everyone
The title of this blog is, of course, "Not Just for Boomers." And that is exactly, what it is intended to be. I am a baby boomer myself, but the material in this blog is not limited to baby boomers. It is really intended for everyone who has an interest in an eclectic mix of travel suggestions, help with your finances and health and exercise issues. Over the last almost two years, I have written almost 200 posts, all original, and covering material from a Mediterranean cruise to the many benefits of meditation and mindfulness.I hope what I have written has been helpful to you. And no, I am not shutting down the blog. On the contrary, I expect to keep on going. I appreciate your support, but I would ask you to remind your friends and not just boomers, that this blog is "Not Just for Boomers--But for Everyone."
Sunday, January 19, 2014
The Calusa Indians of Southwest Florida
Long before Ponce De Leon and the Spanish conquisidors visited Florida in the sixteenth century, the Calusa Indians had a well-developed civilization in the coastal areas of Southwest Florida. Today, you can still visit the remnants of that civilization in Pineland, Florida, located on Pine Island.
Pine Island is the largest coastal island off the coast of Southwest Florida. For 1500 years, the Calusas occupied a site near Fort Myers on Pine Island. Today, at the Randell Research Center run by the University of Florida, just off Pine Island Road,you can see some of the huge shell mounds that they created.. The Calusa were not farmers but rather subsisted on the abundant fish and shellfish in the rich estuaries in the area. They lacked any stone or metal and used shell and bone for tools. They did painting and sculpting which is considered to be among the most renowned created byNative Americans in North America.
The Calusa Indians died out in the late 1700s due to the diseases brought to America by the Spanish and French explorers in the area such as measles and small pox. In addition, neighboring tribes in Georgia and South Carolina invaded the Calusa villages and sold some of the Calusas they captured into slavery.
The Calusa Heritage Trail entrance is located on 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, Florida 33945,and is well wroth a visit. Phone number is 239-283-2157. There is a small gift shop and guided tours are offered.
Pine Island is the largest coastal island off the coast of Southwest Florida. For 1500 years, the Calusas occupied a site near Fort Myers on Pine Island. Today, at the Randell Research Center run by the University of Florida, just off Pine Island Road,you can see some of the huge shell mounds that they created.. The Calusa were not farmers but rather subsisted on the abundant fish and shellfish in the rich estuaries in the area. They lacked any stone or metal and used shell and bone for tools. They did painting and sculpting which is considered to be among the most renowned created byNative Americans in North America.
The Calusa Indians died out in the late 1700s due to the diseases brought to America by the Spanish and French explorers in the area such as measles and small pox. In addition, neighboring tribes in Georgia and South Carolina invaded the Calusa villages and sold some of the Calusas they captured into slavery.
The Calusa Heritage Trail entrance is located on 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, Florida 33945,and is well wroth a visit. Phone number is 239-283-2157. There is a small gift shop and guided tours are offered.
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