A Boomer's Footprint

Category: A Successful Life

How will you know if you are living with successful? What legacy will
you leave behind? What is important to you?

These posts include many tips and techniques to become the best
person that you can, to fulfill your dreams, to succeed.

  • How to stay committed

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    We are 30 days into our “90 Day Challenge.” Read on to learn a very important tool that will help you achieve success in reaching your goal.

    KNOW YOUR WHY – What motivation do you need to stay committed to achieving your goal? Why will you stick with your action plan?

    Here are the top three tips to keep you motivated:

    -1- Benefits – Open your journal and reread your goal. Next, write out a list of benefits you experience now and once you’ve achieved your goal. Be specific and detailed.

    -2- Reward Yourself – This technique can be a great motivator. It worked for our kids and it can work for us now.  Reward yourself for your small achievements, recognize your effort and then treat yourself to a reward.

    Choose something meaningful. For example, don’t choose a big ice cream cone when you are trying to loose weight, instead save up for a healthy massage.

    -3- Connect with your team to stay motivated, keep you on track. Accept both their encouragement and criticism when you need it.

    Here is great article to help you write out your benefits.

    10 Powerful Benefits of Change and Why We Should Embrace It

    Sorry you may have to cut and paste. But is will be worth the effort. (Another blog skill for me to learn.  Post a comment if you know how.  Thanks.)

    Good luck.

  • Adopt a Good Habit

    people-sanddune

    Your road ahead only seems like you are climbing an insurmountable sand dune at first! But regular, small steps will get you there.

    You already know why I suggest that adopting a new habit is an integral component of achieving your 90 Day Challenge. But to spell it out……

    “A Habit is a routine of behavior that is repeated regularly and tends to occur subconsciously.”  Wikipedia

    The obvious key words here – regularly and occur subconsciously.

    If only we were already at the subconscious stage but NO not yet. But by  repeating an action over and over again, by taking consistent, small steps daily, we can reach our goal. Our routine can become rote –a habit.

    Keeping a record of your 90 Day Challenge experience is so important.  Sitting down every day and writing in your journal, can keep you motivated to keep working towards goal. It’s actually encouraging to read back over your writings to see your progress.

    Then, imagine sharing your journey with others. This is my goal on the “ourcommonjourney” blog page.

    Here are my 8 steps for adopting a new habit. The 8 steps will be part of our conversation over the next few months.

    -1- Know your WHY

    -2-What is your goal  (Should be written by now)

    -3- Use affirmations, visualization and meditation (Should be written)

    -4- Commit to 90 days – Our challenge

    -5- Make it regular

    -6- Start with small steps

    -7- Plan ahead

    -8- Accept a bump in the road.

    Next post is about committing to our action plans.

     

     

  • Our 90 Day Goal

    believe in your dreams (2)We are ready to go – to accomplish our 90 Day Challenge. We chose our challenge. We wrote an affirmation. We’ve had 10 days to get used to the idea, so game on.

    Remember, the affirmation is a one line statement, written in the present tense of where you will be, what you will have accomplished by September 21, 2016.  For example,     I AM FIT.

    Next we will write a goal for our “90 Day Challenge”.

    I’m suggesting a different method of goal setting, which I learned from Steve Pavlina, a successful personal development advocate.  In the past, I used the SMART method of goal setting but now prefer Pavlina’s method.

    Traditionally we think of a goal as an achievement made in the future, but the main purpose of our goal is to improve the quality of our present. We can’t guarantee the future but we can control what we are doing now – each and every day.  So if I want to be FIT, then every day I keep my body moving, building my strength and stamina.

    The purpose of our goal is to gain clarity and focus and to keep motivated right now. We will change our attitude about engaging in our activity.

    By focusing on the NOW, we will also learn skills which we can repeat in future challenges and goals.

    Some benefits of setting goals are:

    To Learn about ourselves or a new skill

    To create a life style

    To gain Inner Strength

    To become persistent

    To gain self-confidence

    To develop self-belief

    To become a leader

    To accomplish our big challenge

    Using present tense language, write down your goal.  For example:

    My goal is to read 20 minutes each night before falling asleep.

    My goal is to volunteer in a new organization, learning a new skill set.

    My goal is to lose 10 pounds.

    My goal is to have an organized garage, closet, or……

    Write your goal in your journal, on a device, index card or calendar – keep it somewhere that is always visible and where you will look at it every day.

    Some life style changes, can best be achieved by adopting or eliminating a habit. A behavior we perform on a regular, consistent basis. By taking steps every day to achieve our goal.

    My next post is on adopting a new habit.

     

     

  • Encore 2016 Conference

    Through the power of an internet search, I recently found a new inspiration. Similar to my finding the green movement back in the mid 1980’s, I discovered Encore.org and attended their 2016 Conference held in San Francisco this past week.

    The mission of Encore is “to build a movement to tap the skills and experience of those in midlife and beyond to improve communities and the world.”

    The talent, level of commitment, enthusiasm, quality of good works and stories which I witnessed and heard increased my own dedication to sharing positive information and tips and techniques to my Baby Boomer community.  I look forward to sharing many of these stories and projects in the coming weeks.

    But first, a word about how we are called.  There are many terms floating out there – Baby Boomer, Older Boomers, Seniors, Elders, Adults 50+, in our Second Stage, Third Acts. We are Reinventing Ourselves, Mature, Experienced.  I bring this up now because even the hundreds of attendees at the conference don’t have consensus of how to address our audience. So please don’t be offended if I use a name which doesn’t fit your image of yourself. But help out by leaving a comment of your preference.

    One thing is clear, there is a large growing movement of “Boomers” out there making a difference in their own communities and around the world. I am proud to be a part of it.

  • 2016 – If not NOW, WHEN?

    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life
    Set Sail for the Time of Your Life

    Many of us have UN……….……….s.

    Unfinished projects and business

    Unfulfilled relationships

    Unreached goals

    Unrealized dreams

    Fill in your own UN……………………………………………..

    The funny thing about the UN……………..s is,  they don’t go away.

    They may be hidden in our subconscious or stare us in the face every time we look at a stuffed closet, crowded counter top, a person’s face, a magazine picture, website, book, make the drive to work or any number of triggers which bring an UN…………..…. to our conscious level.

    (Did you ever notice how easy it is to look at something and not really see it? Like last year’s goal list hanging on the refrigerator door for over 365 days.)

    Now is the perfect time to make a big change in this New Year. Several weeks have passed since January 1 so we haven’t broken a New Year’s resolution yet.  That curse, remembrance of past failures is not relevant.

    Listening to radio, television, internet media, I am encouraged by all of the positive press about opportunities and the encouragement to take action in 2016.  Are these new opportunities?  NO, but our attitudes may be.

    This is NOT the time to be influenced by the recent stock decline.  Yes, we should always pay attention to our investments but we should not use the market to talk ourselves out of improving our personal situation.

    I feel very hopeful that change can happen in 2016. If not NOW, WHEN?

    To get started, make your bucket list. Your deadline is this Sunday – four days away. Really think about what you want to accomplish in life.

    What will you do this year?

    What will you accomplish in 5 years?

    What are life time goals?

     

    Pull out or buy a new journal for this process , use words, phrases, or pictures to describe your goals and dreams. Use the journal throughout the year to keep track of your progress. We will be referring to it often.

  • Boomer Longevity?

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    Boomers are predicted to live longer. If we are so lucky to be one of them, it becomes even more important to stay fit and young at heart.

    Life is not about the number of years we have left but about “What quality of life we will enjoy.”

    4 facts about boomers health – some good and some bad:

    -1- Boomers have the highest rate of obesity for their age, higher than any other generation.

    I am sure we are aware of the relationship of obesity and the potential to develop a serious disease – especially these big five – diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer and depression.

    (I recently learned of a test to determine if you too much belly fat – divide your waistline measurement by you hip measurement to determine a ratio.  For men, if your number is higher than 80 you are at risk for many health issues. For women, the ratio is a factor of 85.)

    -2- Boomers are more food conscious. How can we pretend that we don’t know recommended foods to eat and not to eat anymore. Between TV news, magazine and internet sources we are overwhelmed with many articles about this subject.

    In addition, how many magazines in print and online are devoted to getting fit and healthy?

    So with all of this information available, what is the missing piece to explain our over-weight America and our own personal challenges?

    -3- Boomers are not as healthy as previous generation. Sedentary life style, prepackaged foods, fast foods, over indulgence are just a few possible reasons. This can be an alarming statement based on information readily available to us.

    -4- Boomers are more active. With more time available, some boomers are committing to joining gyms, exercising and enjoying outdoor activities. So finally a good statistic.

    Wherever you are on the health and fitness scale, It is never too late to make improvements. Remember, good health is not about our looks but about how we feel inside and out.

    Working on our health and fitness is a critical investment we can make for ourselves when we consider the sky rocketing medical costs compared to scaled-down financial resources available as we retire.

    I will have much more to say on these four and many more issues about health in upcoming posts but for now………..

    Join me and commit to making one small change in your health routine.  I will be writing about my commitment on the “Ourcommonjourney” blog page.

  • Proud to be an Elder

     

    IMG_3376I choose to be an elder. I am a proud member of Gen E.

    Okay, I admit it, I do feel old saying – I am an elder. Of course, I also can’t believe I’m in my 60’s.

    My last post included several definitions for an Elder. We learned that by society standards, elders are known for their interest in mentoring and for sharing their long life experiences. Elders also can model a sense of oneness with Earth and often, act as the spiritual agent for one’s community.

    One way, I embrace my role as an Elder is by writing this blog for the Gen E population. I will mentor and coach our community to make a difference by:

    defining and living their legacy,

    living sustainably

    giving back.

    These three areas have defined my life for over 25 years and I am excited to share my knowledge and experience with you.

    So take a moment and consider:

    Where you are in your life?
    Do you feel fulfilled?
    Are you Happy?
    Are you making a difference?

    We have the chance to rewrite our future history about our success as a generation. We can step up and lead, mentor, and teach.

    Be an elder!

     

     

  • Who is Gen E?

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    We are in a class of folks known as Baby Boomers. I don’t identify with the term baby boomer. It encompasses too large an age group and quite frankly we are not babies anymore. The term 60 is the NEW 40 doesn’t work either.

    Sometimes the term is reduced to boomers. I get “boomers” since there really was a boom of births from 1946 – 1964. But the boom was happened in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.

    What does the term baby boomers say about us now that we are in our 60’s?

    We are now living life with a new attitude. We are not our grandparents or parents at age 60. We are a generation living with a renewed strength, vitality and interest in what life has to offer us.

    So I propose a new classification – Gen E – a generation of Elders, who have so much to offer. When you first hear the term Elder, you may think old. But look at these three definitions of Elder used in different contexts.

    Society:  Elder is a role played in the family and community that is most common in third world, non-industrialized cultures. Elder is a manner of being in the latter portion of life that results from an older man or woman answering the informal call from the family or community to accept the mantle of elderhood. Once having accepted this calling, elders are known by their interest in mentoring, sharing their long life experiences, modeling a sense of oneness with Earth and often, acting as the spiritual agent of one’s community.

    Administrative term: The term Elder (or its equivalent in another language) is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority. This usage is usually derived from the notion that the oldest members of a group are the wisest and thus most qualified to rule, provide council or some other form of leadership.

    Statesman: any influential person whose advice is highly respected. An older person or an older member, usually a leader, of some community

    Now is the time to accept our role as Elders. So are we up to the challenge to:

    Share life experiences

    Mentor

    Rule

    Provide council

    Become leaders

    Offer advice

    Stay tuned next time when I will share how I accept the role of an Elder.

     

  • Making a Difference for Ourselves

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    If you have ever flow in an airplane, you’ve hear this direction – “Secure your own oxygen mask before helping others.”

    This statement sums up my tag line – Making a Difference for Ourselves.

    As we make a difference for others and the planet, we must continue to work on our own personal growth and development as well.

    Life is a continual journey of options, opportunities, challenges and change.

    We can always discover ways to improve, to learn, to stay relevant. This is especially critical for baby boomers entering this 3rd act in life.

    We prided ourselves in the 1960’s as we worked on self-development. We wanted change and choices. Now here we are in our 60’s doing it again.

    Accepting and learning from change, staying focused and motivated is not easy.

    So with this blog – ABoomersFootPrint, I am combining articles, information and tips pertinent to Boomers with my coaching lessons and exercises. My goal is to teach, inspire and empower you to live your best life, to leave a meaningful legacy, to make a difference.

    My “Live Life Blog” began in late 2013 as DKellyCoach.  During this time, I composed 60 blog posts using a systematic approach to creating a successful life.  I transferred this posts over to Boomers Footprint and they are available for you.  I will continue to develop many of these topics over the coming years but for now you can re-read them by using the categories or tag links searching on specific topics of interest to you. I have been going back to earlier posts and adding helpful categories and tags.

    PS. Please leave comments, even spelling and grammatical corrections. I look forward to reading them. They encourage me to keep writing, keep me focused and give me a clue about your interests.

  • Defining your Personal Legacy

    Sunset ablaze 1It may seem as if the sun is setting on us, as boomers. But we still have many years to make our mark, to make a difference, to create a legacy we are proud of.

    A generation is only as strong as the individual contributions each member makes.

    While as a whole, the perception of the baby boomer’s contribution to society may have a bad rap, many of us know that we have made a positive impact with our lives.

    As we approach this “3rd act in life”, now is a great time to review our legacy so far. (This is a common practice in the Thai culture – to re-assess life at age 60.)

    Every step we take, adds to our legacy. This happens whether we realize it or not. Our daily choices create our life, our personality and our contribution to history.

    Of course, in 100 years, our legacies may not stand out beyond our family history and the traditions we pass down through the generations. But we all make a mark and  leave a footprint on the planet.

    Today’s post includes an exercise to assess where we are.  So try to complete it now.

    Pull out a sheet of paper or your journal and begin. First, answer these questions:

    What is my current legacy?

    What words will be spoken at my memorial service?

    How will my life be remembered?

    What have I contributed, shared, taught to others?

    How have I made a mark?

    Finally, write down the three to five words or phrases which currently best describe your life.

    (Mine are – I serve, I teach, I play.)

    Regardless of your accomplishments so far, it is never too late to create a  meaningful legacy. Revisit your answers in a week or so to see if they still hold true.

    Over the next several months, I’ll be talking a lot about this topic. So stay tuned.