Generally, when someone says this is a “must read’, what do we do?

Lee Cockerell's Creating Magic on display at Orlando International Airport bookstore
so many great authors, so little time

 

Generally, when someone says this is a “must read’, what we you do? Rush to Amazon and order? Race to Barnes and Noble? There are so many amazing books, yet none of us has time to read half. What’s a Boomer to do?

Think about how many books sit unread in our home. They look pretty, and make us look smart. Yet nothing transformational happens.

Midlife wisdom comes not from understanding this, but from taking action. And the individual action we take is as diverse as snowflakes.

* * * * *

This month jeff noel is challenging Mid Life Celebration readers to follow all five daily blogs about work life balance. To navigate instantly from this mental attitude blog to his physical health blog, click -> go to Next Blog

 

Guest blogger Lorie Sheffer: Rage

Rage (photo: Lorie Sheffer)
Rage (photo: Lorie Sheffer)

 

A murder trial is happening in my hometown. It happened one beautiful summer Sunday morning, when a neighbor shot and killed another neighbor in the middle of the street not more than two miles from where I live.  There was a history of them arguing about woodpiles, barking dogs and unkempt yards. Emails the deceased had sent to friends describing how he was going to bully the shooter into submission. The deceased had made it his mission to make sure all of the yards and homes in the neighborhood were maintained to his standards, sometimes to the extent of mowing lawns he felt were overgrown. Imagine his rage at the person who belligerently refused to comply. Imagine the rage of the shooter, constantly being badgered and publicly taunted.

Anger can be a natural, healthy emotion. It is a response to actual or perceived emotional or physical pain. It can be used to express frustration and vent pent up feelings. But it can easily become destructive. Anger temporarily distracts us from the pain that is behind it. It makes us feel less vulnerable to be angry, because anger shows aggression. Someone has wronged us, and by God they should be held accountable. The greater the underlying pain or feeling of having been wronged, the more explosive the anger can become.

We can’t control the behavior of those around us. We can, however, control how we respond. The more controlling we try to be, the more we set ourselves up for anger. Sometimes being in control means not being controlling. There will always be jerks in this world. There will always be people who drive too fast, cut ahead of us in line, don’t care about their property as much as we care about ours, dress in ways we find silly or inappropriate. There will always be those who disagree with our religious or political views, who cheer for an opposing team, who like to listen to loud music or behave in ways that are rude or insulting. Sometimes it helps to realize that they most likely are not behaving that way just to irritate us, personally. If we depersonalize their behavior, it’s easier to walk away. Always, always we need to ask ourselves, “Is this really worth it?”

Dear Readers, Awaken Your AgePotential is a must read

jeff noel holding a copy of Awaken Your AgePotential at Hyatt Regency New Orleans
Lori Campbell, Gerontologist, best selling book, Awaken Your AgePotential

 

Lori Campbell, Gerontologist, best selling book, Awaken Your AgePotential
Lori Campbell, Gerontologist, best selling book, Awaken Your AgePotential

 

Dear Readers, Awaken Your AgePotential is a must read. Finished Lori Campbell’s ground-breaking book on the flight home from New Orleans. You will not recall the last time I shared a “must read” book.

Why? Because there are very few books that say something new or different. Lori says it differently. Baby Boomers either thrive or merely survive… Lori Campbell, Gerontologist, articulates proof it’s a choice, not a sentence.

* * * * *

This month jeff noel is challenging Mid Life Celebration readers to follow all five daily blogs about work life balance. To navigate instantly from this mental attitude blog to his physical health blog, click -> go to Next Blog

 

Yesterday in New Orleans, today home at Walt Disney World

jeff noel's name on the Hyatt TV was a surprise
Hyatt Regency surprise welcome on my room TV

 

New Orleans sunrise from Hyatt Regency
New Orleans sunrise from Hyatt Regency

 

New Orleans sunrise from Hyatt Regency
New Orleans sunrise from Hyatt Regency

 

Are we able to always be looking at what seems normal boring – the standard view out the window?

And yet always be looking for those very spectacular ways the boring isn’t so?

Are we able to keep up with everything?

  • mental attitude
  • physical health
  • emotional centeredness
  • career thriver
  • home organizer

Each one impacts the other.

Life’s five big choices – mind – body – spirit – money – hq.

Simple. Boring. Spectacular?

* * * * *

This month jeff noel is challenging Mid Life Celebration readers to follow all five daily blogs about work life balance. To navigate instantly from this mental attitude blog to his physical health blog, click -> go to Next Blog

 

Historical first post from a taxi cab (to Cafe Du Monde)

Hyatt Regency New Orleans cab ride to Cafe Du Monde and blogging about it
jeff noel is blogging for the first time ever in a taxi cab

 

Historical first post from a taxi cab (to Cafe Du Monde). Who cares, right?

And that’s the point isn’t it?

We go through our daily midlife routines, on auto pilot, no longer carrying that unbridled childlike wonder, nor  a sense of giddy excitement for doing ordinary things for the very first time.

This month jeff noel is challenging Mid Life Celebration readers to follow all five daily blogs about work life balance. To navigate instantly from this mental attitude blog to his physical health blog, click -> go to Next Blog