Boomers and Beyond

The Baby Boomer demographics are considered those born at the end of World War 2 through to 1964. With such a huge number of the population in this group it makes you think about the type of issues that Baby Boomers are now dealing with. On one hand the older group may already be retired or close to retiring. Many of the younger group may still have young children to bring up. There are also a large number remaining single or due to divorce have become single again. The mid 40s to mid 60s age group are dealing with a number of personal challenges that seem to come along around mid life and beyond. A lot of women will be dealing with menopause and the challenges that it can bring. Other midlife challenges that affect both men and women are thinning hair, diminishing eyesight and increasing wrinkles and various health issues just to name a few. Many of you will have aging parents and be dealing with the challenges that can arise which can create more stress in your life. This can be especially difficult when there are health challenges. And for those with teens at home it’s not much fun being sandwiched between two generations, teenagers and aging parents. Even the most grounded individuals will no doubt feel the fallout of being overwhelmed with problems. It’s not all bad though. There are many pluses to being 50 and over. Statistics show that those in their 50s today are probably the healthiest and financially stable than any generation in this age group before. Besides that today's Baby Boomers are expected to be amongst the longest living in history. That being said with the turbulent economy and the unstable job market there could be a number of problems for those planning for their retirement. However, with good health and motivation many have discovered in their later years that they can still achieve goals that were considered impossible when they were younger. Many in their 50s return to school to complete their education, either going back to learn a new skill or returning to get a degree. Some go on to get really good jobs or start their own business. There are many Baby Boomers that still have old dreams that they would like to fulfill one day. And if they are really committed, there is absolutely no reason why they can not achieve this. When you are at that stage in your life when you have a growing family and lots of responsibilities the idea of becoming an accomplished guitar player, pursuing art and taking oil painting lessons, or becoming a professional golfer are set aside for other more pressing priorities. But they need not totally take over your life. With retirement looming somewhere on the horizon and the opportunity of lifelong learning available to all, it’s a good idea to polish off those dreams and bring them into focus ready for when circumstances allow you to take the action. In the meantime if you are getting itchy feet and want to escape the rat race for a short while, get out your medicus golf club and head out somewhere quiet where you can work on your golf swing. Or, if you need to relieve some stress and relax a while meditation or Tai Chi are very helpful. Even finding the perfect spot to just sit with your thoughts can give you a new perspective. I love somewhere with the site and sounds of water. if you can't be by the ocean try to find someplace with Feng Shui fountains or some other outdoor water feature. This could be the perfect place to unwind and recharge your batteries. Remember we will never have everything in life under control. Especially when we are in the over 50s age group, things can come up that can knock us for six when we least expect it, so do what you can when you can. Enjoy new experiences and keep moving forward!