Category: Uncategorized

Posted in Healthy eating, Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Women's Issues

Baby Boomers: Obsessed with Staying Young?

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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I may do a series of articles on the topic of baby boomers. I am one. I’m interested in the characteristics of all generations, but I’ll start with the boomers. Are we baby boomers obsessed with staying young? Baby boomers, in the U.S. were born between 1946 and 1964. The post World War II generation. There are many characteristics and issues I could blog about regarding we baby boomers but, in this post, I’m going to write about whether or not we have an obsession with youth. Are baby boomers obsessed with staying young?

Right away, I will tell you how I feel so you will know my particular bias. My answer is an unqualified yes. Of course, not every member of a group have the same characteristics so there are undoubtedly many boomers out there who are growing old gracefully. I just don’t happen to be one of them. I don’t think the majority of boomers are growing old gracefully. I intend to fight growing old – kicking and screaming if necessary. Yes, I know that, ultimately, it won’t help. But, I can try. I can take care of myself from a physical, mental, and emotional standpoint. I can do all I can do.

I contend that doing all you can do to take care of yourself and, yes, even fighting to stay young is not only an exercise in self-preservation but a positive outlook on life. Is it such a bad thing to want to look, think, and feel as young as possible? I don’t think so. I think many baby boomers would agree with me. Even doctors agree with me.  They say that people with a positive, young outlook and those who actively try to stay healthy, mentally and physically, tend to live longer and stay healthier

There are billions of dollars spent every year on anti-aging products and treatments. Since the baby boomers started getting older, the segment of the market offering anti-aging products and services has taken a huge jump and is expected to skyrocket by 2019. Not only do many of us not want to quit work, we also don’t want to get old, however you define old. We use treatments and potions on our faces and bodies. We get tucks here and there. We get shots of Botox and other fillers in our faces. We take our Vitamin D and stay out of the sun. We get facials, waxes, implants, dental work, and full-fledged face lifts when necessary. It isn’t your grandmother’s generation. I don’t see anything wrong with any of it.

What don’t we do? The very things that would make a difference. We don’t eat right, at least not as well as we should, and we don’t exercise as much as we should. Both can and do slow aging. There are pathways in our biology that can be used to manipulate aging. For example, the simple act of fasting can slow down the aging process. Short periods of fasting work. Intermittent fasting, or longer periods of fasting, work even better. Other techniques to slow the aging process can be learned from the people of Okinawa. They eat very lightly and only certain foods. They do practice fasting. Fasting shuts down growth and metabolism pathways.These people  live to be considerably over 100 years old and work into their 90s. The books written about their way of life are fascinating

Even for boomers who eat well, the downfall for many of us boomers is exercise. Exercise is an elixir for we who want to delay aging. We just choose not to drink it as often as we should. Exercise changes the way our genes work.

The good news is that there are ways to delay aging. When we reach late middle age, things start happening. Medical conditions happen. Some we can get under control. If we practice some of the techniques that science know work, we can delay the aging process. We can help that along, regarding physical appearance, with some of our treatments and potions. Of course, genetics plays a role. We have to start with the basics.

More to come on baby boomers and aging. Here is a link to one of the books on the people of Okinawa. It is fascinating reading. #amwriting #writing #blogging #BabyBoomers

The Okinawa Program: How the World’s Longest LIved People Achieve Everlasting Health and How You Can Too

 

Posted in Flash Fiction, Uncategorized

Breckinridge and the Reunion

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

 

imageTim and Skip looked at the picture fondly. They remembered the days of soccer at Breckinridge. After finding it, they were discussing a reunion of the soccer boys who were in their class.

“That’s Kenny and Scott,” Skip said. “Here is Clif and Reggie,” Tim added, “and Jerry and Peter.” The other two were them. “I think we can get all of us together,” Tim remarked. Of course, Scott would not be there. He had passed away a number of years ago. They divided up the names and agreed to make phone calls.

Breckinridge had closed many years ago and was now a university building. After they all connected, they agreed to meet at a local restaurant for dinner, drinks, and a lot of reminiscing.

The reunion was a great success. Everyone had gone their separate ways but coming back together, except for the missing one, helped keep them grounded and gave them strength.

 

*Photo courtesy of Yinglan

*FFfaw sponsored by Priceless Joy

Posted in Flash Fiction, Uncategorized, Writing

A Boy and his Horse

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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“Artie, I can’t believe you rode that horse up here to the revival meetin’,” Kaye said.  “Why not, Momma,” Artie replied, “Old Clara is good to ride.” Kaye said, “You didn’t even put a bridle on that old hag.” “Momma!” Artie cried, “Clara is not an old hag.” “Bah,” said Kaye. “You’ve embarrassed me in front of the preacher and all my friends.”

Out of the meetin’ tent flew Artie, as fast as his short legs would carry him. He swung himself up on Clara’s back. As they walked down the road, Artie searched the fields for the biggest haystack he could find. He parked Clara and himself right behind one.

After dark fell and Artie’s momma got home, he was still behind the haystack with Clara. “He’ll come home when he’s hungry or scared,” she said to her husband, and shut the door, turning out the lights. #flashfictionforaspiringwriters #writing

*Photo courtesy of Phylor

**FFfAW brought to you by Priceless Joy

Posted in Travel, Uncategorized

A Bucket List of Off-Beat Travel Destinations

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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Have you ever wished that you had a list of desirable travel sites — sites that you might like to travel to, sites you might like to put on your bucket list. That’s what I’m going to give you right now. These travel locations are based on my own travel experiences. Some may be locations you would expect. Some will not be on your radar but guaranteed by me. When you have the opportunity to travel, visit this list.

1. Brittany, France: Here is a travel location you probably would not expect. Brittany is the area of France in the far western part of the country. Tourists do go there but it is not as commercial as most of the rest of France. It is the peninsula in the western part of France bordered by the English Channel on the north, the Bay of Biscay on the South, and the Atlantic Ocean on the West. What makes Brittany so fascinating? One thing is that it is an important site for the King Arthur legend. You will find Merlin’s tomb and the castle associated with the Lady of the Lake, along with other Arthurian  legends. Brittany has much to offer. It was, to me, a cross between Britain and France with some Scots thrown in.

2. Portugal: Yes, the entire country and it is a country tourists forget about. A fascinating country! You have to spend some real time in Portugal to really enjoy it. One of the regions I especially enjoyed was where the cork trees grew. The Alentejo. It is lightly populated and has the largest cork forests in the world. Seeing the cork trees and learning how the cork is harvested is worth a visit. It makes up a large part of the land mass of Portugal. On the west is the Atlantic Ocean. To the east is Spain. The cork forests are mixed in with olive groves and wine estates. On the south are castles and, yes, you can stay in them for the night. When you drive through the villages, you feel as if you should be quiet. It is almost a spiritual experience. The cork trees are old. Centuries old. They keep shedding their bark and regenerating. Move on then to other Portuguese regions. You will be glad you did.

3. Negril, Jamaica: Ah, the beach, but what a beach! It is an insult to compare Negril to most other beaches. Miles of beautiful white sand and Negril is not a particularly heavily visited beach. It’s hard to reach. You can get there by a relatively expensive flight from Montego Bay, Jamaica. As far as driving there from other ports in Jamaica, forget about it. You can get there, but the roads are terrible. Negril is a very laid back, international destination with great bars and restaurants. Reggae fills the nights. Water sports and sun fills the days. Try the breadfruit for breakfast. #amwriting #writing #blogging #travel #France #Jamaica #Portugal

Posted in Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Apologize Much?

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

Girl with Sorry sign

Do you extend an apology to everyone you meet for your every questionable word or action? There seem to be two kinds of people. The first, a Type I person, is the type I just described. They apologize for everything. Every possible misdeed. Every word that could possibly offend any one in the room. Even those words or actions that do not offend anyone. This type of person is insecure and feels the need to counter their words and actions with an attached apology.

The second type of person never apologizes for anything, or almost never. They go through life saying what they want and doing what they want. They feel entitled, often at the expense of other people’s feelings. If you get an apology from a Type II person, that person must feel they did or something really bad. This type of person is often angry right under the surface and refuses to give anyone the satisfaction of their apology.

Psychologists have found that if a person apologizes too frequently, it becomes background noise and no one really takes them seriously. Especially in close relationships, the timing of the apology is important. If you have committed some sort of transgression for which you feel you need to apologize, only do it after the person that you want to apologize to has had the opportunity to vent their feelings. Only then will your apology seem sincere to them.

Studies have found that there are gender issues associated with apologies. Men apologize less frequently than do women because they have a higher tolerance for issues about which they might need to apologize. They also apologize to women far more than they do to other men.

Apologize when you have really offended someone but don’t throw around offhand apologies or people won’t take you seriously. But, do make sure you have the ability to see when you are wrong or have offended someone and make your apology. Sincere apologies help retain relationships and simply make our society a more civilized place in which to live. #amwriting #writing #blogging #lifestyle

Posted in Creative Nonfiction Essays, Flash Fiction, Uncategorized, Writing

The Gardener

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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“Betty,” the man said. “The soil in this garden is as dry as dust.” Betty replied, “Our vegetables are still growing pretty well, Curtis.” “They won’t keep growing like this unless we get some rain or we start irrigating. Irrigating this garden would be so expensive,” Curtis replied. Betty said, “We’ll just have to think about it for awhile.”

A man was walking along the street and heard Curtis talking but no one was in the garden with him. He stepped over to Curtis and said, “Sir, I heard you talking but your companion must have left.” “Oh yes, she left two years ago,” Curtis replied. “Betty passed away. She still lives in my head and we talk all the time. You see, she’s all I have.”

*Photo by Louise with the Story Teller’s Abode

**FFfAW Challenge sponsored by Priceless Joy

Posted in Uncategorized

Can our Democracy Last?

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

R.M. Carlson's avatarThe Write Scribe

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John Adams, one of our founders feared that it could not when he said, “Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” Of course, that was a long time ago and they were just in the process of building America, our great shining city on the hill.

We are not a true democracy but a representational democracy. If we were a true or pure democracy, all laws would be made by direct, popular vote. Some of our laws are made like this. Most are not with a good example being the electoral college.

Our founders actually seemed to prefer a republic to a democracy. They are identical in every aspect except one. In a democracy, power is held by the group. In a republic, power is held by every individual. Most think the United States…

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Posted in Flash Fiction, Uncategorized

The Red Lantern

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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The Red Lantern

It had been a wonderful trip, but she had finally arrived in her favorite city of Amsterdam. The last stop. Not only was she looking forward to seeing the city again but to meeting someone very special. But first, there was the Amsterdam rijsttafel to take in. The Indonesian rice table. Her favorite food in the world located in the red light district.

She was too nervous to really indulge. She left dinner early and started to walk toward the bar with the red lantern where she was to meet him. There was the lantern! She stepped to the door. When she saw him, her nervousness drained away and she started to smile. It had been 15 years. He turned and saw her as he raised his martini glass to his lips and stopped halfway. #flashfictionforaspiringwriterschallenge

*Photo courtesy of TJ Paris

 

Posted in Creative Nonfiction Essays, Uncategorized, Writing

When a Writer Can’t Write

Posted on by R.M. Carlson

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A writer has to write. When a committed writer cannot write, they can be creative. They can read or travel in order to see things, meet people, and learn new writing techniques. I do that, but when I want to write, I want to write. To do otherwise causes me cognitive dissonance…….or a storm in my head. For the last six days, I’ve had a storm in my head about writing.

Six days ago, I pinched a nerve in my arm. My right arm, which is my dominant arm. I woke up in the morning, couldn’t move my fingers, and my wrist was limp. I ran, not walked, to my neurologist who found the pinched nerve. I did it in my sleep. Slept on my arm the wrong way! Stuff happens, everyone. Never forget that.

I have a brace on my hand, wrist, and forearm that will remain there until the nerve regenerates. Time to regeneration? Each person is different. Minimum is three weeks. Could be six months. My fingers are moving a little more each day. I’m finally able to write this blog post. I am no good at using dictation software. I have to sit down and pound the keys.

I won’t post as much as usual until I’m better, but I will post! If I can’t write, I’m not myself so I will do my best. Of course, I don’t want to lose touch with you, my followers. Thank you for following me!

Rosemary