Write On...

The variety of electronic communication devices is boggling – it’s easy to fall behind the times though when being up to date is not essential. I am personally of the vintage when manual typewriters evolved to electric, then word processing, and the list goes on.

Several years ago I saw a small-sized computer which held innumerable photographs, all properly filed. It was new to me, and simply called a Notebook. Handy and dandy. The selections today are desktop computers, laptops, notebooks, I-pads and one most aptly named ThinkPad™. 

Tweaks such as Memos to Self on our cellphones, Post-It™ notes on the fridge, mirror, doorframes and dashboards, or daily Lists of Things to Do are all task reminders.  We communicate to ourselves throughout all our waking hours and to each other most often by voice.

A business coaching system I participated in emphasized the dying art of hand-written letters, note-writing and even sending greeting cards by snail mail. It’s almost difficult to grasp the sense of anticipation that homesteaders felt when they knew the next Pony Express delivery was due!

While we rely on instant gratification and electronic communications regularly, there is still a substantial feeling of pleasure when someone receives a letter or card in the mail.

Write on!  

On My List….

Several years ago, possibly at a garage sale, I bought at least fifty pads of blue tear off paper entitled Things to do To-Day. Making lists has always been a good method to keep me on track and accountable, especially when there may be more tasks than there are lines on the page! The supply has dwindled to a scant few left – it’s on my list to find something similar!

I recently had the wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends after a very long time. Getting to know each other again has reminded me that specific interests or hobbies we want to pursue often continue throughout our life. The husband has renewed his model-building with fervor, which he enjoyed as a young man long before marriage and fatherhood compromised his schedule!

The ages and stages of our adult lives sometimes are too-tightly filled with obligations to someone or some things, such as gainful employment or continuing education. It’s often on our list of things to do that we may jot down in small print a pastime we’ve fallen away from; with every intention of resuming sometime ahead.

I have recently completed my first book, a non-fiction novel. The intention is to share a message of love, empathy, tenacity and creative solutions to encourage and inspire caregivers everywhere. The chapters are sensitive, with a good mix of common sense, chuckles and snuffles along the way.

Penning a book has been, since childhood, On My List!

Out on a Limb…

 A current T-V commercial which features a couple embracing their paid-off mortgage also includes an older woman and an adult child in the background. They join in to share a group hug – and somehow the thrill of the moment is diminished when the realization dawns that now there’s more money available, others need it!

Regardless of income, there’s always outgo that is either in or out-of-balance; and requests for a hand up can be difficult to deny. I know of a woman who is pretty in appearance but unpretty in disposition. Her disappointments must be many, for though she has recovered from a medical diagnosis and hopefully is counting her lucky stars, conversation is peppered with complaints. This habit is a deterrent for anyone, and as she seemingly has turned more fretful, even her family hasn’t appeared for a while.

Everyone has moments when we wish things could be better, it’s human nature to have more “I wants” than there are “I needs” – if a need is identifiable and actual however, sometimes adult offspring will step up and pay a few outstanding bills or cover car repairs if they are able. This past winter has played havoc with everyone’s budget, from snowploughing to utility costs!

If there is any strategizing to be implemented, in search for temporary financial respite especially, personal assets of a pleasant disposition, putting on a smile, and remembering good manners are priceless. My mother always quipped that “you get more bees with honey than with vinegar” – so turn that frown upside down if you’re out on a limb.

Playing With Fire…..

A commonly-heard expression when someone recognized that another could easily find themselves in a dangerous situation is “Watch Out!”…Ideally the warning is blurted in time to avoid accident or mishap; and the reaction is of thanks.

Mothers have an accelerated sense of awareness when it comes to the well-being of their children, regardless of age. Wives as well sound the alarm if hubby is doing something perilous. Caregivers hover, sometimes too closely, to prevent mishaps in the home; as do the children of aging parents who may not see themselves as more frail than in younger years and off-balance, perhaps due to eyesight or motor skills.

The warnings are often at increased volume than usual – which attracts attention immediately. It is our own adrenalin that creates urgency; and even when discussing a probability it takes intention to tone our voice to conversation level and not let fear seep through the illusion we’re trying to create of calmness and common sense.

Older men and women are sometimes not honest with themselves and their capabilities – some Dads for example want to show their adult sons that they’re still vital and “in shape”. Moms want to impart the knowledge they have garnered over the years and may be so emphatic they cannot accept there may be other ways of accomplishing a task.

In the still of the night, either from apprehension or regret, counting the “what ifs” is gut wrenching. Having very nearly mismanaged my concerns for someone’s safety, I took my fretfulness to bed and tried to sleep on it. This morning I recognized that fear is the motivator which makes us cry out a warning or shout imperiously when someone is playing with fire…

Drifting but not Adrift...

This winter has been oh-so-long and grey-skied too often. Everyone is yearning for a glimpse of some rays – just to stoke the fires of ambition. My usual get up and go feels dormant; if I could find out where that weather-wise groundhog is hiding I’d dig up his burrow!

The hustle of the Christmas season, whether merry or not, dissipates into the January blahs, when there’s no hurry about anything!  Come February, optimists get out paint chips samples and dream of herculean efforts to spruce up the house; gardeners lovingly stroke their rubber boots and pore over spring catalogues! Mind and body seem to be in hibernation, waiting for a thaw, watching for “a sign”. I actually heard some crows yelling this morning and maybe we will find ourselves dug out from the snow eventually, thirteen feet is about ten too many.

Sometimes an afternoon reverie curled up under a cozy afghan is just the time inspiration comes winging into our consciousness. If you’re under the covers too often for too long maybe you’re adrift. I must confess I’ve been sleeping too late for my liking, but if there’s temporarily no need to set the alarm, why fret. Somehow we are able to justify most things; sleeping in may make sense but might be senseless! It’s a puzzle these days!

What we learned and experienced in 2013 has grown us into a different person than “same time last year”. It takes a little time to regain one’s bearings – our inspiration for what’s ahead may be a flickering flame that will become an inferno once we get our lists made and thoughts in order. Except I can’t find a match!

Walking is a great way to burn off some lard and feel peppier – watching the Olympians’ accomplishments makes everyone else look like a fossil. Time to heave once again into heavy boots and my parka, the dog is twirling and wants “out”. Maybe I’ll I rediscover that train of thought that’s buried and hop aboard as it whizzes past! 

Today I’m drifting but not adrift.

How Can I...?

In the February 4, 2014 issue of the Toronto Star, Life Reporter Nancy J. White has penned an article entitled “Chatting with Your Inner Coach”.

She quotes Ethan Cross, lead author of a study result published in the February issue of The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology that “to think about yourself as if you were another person provides psychological space, which helps people to exert self control”….

The comments are fascinating. Some people make up a list of Pros and Cons to help them with decision making. Others appeal to friends and other trusted advisors to help them quell anxiety and see the probabilities more clearly. Visualizing the person who is stressing over an issue is helpful – if that person is me it can be a challenge to be objective!  

Sometimes just talking it through, aloud, helps me clear the air – but as Associate Professor Kross states “to talk to yourself out loud in the third person violates all sorts of social norms.”

My husband is a great mutterer-to-oneself, which is sometimes more than slightly irritating, but at least he gets the answers he’s seeking! I seem to have noticed that people who live alone also have audible conversations that may seem odd to guests but are nonetheless fulfilling. And pet owners find great consolation in discussing their issues in dogspeak or conferring with the cat!

A close friend of mine, coming up to an important 1^st Interview date, is feeling anxious. She has been gleaning and reviewing possible “interview questions” and which responses would be most appropriate.  It seems most probable that if she were to express her thoughts aloud and rehearse in the terminology of “you” – as in assisting a friend objectively, that the technique will instill the self-confidence she doesn’t yet feel.

Nancy White’s article “Chatting with Your Inner Coach” is timely and pertinent when the question we’re deliberating is How Can I…?

Change the Channel...

I heard this nifty phrase for the first time today on the CTV morning program known as Canada AM.  The application inference was more than pushing a button on the remote – its connotation referred to switching one line of thought to another! Almost like a “Time Out” indicator which we’re familiar with when someone wants to make input to a conversation.

Astute journalists and commentators, as an example, are most keenly aware of the flow of news reports and studio interviews, especially “Live” broadcasts. The everyday conversations of people everywhere can carry participants along with enthusiasm, until there’s an inadvertent slip of the lip and smiles go south. We sometimes get so caught up in the chitchat that we miss reading subtle signs of uneasiness or inappropriate thought lines, then a disconcerting jolt when the brakes jam on.

It came to mind that the phrase “Changing the Channel” might be an apt tactic for anyone who finds themselves teetering on the brink of hot water! Parents to recalcitrant children, adult children to unravelling parents, friend to friend or spouse to spouse. One accepted approach to keeping conversation alive is to redirect the focus to sidestep confrontation if the other party becomes overly anxious or upset. This strategy is a lifesaver for anyone who provides care to a loved one suffering from dementia – it’s almost like peering far ahead when driving at night – keenly alert to a possible incident!

Just as we sidestep a puddle or avoid thin ice, we can – rather than use the Mute button - hopefully circumvent discord by Changing Channels.

Tiny Bubbles…

A television commercial that’s broadcast currently depicts both youngsters and adults feeling gleeful that gossamer soap bubbles surround them and seem to dance in the air! The wide smiles are contagious – viewers cannot help but share the delight.

Pouncing on bubbles wherever they are found is great fun, regardless of age. My uncle, who recently passed away at the age of 103, was seen on video to be scooting down a waterslide slick with dish soap on the occasion of his 99^th birthday! Little children adore bath time when no-tear bubbles are mounding, as do weary ladies when a good soak is the best treat – in a deep tub!

The gay feeling that makes us giggle is effervescent –singer Don Ho once sang of “tiny bubbles, in the wine!” It’s a well-known and proven fact that laughter is the best medicine when combating health issues; Dr. Norman Cousins described the benefits in his best-selling, groundbreaking classic entitled Anatomy of an Illness. Sometimes the teensiest tickle of comic-relief can ease a serious situation – and when a giggle bubbles unexpectedly, even inappropriately, the results can be hilarious! When a book or article evokes humour, the author has achieved their intention. If we are of the ilk that people sometimes recommend we “lighten up” – a senseless comedy routine or silliness of a kitten playing may be all it takes. In the grey days of January where we’re shy on sunshine, my own little dog has taken to acrobatics and other amusing antics which are truly effective. C’mon, let’s go! 

Make your own, share with a friend, or put together a gift basket for someone who needs a lift.  I’m off to the store this afternoon to find a bubble pipe or wand – indoors or out, we can all get a giggle from tiny bubbles.

Company’s Coming….!

It seems probable that we have all heard, at one time or other, how someone flies into a full-blown tizzy of anxiety when guests are coming to visit.. It matters not who they are – getting ready can feel like a marathon we don’t want to run..

When there are extenuating circumstances such as chronic illness or a household member’s death, people feel more than willing to overlook a few dust bunnies in the corner or spots on the kitchen cupboard doors. Globs of jam on the counter or a sticky spill in the fridge are easy to remedy with a quick swipe of a damp cloth if it’s caught in time.

Caregivers, even on short-term assignments, might find it difficult to keep priorities relevant. Too much change, too much haste or being too fretful upset the “usual” way of things – to the point of tears or other displays of frustration. Helpful hints or “tips” on how to keep everything on an even keel are hard to bring to the fore when the house isn’t at its best! The proverbial big breaths, slow and easy, then set to with a reasonable expectation of completing small tasks.

Bathrooms in particular can be kept fresh and sweet with modern day cleansers, deodorizer wicks/wands/pumps, toilet bowl pucks, and by emptying wastebaskets.

Kitchens are the next priority – keep taps and sinks gleaming with a wipe down and clean up stovetop spills as soon as possible after the mishap. If you’re absolutely overwhelmed and someone asks “is there anything I can do to help?” – don’t be shy, and don’t pretend you have everything under control! Visiting family members would be glad to throw in a load of laundry or rattle up dishes in the sink!

If you know ahead of time that visitors are coming – whether for an afternoon, evening or longer visit – write out a list of “Things to do” and place it on the refrigerator door. Even though there may be a last minute flurry of setting out clean towels, rearranging a throw blanket or afghan, and even fluffing the dog’s bed!

When company’s coming they’re coming to see you, not your house!

Shake, Rattle and Roll…

Ever get that queasy feeling in your stomach when something’s gnawing but you just can’t put your finger on it? The alarm seems to ring too early to make any sense, most mornings you just want to roll over and catch a few more ZZZ’s instead of arising with enthusiasm! Feeling off-balance – yet not discernibly unwell.

Everyday stressors can be managed by changing tasks/resetting priorities; compartmentalizing things if there are too many balls are in the air, and choosing to take positive steps to alleviate the strain.

Even an office can be toxic – creating so much negativity that it takes almost all our personal energy to breath in the atmosphere. Indecision is tiring – “What to do, what to do?”  Sometimes it’s a “Should I, or shouldn’t I?”.

Only when we’ve been able to identify the burr under our saddle that’s making us feel scratchy can we find respite. I recently had a redirect to a career change, which wasn’t a good fit. Something just wasn’t jiving – my brain was not in synch and while the light bulb was on, the voltage was low. I simply couldn’t put my finger on the problem – which in turn felt problematic!

On a snowy Winter’s day I find myself, for the first time in nearly forty years, at home. The shakiness seems steadier, the rattle of indecision has been disbursed.

The niggling thoughts I couldn’t quite capture have been snared – it seems simple enough now.

Predictably, I sleep better now too!

Sometimes a committed partner just has to do what is in the best interest of the other person – especially when ill-health is part of the big picture.

Shake, Rattle, then tuck and Roll with the punches! 

Doing my “Happy Dance”

When the alarm goes off with that very annoying notification that it’s time to arise, some mornings feel like g-r-r-r instead of flinging back the blankets in anticipation of a new day at the office, home or wherever! My clock is set for 5:45 – and now that daylight saving time is in effect, darkness is emphatic both when I get up and get down.

Recently I did hit the snooze button, still half-awake – but launched in a panic after just three or four more minutes. Running on too fine a timeline!

After getting my bearings and feet under me, so to speak, flicking the hall light on was just a preliminary to the glaring halogens in the bathroom.  Face wash and teeth in that order….face wash was uneventful – but without glasses I’m not too clear – so a surprise followed.

On one side of the vanity were two tubes, each with a golden hue label – what the print reads was an unknown. One of them did feel a bit more round when I picked it up, maybe more in it than I remembered? Squeezed the gel out on the toothbrush and started to brush….. Note to self:  Put your glasses on next time.

If there was a toothache in the offing this was instantly quelled – and the taste was only accentuated by using mouth rinse.

Talk about a wake-up call – the “happy dance” than ensued wasn’t in celebration!

Navigational Aids...

Several years ago while active in the real estate profession, I dreamed it would be great fun to be able to escape for an hour or two on rare occasions –  and the means of transport would be by boat.

Never having had a boat previously, it was important to take the Power Squadron Course and earn my Pleasure Craft License. Not only was the instruction interesting, I found the scope of it all enormous! Armed with all the essentials, including binoculars – it was with some trepidation that we set forth on a maiden voyage.

One of the first challenges was to be able to read the lake charts and steer at the same time – glasses on/glasses off seemed to be the exercise. Having a good sense of direction is simply not enough. A compass, a sharp-eyed spotter and knowing the ups and downs of currents were all significant.

Today, long after the boating experiment, I learned about other navigation aids previously unknown to me.

In discussion with a representative from the Falls Prevention Program, I learned that navigation aids also exist in one’s home!

We are all familiar with the terms “water walker”, “sky walker”, “moon walker”; to name a few, but my vocabulary was increased by a new expression – “furniture walker”. And it’s not dogs, cats, other pets or babies!

When moving around the home, to avoid a fall when unsteadiness may be a concern, many people choose not to use a cane or other assistive device – and cruise their route with a hand along the back of the couch or outstretched to make contact with the next chair or table… Hence, “furniture walkers”!

A sense of direction, good eyesight, awareness and destination are all navigation aids.

Feeling Settled…Oops!

Ever notice that, with the proverbial Ups and Downs of Life, that once in awhile we begin to feel almost settled? After diligent and long-time plodding toward the sought-after circumstance of contentment, we begin to feel as if we’re almost achieving what we’ve been striving for.

The word “happiness” is elusive – many people relate to this differently. What happiness is to one person may not nearly resemble what that word means to another. I feel for myself, that  “contentment” is more comprehensive. Before we start feeling to comfy cozy though, an unexpected bit of news which may be probable or not. Nonetheless, this strikes us to our very core with a sense of feeling undone – “how could this happen now?”.

Someone close recently e-mailed me with exciting news about a new job position – for which the invitation to complete an online competency test was extended.

The stuff of dreams for this woman, after a too-long/too hard slug for many years.

I was able to rationalize the pros and identify the wonderful opportunity immediately, then my personal self banged at the door of goodwill and insidiously muttered “but……what about me? What about the thoughts we’ve discussed for our future?”

The Real Me has composed myself and dried my snuffles – I truly wish the very best for this woman and am encouraging her to be the very best she can be. Reach for the stars, sister!  The possibility is fabulous and probability high.

Having one’s cage rattled now and then averts complacency. Just when we start feeling settled….oops!

Romancing the Stone….

It’s seldom that I watch television, and likely can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I’ve seen daytime T-V unless ailing on the couch with the snuffles!

At present however, I’m seated in a dentist’s office awaiting my hubby. The big-screen television has a show airing called The Doctors, and material content is fascinating. There’s a warning about “explicitness” which might upset viewers.

So far in one episode I’ve learned about several life threatening afflictions and some conditions which affect a couples’ sex life! Such as hip inflammation caused by tissue tears or joint irritation and malfunction that is relieved with orthopedic surgery.

Sexual dysfunction between couples is more common than not – and glossy magazines with covers promising tidbits to improve the situation are eagerly snatched off the racks!

Some folks resort to a retreat – for counselling. I haven’t yet had a chance to view the 2012 movie entitled Hope Springs starring Meryl Streep. The trailer clips are hilarious – especially one scene in a restaurant where the server calls for a show of hands from anyone who’s not indulging any more. There’s a sea of upraised arms!

Even if you’re feeling hard and as chilled as granite, find some giggles everyday – romancing the stone can be heart warming!

Catching Some Z-z-z-z’s

In the “funnies” section of the newspaper, recently the Retail™ comic strip

Showed Marla the store manager fretting about her appearance. Her anguished comment to a co-worker was that “I work too hard to look my age!” It struck me that most of us do look our age because the travails of everyday life and living are too weighty to bear without some consequential looks of “aging”.

Anyone who acts as a full-time caregiver for a chronically unwell family member can identify with the parallels between new moms and their darling babies… Refreshing sleep, sufficient downtime and unending responsibilities all take their toll – which ultimately reflects in one’s appearance. Do you see a pair of raccoon eyes looking back at you from the unforgiving mirror?

Both women and men require recommended amounts of sleep to stay well, feel rested and aware, and maintain both mental and physical health. If employment comes into the equation there is increased responsibility to not take days off, keep your performance in the workplace sharp, and don’t whine about the inequalities of life and living. Co-workers may utter sympathetic murmurs and shake their heads sagely – nevertheless it can all feel overwhelming , relentless and solitary.

If you’re wondering whether that light at the end of the tunnel you see is relief in the future, think again – maybe it’s a train! Admonitions to “take care of you first” fall on our deaf ears – though we know that this truism makes perfect sense.

For someone else!

What fun to have a mini-holiday – run away to a remote cabin with no phone and just sleep, swim and paddle my own canoe!

This gauzy dream will be fulfilled this afternoon when I catch some zzzzz’s.

According to the Straw Man……

(photo courtesy of Kenny Francis)

We’ve all heard stories of mid-life crises – both men and women have been known to self-inflict too many “what ifs” and “if only” thoughts that can feel anguishing. Stories number too many and impactful results are sometimes hard to overcome, including financial repercussions.

In the August 2, 2013 issue of the Toronto Star, columnist Carol Goar penned an article entitled Retirement choice is paramount for an aging population. She writes that “The notion of retiring at an arbitrary age – usually between 60 and 65 – is out of step with the needs and wishes of older Canadians” as stated by university economists Marcel Boyer and Sebastien Boyer. Hooray!!

The article also goes on to say that “to uphold living standards, forestall skill shortages and give older workers the flexibility they want, Canada will need policies that encourage people to upgrade their skills through their careers, take on new challenges in mid-life and curtail their hours of employment as their energy and mental acuity wanes”. Hooray!

Some of us feel that we don’t want to just put in time; we want to strive and live life to the fullest.

For me personally, the anticipation of future achievements counters the famous song lyrics from the Wizard of Oz -

          I would not be just a nuffin'
            My head all full of stuffin'
            My heart all full of pain
            I would dance and be merry
            Life would be a ding-a-derry
            If I only had a brain

…according to The Straw Man

Stormy Weather…

Couples who have been together long enough to look back over a period of more than just a few years all have specific tales to tell. Sometimes the stories are humorous, or not.  A pursed-lips recount of travel plans gone awry or an unlovely vacation may feel scratchy, depending on the outcome.

Bouts of physical/mental illness or other challenging circumstances represent trying time for both parties, and I’ve heard it said that what appears to be a trivial incident long after is sometimes the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

When a marriage break-up occurs, it’s devastating – from observers’ points of view. A lot of tongues wagging about he said, she said… I knew it wouldn’t last… and sometimes astonishment - “they’re the last ones I ever thought this would happen to!”. Stories abound and surface from abundant sources; and opinions vary widely. Eventually the dust settles and the survivors each try to find their own way in a world they aren’t knowledgeable of. Resolution can be happy, sad or desperate.

A couple well-known to me seem to have weathered a lot of storms, a May-December marriage which presents age-related challenges for both. The wife chuckles about “grumpy old men” and he grumbles when things aren’t going his way. The restraints of longevity bring impatience – as it goes with many people there is a time when they just don’t want to bother or be bothered.

My own husband and I were recently chatting about well-meaning eulogies often heard at a funeral or alternatively, a celebration of life. Looping DVD collections of photographs are sometimes projected on a large-screen monitor, or easel-mounted collages displaying memories of happier times.

The task of composing and delivering an overview of the person’s life and accomplishments is not to be taken lightly – it can be daunting. Not only is there the challenge of maintaining one’s composure at a stressful time, the listeneners are attentive and hanging on every word! It feels important to speak kindly lest there be any inkling whatsoever of any less-than-loving remembrances.

I think that a celebration of life feels less somber and cloying.  Snuffles are less audible, feelings of shock or dismay may be less intense and there’s even a possibility of jovial laughter when “Remember the time….” starts a conversation.

Stormy weather is seemingly less memorable when the clouds have passed.

Promises, promises...

Collections of cosmetics are often accumulated when consumers are tantalized by the target-specific advertising promotions on T-V, magazine glossies, billboards and the like.

The rare and precious occasions that allow men or women to sit and leisurely browse are often coincident with feeling weary, overwhelmed and likely overcommitted.

The not-so-tight muscle tone, softer jawline and inevitable dark circles and puffy eyelids challenge our own perceptions of looking and feeling fresh and ready to take up the challenges of the day. Our “game face” is cleansed away before bedtime and re-applied in the unforgiving light of day, and we are eager to try out any recommended tricks and tips to alleviate and “improve”.

“Help! There’s a raccoon in my bathroom!” motivates us to make that conscious decision to try for a renewed, refreshed and more current look. In my own assortment I have at least four different eye-products to brighten and lighten the lids and dark circles. Great, so now they’re more noticeable because I’m obviously not applying the camouflage properly.

Let’s face it – both Barbie™ and Ken™ dolls have matured over the years – and collectors still love them with all the silly perceived faults.

Composer Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” lyrics don’t relate to physical appearance… anti-aging products are just promises, promises!

Fits ‘n Spurts…

The hilarity of inadvertent stumbles when in conversation sometimes go unnoticed by the participant who is speaking. The other party or parties included may chuckle silently, turn away in amusement or bite their own lip to avoid an outburst of laughter!

If the stumbler recognizes his/her own oops, their reaction may be not so amused – so it’s essential that we are thoughtful and considerate if the speaker has simply chosen a totally wrong word or massacred it!

While browsing through the newspaper flyers recently, a couple I know was discussing a newer plus-type protective underwear – and maybe it would be worth a try.  Subliminal advertising always tweaks one’s attention, and indeed the “new and improved, or plus” seems to imply that the product is better than before.

They decided that the next purchase of the necessary protection would be to give the featured item a try. Tongue in cheek, the wife related to me that her husband, in describing his circumstances, declared that incontinence was in fits ‘n spurts!

“We’re in a new era, are you?”

 

This timely question was the subject of a recent e-mail from a real estate service provider. The question however can pertain to nearly everyone who’s in their third quarter of the employment or employable phase of their working life.

I recently had occasion to meet an inspiring young lady whose career is in the coaching field. Her zeal and determination to impart current skills to clients is so exciting! Social media, catch-phrases that we aren’t familiar with, and even the “how-tos” of cold-calling for new client opportunities can be overwhelming.

Whether we are business professionals, changing careers, or getting back into the work force we all have what are called “transferable skills”. In particular, I felt enthusiastic about new catch phrases – particularly in letter writing for business purposes, which are nouveau and of the new era.

Inter-generational marketing of ourselves clearly requires that we are in the know and current. Real estate professionals are encouraged to find a niche and focus on that aspect of their business – in some marketplaces however, such as Muskoka where I work, there are a wide variety of prospective buyers and sellers who have real estate needs.

Being familiar with and comfortable in the understanding of new lingo that is current gives us a sense of confidence and ability to integrate rather than being on the proverbial “outside looking in”.

Inspiration, for me, comes from the question “We’re in a new era, are you?”