A Few Lines from Lin: I'm a Rock Star Wanna-Be
Product of the Week: Retire Retirement Boot Camp, November 21-23
Feature Article: Three Secrets to Positive Aging
Lin Recommends: Aging Well by George E. Vaillant
Quote of the Week: Sophie Tucker

Hello {!firstname}:

If you weren't at Boomer Boot Camp May 16-18th at Kripalu Yoga and Health Center in Stockbridge, MA you missed a truly remarkable weekend. Perched above Stockbridge Bowl, with flowering trees, Zen gardens, and sweeps of gorgeous green everywhere you look, spring at Kripalu is truly breathtaking.

What was happening inside the Sunrise Room at Kripalu was what was most remarkable, though. Twenty-six wise outrageous women (and one very brave and very special man) came together to step out of the limiting box of what retirement is supposed to be, and got rid of that darned old box altogether.

It was our best Boot Camp ever, on every level, and was a turning point for me. I got to use a "Madonna" for the first time ever (you know, the wireless mic that rock stars use) and I don’t think I can ever go back to a boring old wireless lav again! :-))

To your remarkable life!

Lin Schreiber, Retirement Revolutionary

Retire Retirement Boot Camp

Our popular Retire Retirement Boot Camp is debuting at Kripalu Yoga & Health Center November 21-23, 2008.

We're so excited that we're adding lots of new bells and whistles to this already terrific program.

Find out more here.

Three Secrets to Positive Aging (No, Two of Them Are NOT Diet and Exercise!)

The exciting field of brain science, and research like the Harvard Study of Adult Development, reinforce that you no longer have to look forward to your mother's (or father's) old age. So much of the research is pointing toward what we life coaches have instinctively known – it is the strength of your personal foundation and development of certain capabilities that keep you young and vital, and determine your happiness as you age.

If you're lucky, you're positively going to age, but are you going to age positively?

Here are three factors I believe are crucial to positive aging:

1. The Flex Factor. The Flex Factor is all about resiliency, flexibility and adaptability. How well do you bounce back when life throws you a curve ball? Do you usually go with the flow or dig your heels in when things don't happen the way you expect them to? Can you easily adapt to a change of plans or an unplanned situation?

I always think of Christopher Reeve when I think of the Flex Factor. While by his own account he wanted to die when he was first paralyzed, when he made the decision to live, he went on to make lemonade out of a great big batch of bitter lemons. He spent every day of the rest of his life working towards finding a cure for spinal cord injuries. He never lost hope that he would some day walk again. And, he left a legacy of hope for others. So whether you choose change, or it smacks you right between the eyes, seize the opportunity to reinvent yourself – not a different you, but a deeper, more authentic you, and make the most delicious lemonade possible out of the lemons that come your way.

2. The Grace Factor. The Grace Factor is about lightening up, and has three important components: maintaining your sense of humor, developing an attitude of gratitude, and expanding your ability to forgive. First, maintaining your sense of humor means being able to laugh at yourself and the indignities that often come with old age. It's the fastest way to lighten up when you're feeling down, and it can quickly shift your perspective and your experience. And, if you don't have a sense of humor, get one.

Second, when you develop an attitude of gratitude, you're able to deeply and profoundly appreciate all that you have. Instead of focusing on what you don't have, what was, and/or what will never be again, you grow a grateful (and positive!) attitude. Finally, expanding the ability to forgive is the one that many of us find the most difficult. Don't ignore this one! Instead, be willing to let go of the anger, resentment and desire for revenge against those who have harmed you in some way. There is that wonderful expression that says by not forgiving, you are drinking a glass of poison and hoping the other person will die. Honestly, it's not about condoning or even forgetting what happened. It's about freeing yourself from the power that the person who harmed you still holds over you. It's not about them. It's all about you – and your well-being. And, while you're at it, don't forget to forgive yourself for all those things you deem unforgivable.

3. The Zest Factor. The Zest Factor is embracing the snap, crackle and pop of life. It's having the capacity to play and to love, a desire to connect with others, the ability to gain nourishment from your past accomplishments, but not dwell there. It's being curious and willing to learn from other generations. It's engaging in the world and living with anticipation, excitement and hope for what each new day will bring. Without it, life loses its luster.

Make a commitment to develop these factors in yourself, and you'll build a solid foundation for the rest of your life. And, who knows? You may even become the poster child for positive aging!

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you keep it intact and include this blurb with it:  Certified Retirement Coach Lin Schreiber, author of The ABC's of Revolutionizing Retirement, helps self-reliant women reinvent themselves in the next stage of life, formerly known as "retirement." To claim your free Revolutionize Retirement Starter Kit, visit her site at http://www.RevolutionizeRetirement.com.
 

Lin Schreiber is a Retirement Revolutionary who loves helping self-reliant women reinvent themselves in the next stage of life, formerly known as "retirement." Like Lin, her clients have a positive vision for the future, and the idea of riding off into the sunset for the next 30-40 years isn't in the picture.

She is a sought after speaker, Professional Certified Coach and Certified Retirement Coach. Through her business, Revolutionize Retirement™, she delivers her comprehensive coaching programs to individuals over the phone, and to groups at her Boot Camp live events. Combining her contagious enthusiasm, non-stop energy, and passion for her subject, Lin creates a fun, dynamic learning environment that energizes and inspires her audiences.

Lin is featured on the PBS series Boomers™: Redefining Life After Fifty, and is the author of The ABC's of Revolutionizing Retirement.

Contact her at www.RevolutionizeRetirement.com.

"The secret of longevity is to keep breathing." ~Sophie Tucker

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