AgingwithHennessey

What is a great way to kick off the New Year if you don’t drink? How about a polar bear plunge?

Two years ago I got the bug to try doing a plunge and took advantage of the New Year’s Plunge sponsored by the Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge in Asbury Park, NJ. That’s right the Stone Pony, Bruce Springsteen, Danny DaVita in Asbury Park. Last year I skipped out but felt the need to do it again this year. The weather was good, the air temp was in the 50’s, but a windy 50’s.   The water however was in the chilly 40’s which made the plunge a bit nippy and sucked the wind out of you. I felt that 2018 was a very good year and the plunge washed away any negative vibes that may have lingered from last year.

So I’m ready to take on 2019 a day at a time.

How about you? How do you celebrate the New Year?

Feel free to leave a comment at Agingwithhennessey.com

Until the next time.

Dan

We are quickly approaching the end of another year. I am hoping that 2019 has promise and holds some great adventures and challenges. Long ago I gave up on resolutions. I cannot remember getting too far past February when I did make a list so why bother. I do think however about what I would like to accomplish for the year and  those things I need to do to get there. This approach tends to be less stressful. So I try to chunk down what I want to accomplish rather than attacking things all at once.
How about you? Do you make a list of your resolutions or do you have another approach as we enter a new year. I would be interested in what you are looking to accomplish in the the new year. Please feel free to leave a comment at AgingwithHennessey.com.

Happy New Year!

Until next time.

Dan

This is hands down my favorite holiday of the year. The only expectation I have is to be grateful for the moment, enjoy family and eat well.

I can never be grateful enough. Although there are areas that could use improving I am not sure that it can get better than I have it. As for family I like getting together and enjoying conversation over a good meal. Thanksgiving is a great excuse for just that.  As for the food, I am somewhat of a traditionalist in that I like turkey. This year we have added baked ziti to the menu.

Here’s hoping that everyone finds themselves in a good place and able to enjoy a warm Thanksgiving 2018.

Drop a comment at agingwithhennessey.com about how you spend the day and if you have traditions you enjoy.

Until next time…..

Dan

Shout out to Lowe’s in Woodbridge, NJ!

Do you meditate?

Do you think that meditation and thinking positively are what we need to counter aging.  I believe mediation is a strong tool in focusing on the present and envisioning a better quality of life.  I find that it has a calming effect and can be done anywhere and I have even meditated on the train while commuting to work. It helps me refocus on being in the present and reminds me of the great things that I have going for me. As we speak I am going through a 21 day meditation experience on line with Dr. Deepak Chopra. The focus is assisting with my search for my purpose as well as how to healthier.  I try to schedule some time each day to meditate which helps me with perspective.

Mediation in the U.S. is growing.  We could have possibly used more of us meditating during the recent midterm elections. Anyway, coincidentally, I read this morning a study done by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that more U.S. adults aged 18 are partaking in Yoga and meditation. Meditation for instance rose from 4.1% in 2012 to and over 14.2% in 2017. Use of yoga and meditation: U.S. adult age 18 and over, 2012 and 2017.NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2017.

If interested you can read more about the survey and access downloadable graphics at this link: https://nccih.nih.gov/research/statistics/NHIS/2017.

So my question to you is do you mediate? What have your experiences been? Does it help you with the aging process and does it help you think more positively about your future?

Please share your thoughts at AgingwithHennessey.com

Until next time.

Dan

Whatever your party affiliations get out and vote. I have learned from a few articles I have read only 42% of registered Americans came out to vote in the last midterms. That 42% represented the lowest voter turnout since 1978.

Remember your vote matters.  Think about it, your vote on November 6^th can have an impact on your wallet, your health care, your  right to carry firearms, LGBTQ rights, and immigration to name a few.

You may think that your vote does not matter but consider this a single vote can make a big difference. In fact, there have been more than a dozen races decided by a single vote or ending in a tie over the last 20 years.  A fact noted in an article in NPR on line by Domenico Montanaro,  dated November 3 entitled  Why Every Vote Matters — The Elections Decided By A Single Vote (Or A Little More).  How would you feel if a candidate that you did not agree with won an election by a vote…..your vote?

So vote on Tuesday……. because every election matters.

What do you feel about getting out to vote?

Drop me a comment on AgingwithHennessey.com

Until next time.

Dan

Went to a party last weekend and the topic of discussion was retirement. Everyone had a different idea as to when was the best time to retire. Some were waiting for full retirement 66 and 2/3, someone else had the idea to wait until age 65. The thought behind that being that she would be eligible for Medicare at 65 and the dollar difference between retiring at 65 and waiting for full retirement was minimal. Then there was the school of thought to take early retirement at 62.

An argument being that the money will even out at some point because you will be collecting longer. The biggest drawback to the idea of early retirement is health insurance and we said earlier the magic age for Medicare is 65.  Some of the arguments for taking early retirement are you can enjoy yourself while still healthy or you may have health reasons. Or if recently laid off and rather than find something new take the social security and run. Also mentioned is the belief that social security will not be around much longer. While I have seen very tempting arguments for early retirement I don’t think taking the early plunge is for me.

I took both the early retirement amount and the full estimated amount, totaled them up and they match at around 14 to 15 years. But while the grand total is the same I would rather wait for the higher monthly amount. Besides, working the additional 4 years I get the benefit of making more than the social security will pay and still contribute to my 401k. Finally, I don’t have to spend a lot of time figuring out what I am going to do on any given day. Work, as painful as it is sometimes, still makes me feel useful.

So how about you? Anyone going to wait until 70? I was thinking about maxing out until I realized that I may not live forever. So I’ll look forward to 66 and 2/3, but will keep my options open in case circumstances change.

When are you going to take the plunge?

Let me know at AgingwithHennessey.com

Until the next time…..Dan

What are we here to do? What is our purpose?  I guess we have all asked ourselves this at some point in our lives. I would estimate that I ask myself that pretty much every day.  What am I here to accomplish? I get up every morning and get ready to go to a job that I can either take or leave. I have to endure the uncertainty of what the commute will be like. On a good day the ride can be fairly smooth on others it can set the tone for a really crappy day. So is my commute a metaphor for life? A train ride heading toward something, not necessarily being on time but will eventually get me there.

There has to be more to life than just existing. What do we want to achieve out our lives? What are we trying to do while we are here? I just cannot believe it all boils down to a 9-5 that pays a living wage. Pay that covers our rent, mortgage, and a car with all the latest bells and whistles that sits in a parking lot the majority of the day. Worse yet we go into debt so we can have this stuff. Is that what it is all about?

Is it, as it appears at times, all a game to see how we fare in life? Are we one of the winners, rich and retired or one who turns out broke and working until our last day? I don’t see why it matters. Yes I can see that life is much easier and I would think more enjoyable being rich. I wouldn’t know. l think being rich may have the same problems but on a different scale. However, if you think about it we all get the same reward in the end.

So the burning question is why do we do what we do?? What is the reward?

Let me know at AgingwithHennessey.com

For now…Dan

I read somewhere that he average age of retirement is 63. I consider myself above average so I will continue to work and plan to do so for at least four or five more years. Although I am working now I am looking for another adventure. The latest unemployment numbers look like they are in my favor. Stories about businesses having a hard time finding qualified candidates should put me in a good position. I have a strong resume and am very reliable. However, from what I have been reading finding a new job may be, as father used to say, may be a tough row to hoe.

I understand that once over 50 there are obstacles that may keep me where I am at. Ageism and unconscious bias are obstacles that I may need to hurdle.  Settling for less money is also a possibility. Being an optimist I am going to skip the Grecian Formula for now and rely on my soft skills to assist me as I head into a new direction. I’ll let you know what happens.

What about your experience. Have you found it harder to switch careers no less jobs? Is the second act real or contrived to sell books?

Thank you,

Dan

Leave a comment at AgingwithHennessey.com

Where do I start with a blog about aging? Since all that are reading this are using social media let me begin there. Is it true that those of us over 50 are not technically savvy and in tune with social media?  Not true according to Irfan Jafrey in his article in Forbes Magazine entitled to  Social Media Matters For Baby Boomers. His research shows that Baby boomers, with a population of roughly 80 million in the U.S. alone, are growing in online numbers every day.  In his article he contends the following:

“A common misconception among marketers is that baby boomers aren’t online. This, however, is far from the truth. More and more of them (us) are discovering social media and its many benefits. As a matter of fact, according to a study by Google, boomers and seniors spend more time online than they do watching TV. 82% of boomers who use the internet have at least one social media account, and they have an average of 4.6 social media accounts, with Facebook and LinkedIn as the leading platforms.”

I can say that I search the web at least an hour a day and have accounts on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. How about you? Are you technologically connected? How do you use on line applications, to stay in touch with friends and family? Do you go online for business reasons or how about research or exploring your next adventure?

Head to AgingwithHennessey.com and leave a message.