Point to Ponder (a very special guest this month)

On getting older...

Thought I'd managed to get away with it, but no, too many people reminding me that it's my birthday. There's all that 'twaddle' that says, "Don't feel bad about growing older, it's a privilege denied to many."and "Youth is wasted on the young." but frankly when you get up and the bones creak and various parts don't work quite as well as they once did - it just sucks!

I could think of it like my husband Bob does - as my "Personal New Year" - and that's a kind of cool idea, but that requires a little thought re-wiring. Frankly, re-wiring old structures has always seems a bit of a risky proposition to me. Never know what sort of a mess you might run into when you expose the foundation!

But, to tell the truth though, I can't think of any other age I'd rather be right now - cause then I'd have to give back all this hard-won knowledge and experience!

 

Wouldn't want to be 16 - no way - too much going on, too many life decisions to make, too many hormones! Wouldn't want to be 21 - with all that worry - will I get a job, should I get married, should I have kids? And as much as I love my kids, wouldn't want to be any age with small kids or, heaven forbid, teenagers - because it was just way too tough, especially as a single mom. I wouldn't give back any of those times, but neither would I want to relive them!

So, I guess that leaves me here - and to tell the truth,it's a pretty good here. I have two wonderful children who mean the world to me. I have a wonderful husband who is also my best friend. I have wonderful, special friends, and a few close family members who enrich my life and occasionally give me that 'kick in the butt' when I need it! I still have both my parents who constantly remind me of who I am and what is important. I have a husband who demonstrates his love and care for me and challenges me to move outside of my comfort zone. (Actually, he is sometimes just a challenge...lol.) I have a career that I love and a web-design business that excites me.

I guess that is what a personal new year is about - you take stock of your life, find the good, resolve to work on the 'not as good as I would like' and move forward.

Robert Browning has always said it best: "Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made.Our times are in his hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!'"       

 

Irene Gaudet Hooey

 

PS: Irene pictured here enjoying an ice cream in Puerto Vallarta early in March '09.

 

Note from Irene's husband: Very smart woman I married! And very well said.

 

I do take my birthday as a Personal New Year as that makes so much more sense than January 1st. A time to reflect:

• on how well I lived up to my intentions during the previous year;
  
• on how well I accomplished my business, life, and career goals; 
• on where I have grown and the lessons I've learned along the way;
• on the many friends, clients and colleagues who have blessed me;
• on what I want to accomplish during the next year;
• on what updated intentions will create my focus;
• on how I can enhance my abilities and skills to better serve my clients, and more profitably build my business;
  
• on how I can be a better friend and encourager to my friends, colleagues, and family;
  
• and, on how I can be a better friend, lover, encourager, and husband to my wife.
  

"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be..." is on a antiqued wall plaque, Charlene (one of Irene's closest friends from work) gave us for a wedding present. It hangs above Irene's work area just to the right of mine, and catches my eye on many occasions.

 

...enough said!
      

Have a great month... I know I will!  

              

When Kate Winslet and Sean Penn collected their Academy Awards in Hollywood earlier this year, they may have received more than a golden statuette. They may have also received the gift of four more years.

Researchers at the University of Toronto medical school found that Oscar winners live an average of 3.9 years longer than non-winners...79.7 years versus 75.8 years. And the benefits seem even greater for multiple winners, who lived an average of six years longer. Four-time winner Katharine Hepburn lived to age 96.

It could be that being recognized is good for one's health. Staff members who are told regularly that they are appreciated for what they do may be more able to deal with the stresses of everyday work and be more resilient when faced with challenges than others who work in an environment characterized by an abundance of negative feedback.

Or, suppose for a moment that the researchers got it wrong. It's not that the winners live longer; it's that those who are not recognized die sooner. Staff members
who go for weeks, months . . . even years . . . without receiving any positive feedback or no feedback at all may be uncertain about whether or not they are meeting expectations. They may interpret a lack of feedback as evidence that they are failing and that it is only a matter of time until their supervisors overcome any reluctance to deliver the bad news. They become preoccupied with not knowing how they are doing. Their productivity drops. Stress-related absences increase. They worry themselves into early graves.

We also just put them on YouTube: Mumbai ; Recession. We have quite a few videos in our collection. Irene is going to upload at least one a week to YouTube.

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Late breaking news

I believe in learning as an on-going life activity. When Irene and I were in Paris this January for her birthday, she told me it as a 'Ukrainian tradition to celebrate for a week'. We did and it was great! (Irene's note: "I figured traditional Ukrainian weddings last a week, so why not a birthday, especially a significant one.")

So, I turn 60 on April 18th this year. I know many of you would say I don't look a day over 58; but hey, would I lie about being this age?

So, taking a lesson from my wife, Irene and I plan to celebrate my 60th birthday for a whole week enjoying the sun and surf.

We leave early (6:30AM) on the 18th to Toronto and later that day, south to the Blau Costa Verde Beach Resort in Holquin, Cuba. We'll be able to have a 'late' birthday supper when we arrive.

These two pictures were taken recently by a tourist from their magnificent beach. I can already picture myself sitting there enjoying this view. And my floaty is still packed.(www.floatybob.com)

 

Now, where is my snorkel stuff?

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Thanks for reading

Bob 'Idea Man' Hooey would be pleased to be a part of your success team and to work with you to help make your conference, meeting, or training event a success. For more information about customized keynotes, professional and personal leadership training and coaching, or seminars/retreats, please visit  www.ideaman.net or call our Creative Office at: (780) 736-0009.

 

PS: Photo was taken aboard the Elias Mann, off the coast of Mexico March 2009

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