RESOURCES
Recommended Books for Bloomers
The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander (Penguin 2000)
One of the most electrifying and insightful self-help books I've ever read, The Art of Possibility interweaves personal anecdotes, uplifting stories, and practical strategies for transforming professional and personal life.
Walking in This World by Julia Cameron (Jeremy Tarcher/Penguin 2003)
In this sequel to the international bestseller The Artist's Way, Cameron presents a profoundly inspired 12-step program for discovering and/or recovering our creative selves.
I Don't Know What I Want, But I Know It's Not This by Julie Jansen (Penguin Books, 2003)
Career coach Jansen offers a no-nonsense series of exercises to help readers discover what kinds of work they might find meaningful, along with inspiring stories of people who have successfully navigated a career change.
A Walk on the Beach by Joan Anderson (Broadway Books 2005)
The true story of Joan Anderson's chance encounter on a Cape Cod beach with Joan Erikson, wife of pioneering psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, and how their ensuing friendship helped sustain them both through Anderson's separation from her husband and the death of Erikson's beloved spouse. An inspiring, thoughtful read.
Encore: Finding Work That Matters in the Second Half of Life by Marc Freedman (Public Affairs, 2000)
The founder of both Civic Ventures and Experience Corps, Mr. Freedman offers fresh approaches and suggests new opportunities for boomers, especially in the public and nonprofit sectors.
Recommended Websites & Blogs
WowOWow
wowowow.com
Featuring a daily conversation with such luminaries as Lesley Stahl, Peggy Noonan, Liz Smith, Joni Evans, Mary Wells, Sheila Nevins, Joan Juliet Buck, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Reed, Joan Ganz Cooney, Judith Martin, Candice Bergen, Lily Tomlin, Jane Wagner, and Marlo Thomas, as well as regular commentary on a wide range of issues important to women, this blog earns its name: WowOwow!
Vibrant Nation
vibrantnation.com
A place for women 50+ to exchange information, join in smart conversation and connect with others who share the desire to make the most out of life every day.
National Association of Baby Boomer Women
nabbw.com
The official website of the NABBW (motto: "Empowering Women to Explore & Live Their Passions"). Includes monthly columns on a wide range of topics such as eldercare, entrepreneurship and empty nesters as well as a free newsletter containing book recommendations, member announcements, etc. (Note: I'm a monthly columnist for the NABBW--that's how much I love and believe in this organization.)
My Prime Time
primetime.com
Helpful advice and engaging stories on money matters, career transitions, relationships and health concerns, all directed toward helping individuals live the lives they imagine.
Boomers Forever
boomersforever.com
"Reaching more boomers than anyone else," Boomers Forever is the number one web portal specifically targeting the growing baby boomer generation. The site provides articles on women's issues, health, travel, finance, lifestyles, restaurants, technology and more.
Boomer Café
boomercafe.com
A popular on-line magazine created to give boomers a voice. Many informative articles addressing a wide range of relevant issues.
Ex in the City
exinthecity.com
A wonderful, upbeat website designed for women reinventing their lives after a divorce or breakup. Founded by Margaret Manning, the site empowers women to move from EX to Extraordinary. Manning offers advice, blogs, humor and a roadmap for navigating the stages of EX--Exile, Express, Exorcise, Explore and Exhale--and includes features on EX-Rated City Guides, divorce advice, solo travel tips, financial guidance and even a section called sEXy EX for women rediscovering their sensuous side.
Recommended Educational & Employment Resources
The Transition Network
www.thetransitionnetwork.org
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
www.aacc.nche.edu
Ada Comstock Scholar Program of Smith College
www.smith.edu
Frances Perkins Program of Mount Holyoke College
www.mtholyoke.edu/fp
American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
www.aacc.nche.edu
Bread Upon the Waters (UPENN Scholarship Program)
www.sas.upenn.edu/lps/undergraduate/scholarships
Brown University Resumed Undergraduate Education Program(RUSA)
www.brown.edu/Students/RUSA
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/about.html
Diplomaguide.com
http://www.diplomaguide.com
GED (GENERAL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA)
www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=GEDTS/
Additional Resources & Links
Beauty and the Book
If you love to read good books, have always wanted to be a queen, and are dying to be in the 'hottest book club in America,' consider becoming a member of The Pulpwood Queens Book Club. Founder Kathy Patrick, owner of Beauty and the Book, the only combination beauty salon and bookstore in the country, says, "Reading is a win, win, WIN situation, and to me a book is the ultimate vacation from life. Believe you me, with us all working like crazy, running our households, car-pooling the children, we need a much deserved and needed break!"
www.beautyandthebook.com (Kathy's main site)
www.pulpwoodqueen.com (Kathy's wonderful blog)
Bloom
Bloom, the Online BLOG magazine for real women, lets you know the Buzz on relationships, ways to have fun, business tips, cuisine, and great ideas for balancing life in today's fast-paced world. Sign up to get the Bloom Buzz e-mailed directly and confidentially to your inbox for the latest programs and events in your area along with great articles to inspire you to bloom into all you want to be. Bloom is your place to grow!
www.bloomonline.com
Boomer Humor From Cascade Greetings
A humorous greeting card line aimed at female baby boomers.
www.cascadegreetings.com
Boomer Women Speak
Dotsie Bregel offers a haven for baby boomer women to share from the heart. Meet wise, warm, and witty women in her lively online neighborhood with 40-plus forums. Also, check out this new feature on the site: Dotsie says, "As a result of the wild demand to begin a book club for boomer women, Boomer Women Speak, the number one site for baby boomer women on major search engines, is happy to meet the need. The forum community will host the book club beginning April 16, 2007. Any boomer woman can join simply by visiting www.boomerwomenspeak.com and entering the forums. It is that easy. While you are there, view thousands of posts sharing what is in the hearts and minds of boomer women."
www.boomerwomenspeak.com
C-Boom Where Cool Boomers Surf
Provides online resources about boomer living including health, humor, and message boards. Includes eCards and horoscopes.
www.c-boom.com
Eldercare Concierge
Phyllis Slater, author of Calming the Chaos of Aging, is a professional eldercare consultant and concierge service. Through her own experiences living with a physical challenge, she advocates knowing our options before needing them. Her concierge services support the aging and their caregivers in their quest to find appropriate products and resources.
www.eldercareconcierge.net
Elizabeth Welles & Peace Communications
When you're involved with what you love in a balanced way, your stress is reduced. Elizabeth Welles and Peace Communications present seminars, lectures and performances that enhance creativity, laughter and peace, with an emphasis on stress reduction, intuitive business practices, and journaling. Elizabeth is the author-editor of Women Celebrate: The Gift in Every Moment; the creator of the CD, Meditation for Relaxation, and the founder of The ISIS Method for Stress Reduction and The Four Wisdoms of Creativity.
www.PeaceCommunications.net
Fearless Fifties Blog
A blog focusing on attitude, not age.
http://fearlessfifties.com
Fearless Living
A support network that will help you banish the emotional fears that threaten to overpower your life. It was founded by bestselling author Rhonda Britten. (You can read Rhonda's own inspirational story on the site.)
www.fearlessliving.org
Hugs, Hope & Peanut Butter: Inspirational Humor for Women
Author Marsha Jordan, founder of theHugs and Hope Foundation, a non-profit charity for sick children, combines hope and humor to share her experience of living with chronic illness. Filled with practical tips for coping, her inspirational book is illustrated by kids battling cancer. Pain is more bearable with the healing power of laughter; and anyone who has faced tough times will be encouraged by hilarious essays about everything from husbands to car accidents; badly behaved pets to a day in the emergency room; in-laws to magnifying mirrors; and camping adventures to searching for the perfect purse. The book also outlines ten tips for beating depression, written from Jordan's own experience of battling this illness most of her life.
www.hugsandhope.org/book.htm
It's Your Life, Take Charge
Improve your odds of having successful relationships by taking Diana Dodson's unique tests that help identify compatibility, level of trust and strength of communication. Her book includes sections on love, marriage, intimacy, children, etc. Dodson doesn't simply give advice but also provides ideas and examples to help you change your current situation.
www.authorhouse.com
Kathy Caprino, Ellia Communications
Kathy Caprino, author of Breakdown, Breakthrough: The Professional Womanıs Guide to Claiming a Life of Passion, Power, and Purpose (Berrett-Koehler, October 2008), is an executive and life coach and career transition consultant who helps professionals reclaim the direction of their lives for greater fulfillment, passion, and joy. Her company and services provide breakthrough solutions via powerful coaching seminars, workshops, books, and materials for individuals and groups wishing to break through to their highest potential and fulfillment. As an empowerment expert, Kathy speaks to corporate and womenıs groups nationwide about her Model for Empowered Living, with inspiring stories and effective approaches for overcoming the 12 common crises professional women face today.
www.elliacommunications.com
Open Minds, Open Doors
Artist Janet Luongo, author of 365 Daily Affirmations for Creativity, with a foreword by Jack Canfield, helps people unlock the power of the true self and create a richer life. With the help of visualization and a positive imagination, Janet overcame a devastating youth to fulfill her dreams. On her web site she offers resources, links, free articles to download and a free e-zine, Open Minds that encourages people who embark on a journey to deeper creativity.
www.openminds-opendoors.com
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is recruiting older volunteers.
www.peacecorps.gov
Pericycle.com
This website was designed by Pericycle.com. Founded in 2000 by Gabriel Bach, Pericycle.com is an independent Graphic Design and New Media Company. Specialties include website and print design, as well as architectural and 3D development. If you need design work done, Gabe is wonderful!
www.pericycle.com
Positive Aging, Inc.
It's never too early to start thinking about your retirement. Kim Kirmmse Toth, a wonderful Certified Retirement Life Planning Coach and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, coaches Baby Boomers who don't want to leave their third stage of life to chance. You may have been looking forward to this transition for a long time. Now be sure that these years are all that you've dreamed of...and more. You've earned this! Financing your retirement is not enough. What matters most is how you choose to live your life after you leave your job. Kim offers virtual teleclasses, community support groups, a monthly ezine, a tips booklet, etc. She also speaks to groups.
www.positiveaginginc.com
Queen of Experiences
Proving once again that laughter IS the best medicine, Queen Jaw Jaw writes humorous stories about everyday life, adding just a twist to every situation. Results? The funniest stories you'll ever read. But don't take my word; visit her queendom for yourself. While you're there, don't forget to see what the Trixie, a.k.a., The Trixster, her dog and writer pal, is up to.
www.queenjawjaw.com
Queen Power
Allyn Evans, author of Grab the Queen Power: Live Your Best Life, gathers women together to promote, support and encourage each other. Don't wait till you're ready, have more time, or grow a little older. Start living your best life now. Grab the Queen Power!
www.queenpower.com
Skinny Dipping in the Wilderness
A travel club for middle-aged women who are not done having fun.
http://skinnydippinginthe wilderness.com
The Tao of the Defiant Woman
CJ Golden, author of The Tao of the Defiant Woman, couples the ancient Taoist philosophy of acceptance with a healthy dash of modern-day defiance. CJ's book, her weekly wisdoms, monthly newsletters, and Taogirl groups and workshops have been helping women everywhere to navigate the transitions and challenges we face along our paths. Visit her website to learn more about this powerful and rapidly growing movement.
www.taogirl.com
Unique Retreats for Women
Unique Retreats for Women, created and run by Dr. Karen Gail Lewis, offers specialized personal growth weekends. There are retreats for Single Women, Women Married (or Previously Married) to Powerful Men, Women Ready for Change, and Women and Their Siblings. She is also the author of seven books, including With or Without A Man.
www.uniqueretreatsforwomen.com
Writing: A Wonderful Career for Late Bloomers
Carolyn Howard-Johnson turned to creative writing just before she retired. She carved out a whole new career and didn't retire at all! Further, she's glad it worked out that way. Click on her web link below and learn more about her new publishing career The first person essay on her site tells her late-bloomer story.
http://carolynhoward-johnson.com
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