Month: February 2025
Dad’s Spicy La-Z-Boy: A Study in Valulosis
Posted by Admin01 | Feb 13, 2025 | Uncategorised |
My dad had a La-Z-Boy recliner in green tweed fabric, likely purchased in the late 1960s or early ‘70s. If you’re picturing Archie Bunker’s chair from All in the Family or Martin Crane’s from Frasier, think worse. Much worse. By the time I came along, the seat had shed its tweed, exposing shredded foam that made it look like we owned a particularly destructive cat. Come to think of it, we did.
When the chair’s glory days ended, my dad moved it to the basement, praising its unbeatable reclining mechanism. “They don’t make chairs like this anymore,” he’d say. “It just needs new upholstery.” The rest of us strongly disagreed. It was an eyesore and blocked access to the basement storage.
When Furniture Meets Flavor
The chair’s demise turned aromatic when my mom, who worked in our family’s pizza restaurant, brought home expired bags of spices – oregano, fennel, basil. She couldn’t bear to waste them. Since she couldn’t access storage because of a certain chair, she stacked the oversized bags on its seat. Over time, the bags tore open, embedding their scents into the foam. Walking past it was like encountering a giant scratch-and-sniff sticker from a pizzeria. We dubbed it “the spicy La-Z-Boy.”
Convincing a Pack Rat
For years, I begged my dad to let us toss the chair. He resisted, clinging to its supposed utility. Then a neighbor rented a dumpster. I didn’t ask for permission – I asked for forgiveness. The spicy La-Z-Boy was quietly hauled out and unceremoniously dumped.
Dad eventually noticed and grumbled about it, but he forgave me. I’m sure he mourned that chair and its “quality mechanism” until the end.
Valulosis: A Family Affliction
My dad’s attachment to that chair might have stemmed from growing up with little, but it was also a classic case of what I call Valulosis – the illusion that your possessions are far more valuable than they are. (Feel free to use this term, but I’d like credit. Please and thank you.)
That chair wasn’t the only example of Valulosis in our home. Take Mom’s fine china, for instance. She had a full set with delicate gold trim that you couldn’t microwave, dishwash, or even breathe on, lest it break. When I suggested we sell it, she gasped as if I’d proposed tossing the family Bible. “Do you know how expensive this was in 1962?” she insisted. Spoiler alert: not as much as it cost to move it decades later.
Then there were the silver-plated utensils in a velvet-lined box that looked fit for crown jewels. We never used them because they required polishing – an activity that should be outlawed under the Geneva Conventions.
And let’s not forget the figurines. My mom collected porcelain pieces, including one of a whistling girl whose head had been glued back on so many times it looked like she’d suffered a terrible neck injury. “But it’s a Hummel!” she’d say whenever I suggested decluttering.
Small appliances were another offender. Dad insisted that broken toasters and hand mixers “just needed a new part.” Replacement parts were never purchased, of course, so the appliances sat in the basement, awaiting a triumphant return to glory.Top of Form
More Relics of the Overvalued Era
Valulosis isn’t limited to my family. It’s a generational condition, passed down like an heirloom lamp you don’t want but can’t throw away. Here are a few other gems likely gathering dust in basements across America:
- Milk glass vases: Once charming, now thrift store staples.
- Old encyclopedias: My parents kept an entire set, arguing, “What if the Wi-Fi goes out?”
- Vintage Tupperware: The lids are warped, but dark orange and deep olive might trend again.
- VHS tapes: “Home movies!” Dad said, forgetting we no longer owned a VCR.
- Holiday decorations: Boxes of tangled tinsel and faded Santas last used when Nixon was in office.Bottom of Form
The Cure for Valulosis? A Dumpster and a Dose of Reality
In hindsight, I’m glad we snuck my dad’s spicy La-Z-Boy into the neighbor’s dumpster. That chair may have been seasoned to perfection, but it wasn’t exactly heirloom material. For years, Dad grumbled, “They don’t make chairs like that anymore.” He was right – no furniture company offers pre-embedded fennel aromatherapy.
As for me, I personally caught a case of Valulosis involving Beanie Babies that really were worth something. That’s a tale for another day. Those stuffed animals were my wake-up call: not everything we own is worth what we think it is – sentiment or sweat equity included.
Now, I embrace the idea that memories don’t take up space, and stuff is just stuff. That doesn’t mean I’m immune to Valulosis, but now I catch myself before turning a spice-dusted recliner into a family treasure.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
- Do you have a “spicy La-Z-Boy” in your life – a piece of furniture or an object you can’t let go of? Or are you a recovering Valulosis sufferer like me? Share your stories about treasures (or junk) you’ve held onto and why.
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever tried to “save”? Or, better yet, what’s the one thing you regret letting go?
- Retired teachers? Need a laugh about some of our hoarding issues? Here’s a link to our podcast’s episode on the topic: Teachers Are Hoarders.
Let’s share a laugh in the comments – after all, one person’s trash is another’s scratch-and-sniff sticker!
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Are You Just Existing? Here Are 5 Simple Tools to Help You Find Your Purpose After 60
Posted by Admin01 | Feb 13, 2025 | Uncategorised |
The media talks a lot about the health benefits of living an active and full life. They say having a purpose in life is the key to positive aging, but are you stuck trying to find your purpose?
Many of us have worked in full-time careers and raised families, and there wasn’t much time left over each week to do what we wanted for ourselves.
When retirement arrives – or as I like to call it, the Lifestyle Change – many of us can struggle with what our purpose is in life. It is easy to say we need a purpose, but that can mean different things to different people.
Finding your purpose is more obvious to some than others. Some of us feel we have nothing to offer or that having a purpose is something more than what it really needs to be. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering, it just needs to be something that has meaning to you and enriches your life.
Retirement is a huge adjustment, and like many, I struggled with finding something that would replace my career and give me fulfilment.
During the first year of retirement, I felt lost and was just going through the motions each day to fill in time – just existing. I kept asking myself how I could give my life more meaning and definition when my career and family had defined me for so long.
I wanted to spend more time with my husband and family, but I also needed something that would keep my individuality.
I started a blog with no idea of where it would go or what I really wanted to say. However, as time went by, I realised that I could encourage other women over 50 to be a better version of themselves through a fit and healthy lifestyle.
To me, keeping fit and healthy is a holistic approach and means being well physically, mentally and spiritually. There are many ways we can find purpose in our life, you to just need to discover yours.
Here are 5 simple ways to find your purpose in life.
Create a Reason for Welcoming Each Day
We all need a reason to welcome each day, especially if we have made the Lifestyle Change and retired from work. We can easily become less motivated and fall into the trap of letting days run into each other with nothing achieved and no purpose. This can lead to boredom and even depression.
Setting a morning ritual helps to motivate you to make the most of each day. For me, that means starting my day with some gentle stretches or yoga and taking a moment to focus on gratitude and the good things in my life.
Create a Legacy for Your Children and Grandchildren
Living your life with meaning and by example is a great way to leave a legacy for your children and grandchildren. They will learn from you, and isn’t that the greatest gift you can give them?
Create Your Passion
We all have ‘dreams’ of what we would love to do if only ‘we had the time.’ Some of us love gardening, painting, travelling, craft. Find what you enjoy doing and make the time to really enjoy your hobby or passion.
Give Back to the Community
There are so many ways we can give of our time, and volunteering can be such a rewarding experience. Giving back to others can be a win/win situation.
You not only give to others and have a positive impact on their lives, but you also receive satisfaction and a sense of purpose. You experience the warmth and fulfillment of helping others and enrich your life at the same time.
Be a Mentor
Life experience is a great teacher, and when we reach 60 we certainly have a wealth of knowledge. Being a mentor and helping others to reach their potential can be a rewarding experience. Don’t feel that you have nothing to offer – we all do.
If you feel you are lacking purpose in your life and not sure how to find it, ask yourself these 3 questions:
- What do I love to do?
- What am I good at that I could teach others?
- What is something I want to achieve or try?
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Have you found your purpose or passion in life? What do you think you could teach others? Join the conversation and share your story.
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10 Steps to Manage The Great Wealth Transfer
Posted by Admin01 | Feb 12, 2025 | Uncategorised |
“With great power, there must also come great responsibility.”
This quote from Spider-Man speaks to the consequences of our actions and the beliefs that frame our behaviors, especially when they affect many people.
What does a line from Spider-Man have to do with women over 60?
More than you may think.
My previous article and video examined The Great Wealth Transfer, which involves passing $68 trillion to immediate heirs between 2020 and 2060.
Our generation makes up over $50 trillion of this exchange. A great responsibility could be squandered if you are unprepared to be a good steward of such an exchange.
In the final part of our 10-part series, “The Invisible Customer with All the Money®”, we will explore how you and your heirs can benefit from The Great Wealth Transfer.
If you missed the previous articles, you can find them here:
#1: 7 Steps to Reclaim Your Power from the Media
#2: Aging Stereotypes: Can You Be More Feeble?
#3: 10 Steps to Influence Yourself from Within
#4: What Makes Your World Go Round After 60?
#5: 10 Steps to Unleash Your Inspired Voice After 60
#6: 5 Steps for Taking Back Control of Our Choices from the Media
#7: 10 Steps to Re-Engage with Life After 60
#8: 10 Steps to Bridging the Generational Divide
#9: Are You Ready for the Great Wealth Transfer?
Inheritance Is a Mindset
For centuries, wealthy families have passed down their estates to heirs. The Great Wealth Transfer, however, represents an unprecedented opportunity unlike anything the world has seen.
Over the last decade, large amounts of financial inheritance have expanded far beyond the luxurious confines of the ultra-rich to now include the average person.
Therefore, what makes The Great Wealth Transfer so unique is more than just the astronomical amount of money being transferred. It also goes beyond the sheer number of people around the world receiving it.
As jaw-dropping a number as $68 trillion is, ultimately, an inheritance is less about money and more about mindset. But what kind of mindset?
Three Important Factors
Consider the kinds of beliefs and stories you have about love, money, aging, and life itself. Are they wrapped up in a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?
Your answer will determine how prepared you and your heirs are to make the most of any type of inheritance, especially one that involves a lot of money.
Whatever your involvement in The Great Wealth Transfer will end up being, to properly take advantage of it you will want to adopt a growth mindset.
Here are three important factors that make The Great Wealth Transfer unique and the new growth mindset needed to maximize its benefits:
1. People and families with little to no lineage of financial wealth will benefit.
This requires a new story about money, which produces a new mindset.
2. The world your heirs are inheriting is vastly different than the one you grew up in.
Let go of fixed beliefs about scarcity and relinquish any controlling, manipulative mechanisms for how heirs receive and spend money.
3. It’s not just money that is being transferred it’s a mindset you’re transferring.
A mindset is a set of beliefs. Inheritances are determined by beliefs about money, love, and life. If your beliefs are limiting, your gift is tainted.
10 Steps to Make the Most of It
To ensure your inheritance is transferred efficiently, with love, and is in alignment with your heirs’ wishes, here are 10 steps to make the most of The Great Wealth Transfer:
Education
Understanding the basics of financial planning, tax implications, and estate laws is essential for you and your heirs.
Consult Financial Professionals
Interview three or more professional financial advisors before choosing one. Make sure they are ideally suited for your assets and aligned with your intentions to create a comprehensive wealth transfer plan.
Consult Estate Attorney
The same interview process applies to choosing an estate attorney. Seek professional guidance on drafting a will, setting up trusts, and other legal mechanisms for wealth transfer.
Open Family Conversations
Discuss your beliefs about money, aging, and inheritance plans with family members to set clear expectations and a smooth transition of assets.
Comprehensive Will
To avoid future disputes, clearly identify and define who inherits what.Regularly review and update your will, especially after major life events.
Consider Trusts
Trusts can offer a way to pass on wealth while potentially reducing estate taxes. Trusts can also ensure family members with special needs are properly cared for.
Gifting Assets
Strategies like funding education accounts or giving annual tax-free gifts are beneficial to heirs. However, it is important to understand the potential tax risks and tax benefits of gifting assets before death.
Review Beneficiaries
Update information to ensure the beneficiaries listed on insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other assets are current.
Address Debts and Taxes
Prepare and understand your debt strategy. You don’t want heirs to inherit your debts or be hit with excessively large taxes.
Digital Assets
Be sure to list any digital assets. This means documenting all online accounts, digital assets, and their respective passwords.
One Size Does Not Fit All
This article and the accompanying video are not intended to serve as financial advice. Nor are these 10 steps a one-size-fits-all approach to The Great Wealth Transfer.
Decisions concerning inheritances, whether they are given or received, require proper planning and oversight of a licensed professional.
Whether you are gifting money and assets to family, friends, or a charity, keep in mind this is a legacy exchange. Make sure your choices align with your values and intentions.
I invite you to join me in the video where I will share additional insights along with six journal prompts to help you integrate what you’re learning.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
How do you prepare for and approach inheritances, such as those referenced in The Great Wealth Transfer? Have you set up all proper documentation? What else might you need to do
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Recent Posts
- 16 Swimsuits That Don’t Dig Into Your Skin or Cut Off Circulation
- Dad’s Spicy La-Z-Boy: A Study in Valulosis
- Are You Just Existing? Here Are 5 Simple Tools to Help You Find Your Purpose After 60
- 10 Steps to Manage The Great Wealth Transfer
- Are Hye-jin & Jong-hoon Still Together After Single’s Inferno? What They’re Doing for the ‘Rest of Their Lives’
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