Just Flip It!
March 31, 2008
I’m the person who hates to read instruction manuals. Car manuals, camera manuals, appliance manuals–I hate them all. I want what I buy to be so intuitive that I can just start using it without any learning curve. Unreasonable?
Well the people at Pure Digital didn’t think so when they invented the handy little Flip camcorder I bought this weekend. The Flip, appealing at less than $130, brings “point and shoot” ease to taking and making your own videos. For the fashion conscious it comes in white, pink, orange, lime and black.
I’ve dreamed about taking videos of my 4 year old niece twirling around singing “twinkle, twinkle” but haven’t been brave enough to tackle the technology of a camcorder. Now with the Flip–here I come.
So give me a day or so to play around with this camera that’s only slightly bigger than my cellphone and I promise you a video here on Midlife’s A Trip before week’s end.
Say “cheese”!
Hanging Out With Midlife Women Bloggers
March 30, 2008
Today I signed up over at Blogher.com, a site for women bloggers. When I went to post an intro to that community I discovered an ”underground” group of midlife bloggers like me. As I read their interesting posts, I just kind of fell into the discussion which culminated in a great list of midlife women blogs over at ByJane . I didn’t have time today but I plan to visit all the sites and see what women “of a certain age”, like me, are thinking and writing about.
I hope you will too.
Career Change and the 5-Step Ruby Slippers Plan
March 30, 2008
Yesterday I wrote about my career change in midlife. It sounded easy didn’t it? Should have had happy music playing the background, right? Wrong. It wasn’t easy but it was a change that was as necessary to me as breathing. So how did I get through it? Well, it’s kind of like Dorothy and the ruby slippers.
When Dorothy realized where she was really meant to be, it was the ruby slippers that got her back to Kansas. Her journey wasn’t easy, as you may recall. Yours may not be either if you’re contemplating a midlife career change. Like Dorothy, don’t we all have witches and flying monkeys trying to keep us from our true destination? But they won’t stop you if you have a plan like Dorothy did:
- Visualize where you want to be.
- Make a plan on how to get there.
- Assemble your support system.
- Believe in your heart that you’re going in the right direction.
- Head that way.
And metaphorically speaking, when your true career destination is in sight, click those damn ruby slippers to take you on home!
Get Me Off This Ladder!
March 29, 2008
I used to think I was on the ladder of success. I had the corporate job that many people dream of. But my personal life was shoved into a corner and I had this nagging feeling that something wasn’t right. Ya think?
Even though I had the seductive trappings of success, I wasn’t living in sync with my life values and I certainly wasn’t happy. I was on the ladder but it was beginning to feel rickety and just not where I was supposed to be. Then one day clarity hit as I looked around from where I was perched and realized “Oh shit. Wrong ladder.”
With a courage I didn’t think I had in me, I climbed down the ladder and headed off in search of a life that was consistent with my life purpose of helping others. Along the way I found my dream job in professional coaching. And my dream life is unfolding.
So how steady is your ladder of success?
More Ranting About Caregiving
March 28, 2008
OK. OK. I know it seems like I’m on a rant here about caregiving. But going to the Boomer Business Summit this week and hearing the repeated focus this issue brought it home to me—and you’ll laugh at this—that it’s not just my family who’s dealing with this.
Duh, you might say. But, for those of you who have had to caregive for a loved one, you understand how personal it is and you don’t really see it in the more global context. So because I’ve had a “revelation”, you’ll see more on this blog about the issue of caregiving as part of the midlife trip.
In the meantime, here’s another interesting resourse–Powerful Tools for Caregivers from the Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging . If you’re in or will soon be in the caregiving experience, this 6 week online course may help smooth the way a little. I’m looking into for myself because I’m learning that a little info can go a long way in helping caregivers cope.
If you check this out, let me know what you think.
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Karen - Midlife Coach
