Relaxation and Meditation Brings Peace of Mind & Body

For a few moments of quiet reflection, click on the picture to the right and scroll through the photos of beautiful scenery.  Breathe deeply and let stress float away.  When those worries creep back in as you go through your day, close your eyes if you are not driving, take a couple of cleansing breaths and remember your morning session of feeling peace.  Enjoy...

Shifting Winds of American Thought

Most of you probably know that I tend to speak my mind somewhat directly and occasionally with “bull-in-a-china-closet” precision.  The china-closet image and precision may not seem to fit together but let me explain. 

I am concerned about some issues that I can do little else other than get in the china-closet and flail away. I contribute money to and vote for political candidates based on issues. But with some of my most closely held ideals I also feel a duty to rigorously express my point of view.  It is as though I want to explode my enthusiasm all over everyone for what I consider to be bedrock and essential principles.  I believe strongly in some things. 

I love to study developmental history of core ideas in our culture.  I try to put ithemin context over time.  For example, President John Kennedy coined the phrase “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country”.  One of his core Democratic ideals was based on people being part of the solution.  In contrast I have seen little thinking from President Barrack Obama that would even approach the same core Democratic ideal from just 50 years ago.  So I get curious and try to figure out how group thinking makes such a dramatic shift.

One of the most precious ideas came naturally from the dominant thinking of my early years in the 1950 and 60s. My parent’s generation was protective of this principle.  It I simply stated by an American president in these words of Theodore Roosevelt when he taught, “the indispensable work of the community is not that of careers, industry, or research; it is the work of the wife and mother.  The women’s work in the home is more important than any man’s endeavors.  She does play a greater part.”

Roosevelt emphasized the essential role of child-rich families, upon which the “welfare of the nation” rests.   To him, the “birth-control” issue was the most serious of problems.  WOW---what a shift in thinking we have since then.

Another principle from President Roosevelt went like this:  “the highest ideal of the family can be obtained only where the father and mother stand to each other as lovers and friends”.  In my opinion, the majority of Americans still adhere to this ideal but there are signs of erosion. 

I recently heard a women say she had divorced her husband, but they still cared for each other.  Her rational was that they now received more help from the government because of their status as single parents.  What happen to, ask not what your country can do for you?  I worry about what happened to the American ideal of growing up to marry, have children, and become a responsible part of the workforce which helps grow the American dream and gross-national-product rather than drain its resources?

During the administration of Jimmy Carter the White house Conference on the American Family was changed from “Family” to “Families” and a few letters ‘ies’ heralded the beginning of the redefining of a traditional family to families on any composition. 

In an ill-conceived effort to articulate and shore-up the American Dream, the opposite happened and traditional families began to lose federal support as the shift to a dominate theme of Human Rights took over.  In a sense we threw the bedrock unit of society under the bus for the ‘rights’ of a few.   Human rights are essential when defined appropriately but can become a problem when everyone throws their very real personal struggle onboard.  The ship gets crowded and some are lost overboard in the storm. 

In the 1980s President Reagan brought support to the table for the traditional family in his rhetoric and policy making.  He consistently urged that we should “be sensitive to the perception of favoring one type of family arrangement over another.”  Most of the debate was centered on one versus two breadwinner families, not on single parent or homosexual issues.  President Reagan did his best to restore balance by bringing the pendulum back to the middle. 

During Reagan’s administration, capitalism was no longer perceived as the enemy of traditional families.  National policy could restore the likelihood of one breadwinner homes being able to live the “good-life”.  A report was prepared by a White House appointed twenty-two member interagency Commission known as Working Group on the Family.  In their report,  “The Family: Preserving America’s Future”, some policies of the previous two decades, identified as daycare, population control, no-fault divorce, sex education, and values clarification in schools, were “blasted” as abrasive experiments. 

The report stated “Intact families are good.  Families who choose to have children are making a desirable decision.  Mothers and fathers who then decide to spend a good deal of time raising those children themselves rather than leaving it to others are demonstrably doing a good thing for those children.  Public policy and the culture in general must support and reaffirm these decisions.”  

It always intrigues me when I see dramatic shifts in American thought over-time.  Especially when dominate political parties switch some platform bullet point with each other. Usually this has to do with what they think will get them the most votes.  The lust for power can be blinding.  They try to mix up the rhetoric somewhat, so as to not alienate any current supporters.  Gradually the pendulum swings precariously right or left and less often toward the middle. 

I am left to wonder if there is truth somewhere on the spectrum.  Is truth always the same or does it shift?  I happen to be one who believes truth is none-negotiable.  But that is not what this musing is about.  Shifts happen!  It is part of the American experiment.  It is what makes us the greatest nation on earth.  Freedom to think and speak as we wish is a gift to be valued.  However, when money and media dominate the debate, we get some unusual results. 

Wherever it came from, parents, education, experience, biblical thought, I am a firm believer in the need for traditional families. I think children help us grow up and become grounded in real life.  I think they help us learn to love unconditionally.  They shape our goals and aspirations in a realm of non-self serving ambition. 

As I approach retirement, I think about traveling and having some self-serving fun with my cancer surviving wife, but my major motivation seems to still center on trying to leave a useful legacy for my children and grandchildren and perhaps hopefully a good chunk of money. 

Here is how Roosevelt put it, “no other success in life, not being President, or being wealthy, or going to college, or anything else, comes up to the success of the man and women who can feel that they have done their duty and that their children and grandchildren rise up to call them blessed.”    

My Top Ten Reasons to Retire

10. I will have more time to spend as I wish

9. I am the oldest employee amongst workplace colleagues

8. My health is OK---other than…

7. I still have a “fairly” decent memory, usually, I think!

6. Most of my friends are still alive and some are even adventurous

5. I have things to do and places to go, and my Bucket List keeps growing

4. My garden is so full of weeds; it's hard to see the plants

3. I have sufficient money, even though the government is trying to take more of it

2. I have grandkids to spoil who rarely see me, outside of occasional holidays

1. I have golf courses to conquer and fish to catch 

How to Protect Your Retirement Nest Egg

http://www.ct.gov/dob/lib/dob/consumer_education_nonhtml/protectnestegg.pdf

Website to be Pre-Launched to Retirement-Freedom Email Group on Wednesday June 8th, 2011

My New Website will be pre-launched to email group members only.  Get an early peek at the site and all the perks of becoming part of our retirement preparation group.    I look forward to sharing all that I am learning about retirement preparation in our challenging economic times.  This site and blog are designed to help two groups: 1) those retiring sometime in the next 10 years, and 2) those younger who would like to avoid the mistakes our generation made by not getting prepared to retire sooner. 

The email group will get free exclusive material and free bonus content from time to time.  Periodically you will be able to give feedback via surveys and other instruments.  I hope you will become n important part of our group which I plan on growing to 5000 or more over the next year.   

PLEASE---Access the Retirement-Freedom email group by clicking on the title above and signing in, then go to your email and confirm your request.

http://forms.aweber.com/form/79/336688079.htm

Trustworthy Financial Advice and Education Essential for Early Retirment

Trustworthy financial advice and education are essential for early retirement---click the link below for one good source of education---but not sufficient to replace personal financial advice. Click on the title above to access a trustworthy website or cut and paste from below.   "12 Tips To Build Wealth For Early Retirement".

Please consider joining our email group with no obligation by signing in to the right and receive a free copy of the Podcast "7 Pillars of Retiremetn Freedom". 

http://financialmentor.com/free-articles/retirement-planning/early-retirement-planning/12-tips-to-build-wealth-for-early-retirement

Memorial Day Memories

My father fought in WWII after graduating from the Naval Academy.  He was an executive officer on Battle Ships.  He didn’t talk much about his experiences after retiring with almost 25 years of service.  Then he went to work for Good Year Tire and Rubber company in North Chicago as a design engineer.  It is likely that the proto-type for the hose through which you pump your automobile gas was designed by my father. 

Just before being fully vested for a second retirement Good Year decided to do some “down-sizing” and forced my father out of his job.  My parents moved west and bought a smaller home.  My mom went to work as a secretary to help make ends meet.  The Greatest Generation helped us enjoy peace and prosperity for several decades and then were down-sized. 

My father eventually died of a blood born cancer that was caused by nuclear fall out while his ship was at a testing site a few years after WWII.  His grave is over 2000 miles from where we live now.  I don’t get to put a flag by his gave stone this Memorial Day weekend, but I still pause to ponder his sacrifice for the comfort my family and generation enjoy.  I not only thank my father, but all current military and veterans for their service and courage.    

5-Things Legitimate Internet Business Sites Should Have

CLICK HERE = http://internetbusinessmastery.com/must-have-internet-business-pages?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ibmblog+%28Internet+Business+Mastery+Blog%29

Topics Covered in my New "Retirement-Freedom" Website --- To be Launched Soon

I have been receiving requests via "comments" & messaging, helping me streamline the topics to be covered in my new website.  I do so appreciate the notes sent by readers.  It helps me tailor the site to the needs of my friends and readers.  It won't be long and the new site will be up and running.  

Here are a few of the sub-categories thus far:

1) 7 Pillars of Retiring Early
2) How to be Your Own Boss
3) Where to Retire
4) Building Wealth While Retired
5) Internet Business Mastery
6) Finding Your Internet Niche
7) Excellent Health While Retired
8) Retirement Bucket List

Podcasts, Web Seminars, and Training to Follow ---

New Retirement-Freedom.com Website Launch is Getting Closer

The Story Behind Our Website Development ---

I have been working with one of the very best web-designers.  He and his partner are artists and perfectionists when it comes to cyber stuff.  You will enjoy the beauty of the site.  I hope the content is helpful to all of my friends and followers.  Here is the first installment of the story of why we have chosen to become part of the cyber-world as we prepare for "retirement".  My younger friends will benefit by developing a brand and Internet Presence and thereby preparing to "retire" at a much younger age, if they so choose.  

OUR STORY ---- Part #1 

I started working at age 10 as a paperboy in Libertyville, Illinois. At age 13 I worked as a caddy at Knollwood Country Club in Lake Forest, Illinois. I was supposed to be 14 but I lied so I could earn better money than my paper route which made $15 per month. If I carried two golf bags twice a day it took 10 hours and made $20, in one day. I thought I was rich. Along the way I got two college degrees and now make much more than $20 per hour.

At age 26, my last year of college, I worked as a night clerk at a hotel. I got home from work at 7:15AM, slept for three hours, and went to school full time taking 18 credit hours per semester. Five years previously, my wife and I were married and within a few years were supporting our small family on student jobs.  

We look back at those years with pure nostalgia.  We were paying $80 per month on groceries and $45 for health insurance.  We chased mice out of our one-bedroom, crumbling Victorian house apartment.   We put cardboard in a window pane as the land-lord took months getting around to fixing things.   I got blown across the room when I was re-lighting the antique heater for the umpteenth time.  I had no eye-browse or lashes for weeks.             

One of my mentors said the love of work is success. I have enjoyed my working life but am ready for significant change. In a year I will be at 50 years of employment: 34 years with the same corporation as an educator and administrator.  As I approach retirement, changes in our country concern me about health care and social security. The “feds” have already changed my prescribed “full” retirement time to age 66. But if I wait until I am 70 before starting to draw Social Security, I will get so much more on a monthly basis.  

Now don’t get me wrong---we have prepared for retirement as though Social Security would be bankrupt. If we get any of the money we “invested” in S.S. back, it will be extra funds rather than absolutely essential. We are not wealthy but we have been careful and prudent over the years with investments and savings.

When I read about the worries of my fellow Baby-Boomers, I empathize deeply. Right now I tell people that I will retire at age 60, and start my 2nd career. But at the same time, we want to be free to travel and spend time with children and grandchildren. We dream of serving our community and church. Corporate employment just won’t work for us any longer.  Being our own boss is absolutely essential.

We know what works for us and have boiled it down to a set of principles that can help anyone in any circumstance do likewise. We intend to share the principles via a new website we will launch soon.  Many hours of research and testing are going into our preparations. This is all done outside of my 40+ hour per week current employment commitments. We are enjoying building our dream for the future. We look forward to sharing our experience.