Boomer Blues?

( 0 Votes )

Friday, 11 March 2011 17:30

Along with the news of the oldest baby boomers turning 65 this year has come a substantial dose of baby boomer blues—a veritable gush of doom and gloom. While some articles are sympathetic, pointing to boomer struggles against the elongated recession and epic winter of 2010-11, they also accuse, saying that those born in those early years that began in 1946 have acted like the grasshoppers in the timeless fable, who failed to save for life's winter and are now poised to eat in to our federal and state budgets to survive. Still another downer is a piece that appeared in one of our national newspapers recently, attacking the notion that boomers can do much of anything when faced with the ‘real’ challenges surrounding the aging process. The author of the article is also critical of ads that push the notion that the right kind of vitamin or face and body application can stave off the ravages of aging indefinitely. But fear not, boomer friends: The Economist, the venerable UK-founded international newspaper recently suggested that older people tend to be happier than those younger and that happier people tend to be healthier and more productive. The article’s author suggests that possibly the sight of our friends and associates suffering from various maladies, or leaving this world too early has given survivors a determination to make the most of the years they have left. It could be that the acceptance of getting older is in some ways a source of relief, but on the other hand one could argue that resisting the temptation to ‘grow old gracefully’ is in some ways an antidote for staying ‘young’ through your actions, words and deeds. Even if all you have going for you is a ‘young’ personality and attitude, it can make others see you as much younger than you are, and possibly could do wonders for you in other ways. Still another issue to be considered is the political clout that boomers have, and when the fall of 2012 rolls around, listening to what this age group has to say may bode well for those aspiring to office. Whatever the case, as they navigate into strange new waters, baby boomers are once again at center stage. SOURCE: Thirdage.com < Prev   Next >