Personal Improvement

Like many major U.S. cities, Cleveland certainly had its share of illegal liquor and “mob” activity during Prohibition and it also saw changes in women’s fashion and challenges to what was considered proper behavior. But it was much more than that. The 1920s certainly "roared" with energy, well beyond the clichés of that era. ...

The 45th annual Cleveland International Film Festival is offering 116 feature films and 182 short films during an extended two-week run that kicks off this week. ...

This blog entry will focus on the current information available related to COVID-19 and the brain, in addition to what you can do now to optimize your brain wellness. The brain-related symptoms of COVID-19 may include loss of smell, inability to taste, muscle weakness, tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, dizziness, confusion, delirium, and seizures and stroke (in severe cases). Read on for some practical ways to achieve brain wellness during the pandemic and beyond. ...

Lifelong learning is the vehicle for adapting to the constant change that affects all of us each day at work and in daily living. Daily living requires lifelong learning all day, every day. At one time, little changed in the workplace, which meant someone could do mainly physical work and have a life-sustaining career. No more. With the advent of remote work, the home has become the workplace for many. Remote work and remote learning are almost synonymous. Everyone will rely on lifelong learning to keep up with all the changes in a global world. ...

This week, March 15-21, is global Brain Awareness Week. This time fosters public enthusiasm and support for brain science while spreading the word about the importance of brain health and its critical role in helping us live healthier, more productive lives. Use this dedicated week to intentionally support, strengthen and protect our minds and bodies while honoring what they may need at this time.  ...

Editor’s Note
We are What We Make

The past year gave me clarity that I didn’t expect and I’m not sure I appreciate: I like art. But I’m not an artist.

Months of weekends with nothing to do, long evenings and insomnia-driven early mornings mean I have a lot of time on my hands. I don’t feel like doing anything that I should be doing: organizing closets, mastering recipes, reading books, grooming the dog. I’m restless, a condition I blame on Living Through a Major Historical Time (LTAMHT).

So I did what millions of others have done: I went on Amazon and ordered art supplies. 

Creatively Average
I started with origami. I thought it would be a fun art to master and I ordered a tablet of origami paper. My YouTube instructors led me through complicated-looking videos until I found one designed for children. It was still really, really complicated.

I powered through, and after a few short hours, made an origami chicken. I progressed to Christmas trees (harder than it looks on the videos) but finally gave up after a major star-folding fail. Conclusion: I’m a Below-Average Origami Artist. Let’s say D+.

Next up: Watercolor painting. I consulted my YouTube instructors and quickly realized that mixing pigments and managing brushstrokes, combined with a lack of artistic talent, had all the makings of a setup. 

Undeterred, I bought cheap watercolor pencils, paper and a pack of $5 brushes. I’m committed to art; my wallet isn’t. Fortunately, the instructors were patient with me and I made a few (shamelessly copied) paintings. Conclusion: A solid C. Good enough. 

During this LTAMHT, I’ve also tackled silk scarf painting and, briefly and inexpertly, calligraphy. Again, solid C work. I’m reluctant to call it art.

My artistic friends are making better use of their LTAMHT. One is a quilter who, not content with that impressive talent, made paper caricatures.

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How’s it working for you?  We’re talking about your space. Spending an entire year mostly homebound, working, relaxing, teaching and cooking, we learned what is and isn't working for us. As we slide into spring 2021, many of us are more motivated than ever to improve our spaces to better reflect our personalities, activities and families. It’s not about perfect magazine spaces but curated joyful spaces.  ...

Whether you’re an employed Boomer ready for a career change, or need a job-search refresher course after being downsized due to COVID, it’s never too late to begin a new chapter. People in our age range in the workforce already know what the mistakes are because we’ve made them. We already know what’s coming over the horizon because we’ve been over it many times. We already know when a plan isn’t going to work, and we know how to improve it. Why? Because we’re highly experienced and can get the job done in one-third the time of anyone else — and that’s an asset. ...