Showing posts with label beverlymahone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beverlymahone. Show all posts

Thursday, March 08, 2007

From Drugs to Menopause

According to the U.S Department of Justice (Statistics), more than 1.5 million people have been arrested in the past year for DRUGS. It’s a startling statistic! It seems as thought drugs have always been a problem. I must confess I had a “drug problem” growing up and it still affects me today. I guess I'm just a "drugged out" babyboomer. But is that what's really making me crazy these days?

I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals.

I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.

I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults or disobeyed my parents, brought home a bad report card, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn’t put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me..

I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I let a four-letter word slip out of my mouth---and yes, H-E-L-L was a bad word (even if it’s in the Bible).

I was drug out to pull weeds in mom’s garden and flower beds.

I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who was in need of some company or needed something that a child could do like rake the yard, clean the kitchen, feed the dog. After all, my mama used to say “That’s what good neighbors do for each other!”

Those drugs are still in my veins; and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, and think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today’s children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.

But I do have a question. Is it the "drugs" or the "menopause" that explains my crazy behavior today? Oh, how interesting my life continues to get!

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Black History Month: A Time for Reflection

As Black History Month comes to a close, I take a moment to reflect. To reflect on all the hell Corporate America put me through over the years as an African-American. I was either too dark-skinned, too ethnic, too opinionated, too in-your-face, too white (can you believe that one???) to this or too that to fully achieve the kind of success my ancestors fought and died for.

My experience in Corporate America was very much like being enslaved. They worked me to death and could never find it in their hearts to give me a break every now and then.

For example, even though I was the only single parent in my department at the time I was given the worst shift. They set my daughter up to fail by not allowing me to be home when she arrived home from school so I could help her with her homework and keep her grounded. Despite my numerous requests to get a shift change I was always told they would consider it but of course, they never did. Instead, they kept a white man in the "primary position" who always complained and nobody liked. In another case, I was the employee in the department with the MOST experience but when it came time for a promotion, they gave it to a less qualified, younger white woman. Why? I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

There was one manager who had the nerve to tell me I wanted him to show me favoritism because of my race when I questioned why I wasn't informed about a story change. Now, to me, that's just called keeping everybody informed and common courtesy. I guess in the end it all balanced out because they had to deal with me and MENOPAUSE---and believe me, it was no fun for them.

But as Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently put it: "Free at last, free at last....Thank God Almighty, I'm free at last!" March 2006 was my my last month in Corporate America saying "Yessuh...Nawsuh..." These days if I fail, I have no one to blame but MYSELF.

I do thank my forefathers and mothers, known and unknown, who paved the way for me to achieve the success I have today. But I am a little sad that they had to go through so much and we're still catching hell!

They take my kindness for weakness.
They take my silence for speechless.

They consider my uniqueness strange.
They call my language slang.

They see my confidence as conceit.
They see my mistakes as defeat.

They consider my success accidental.
They minimize my intelligence to "potential".

My questions mean "I'm unaware".
My advancement is somehow unfair.

Any praise is preferential treatment.
To voice concern is discontentment.

If I stand up for myself, I'm too defensive.
If I don't trust them, I'm too apprehensive.

I'm defiant if I separate.
I'm fake if I assimilate.

Yet, constantly I am faced with work place hate.
My character is constantly under attack.

Pride for my race makes me, "TOO BLACK".
Yet, I can only be me. And, who am I you might ask?

I am that Strong Black Person...
Who stands on the backs of my ancestor's achievements, with an
erect spine pointing to the stars with pride, dignity and respect
which lets the work place in America know, that I not only possess
the ability to play by the rules, but I can make them as well!
Black History 365


http://babyboomerbev.podOmatic.com/entry/2007-02-28T15_21_12-08_00

Friday, February 23, 2007

Intimacy is more than Sex at Middle Age

During a recent women’s forum I attended one of the questions posed to me was “Is there a difference love-making and making love?” I had to give it some thought but then I decided the answer was “Yes, there IS a difference.” Love-making, in my opinion, is a physical act between two people. Making love, on the other hand, goes much deeper into the spiritual connection between the couple.

It’s the same with comparing sex and intimacy. Intimacy is more than sex or making love. It's more of a combination of the physical AND emotional connection you feel with your partner. Intimacy involves a soul connection between two people.

While instant chemistry can be exciting and thrilling, the chemistry that makes marriages work usually grows over time. This special chemistry between two people involves excellent communication and self sacrifice more than physical attraction. It takes trust, patience, and willingness to talk and to listen.

With greater intimacy, married partners tend to have a more satisfying and fulfilling romantic life. They learn how to do the things that please each other. They learn how to communicate. Being able to express what you want is important and genuinely listening to your spouse are key factors in building an intimate romance.

So how can you grow in intimacy with your marriage partner? Here are some keys to unlock the mystery of deeper intimacy.

Determine what you really need out of the relationship. Is friendship more important than financial stability? Or must the bills be paid on time even if your spouse doesn’t have much time with you? Can you sacrifice long conversations for more affectionate behavior? Or do you need to talk things out no matter how long it takes? The list can go on.

Determine what your spouse really needs. At first your husband or wife may be reluctant to share what he or she needs. They may have never really thought about it in an organized fashion. Maybe it would help to have him/her write down his/her desires when he/she is relaxed. Some suggestions: do a really nice deed for your partner like, drawing a warm bath or cooking a nice meal. Then ask them to take the time to think about what they need in the relationship.

Make an effort to change your behavior everyday. If your partner needs more space, draw back a little. If they need more of your time, tune out any distractions and pay attention to your spouse. You may start with fifteen or twenty minutes with no TV, phone, computer, radio, etc. and then gradually increase your time to one to two hours of uninterrupted time per day.

Finally, take care of yourself. If you are frustrated, you won’t be a fun person to be around. Make sure that you have your own “me” time everyday where you can pray, meditate, and take care of your personal needs. Whether it’s writing in a journal, reading a good book, going to the spa or just doing nothing at all, give yourself some space so when you come back together, you’ll appreciate each other even more.

Beverly Mahone is a veteran journalist, author and motivational speaker who writes about issues affecting baby boomers in her book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age."

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Beauty's Only Skin Deep--yeah, yeah, yeah!

One of my favorite songs of all-time is one sung by the Temptations. It is called Beauty is only Skin Deep. It was a song I loved because I always believed beauty was something that came from the inside and filtered its way outward. Unfortunately society would have us believe that it is only the outward---that physical beauty only matters when you’re young---and when you’re old, it really doesn’t matter at all.

But I’m here to tell you that beauty is important both inside and out no matter how old you are. The beauty I’m talking about is skin care and it becomes more and more important as we age. Every day of our lives our bodies slough off and regenerate new cells. The speed at which that process takes place when we are children is significantly different as we get older.

Every day we are bombarded daily with commercial messages and beauty tips that attempt to lure us into believing that the most recent miracle drug is just what we need to fight off the wrinkles from Mother Nature.

We are living longer as a whole. Singularly, that can be a curse or a blessing, depending on your perspective. The best route to natural beauty and healthy skin is to take care of what you have. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? The truth is that your skin takes a beating from the environment every single day. Here are some of our favorite beauty tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy:

1: Stay hydrated and do it with plenty of water! That does not mean soda, caffeine or any other type of liquid, even if it is low cal. Soda (even diet soda) has a high concentration of sodium. Sodium retains fluids. You need fluid that will hydrate and flush your body free of toxins. Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses a day!

2: Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. We all love the sun. We love being in it and we love having a beautiful tan. The truth is you can poison yourself with too much sunshine. UV rays cause skin cancer and if that isn’t bad enough it causes your skin to age faster than it should, contributing to unsightly wrinkles. If you must play in the sun, make certain you are using an adequate sun screen. Don’t leave home without it!

3: Keep your skin clean. Use a soft warm cloth. Skin does not require scrubbing. You will do more harm than good if you do.

4: The best cure for wrinkles is to never have them in the first place! If you are like most of us, you didn’t listen to your Mom when she tried to tell you to stay in the shade, stand up straight and stop squinting!

5: Eat healthy. Knowing how and what to eat, can make a huge difference in how you feel. Improper eating habits can cause depression, weight gain, illness and an overall lethargy. Weight gain causes your skin to stretch. As you get older, it loses it’s elasticity and you’re left with sagging skin. The best solution to this is to maintain a proper weight.

A rule of thumb for eating habits is…don’t eat more calories than you consume. Don’t go one single day without doing something extra and physical for at least 30 minutes per day. This can be three ten minute walks. Or 30 minutes of vigorous aerobics, or 12 minutes of weight lifting and 18 minutes of walking.

6: Don’t worry, be happy. A happy outlook appears to trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins relax the cardiovascular system and cytokines which alert the immune system to pay attention in detecting abnormalities like cancer cells. Listen carefully to yourself. If you have put yourself down since childhood, over a lifetime, negative subliminal messages can take their toll by turning you into a pessimist. Spend one week writing down the phrases you use in your “self talk.” Chances are you will find that you repeat a dozen or so phrases over and over again that reinforce that negative image. If you know about them, you can change them. Outer beauty and inner joy go hand in hand.

Is beauty really skin deep?

The answer is yes and no. True beauty begins from the inside out. Until someone comes up with the true “Fountain of Youth” we are stuck with what we have so it would definitely be in our best interest to maintain it as best we can.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

It Ain't Personal...It's Menopause!

You're sitting at your desk and suddenly, out of the corner of your eye, you see your middle-aged female co-worker sweating and fanning herself with a perplexing look on her face. She looks like she might need help so you walk over to offer assistance. Instead of accepting it, she gives you the evil eye and tells you to leave her alone or abruptly walks away. Now, you're angy. You were only trying to help. But don't take it personal---It's only menopause.

As a baby boomer who dealt with menopause and the workplace, I know first-hand how challenging the environment can be for everybody. Nearly half of the workforce is made up of women which means millions of workers will be affected, at some point, by the physical and emotional changes brought about by a woman going through menopause. The time is long overdue for businesses to implement some type of menopause health awareness program so younger employees and male bosses may gain a better understanding of what they may be up against in the "heat" of a moment. Too often women going through the change are viewed as being insubordinate by their male bosses or a B**** by younger employees.

There are more than 30 symptoms of menopause with the most serious being hot flashes and mood swings. A change in personality at any given moment on the job could easily be misinterpreted and create unnecessary conflict unless it is recognized as a hormonal imbalance.

Years ago, menopause was considered a taboo subject causing many women to suffer in silence and to feel ashamed or made to believe they were having a mental breakdown over what they were experiencing. This is not our mother's menopause so there is no reason to be embarrassed or silent about what we're going through.

Some of the things employers need to address are:

Uncomfortable working temperature

Poor ventilation

Easy access to drinking water

Healthy eating options at work

Difficulty getting time off from work for doctor appts.

Negative attitudes towards menopause/older women


Ms. Mahone is a veteran journalist, author and baby boomer expert who writes about issues affecting baby boomers in her book, "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age. She is available for interviews and can be reached at: 301-356-6280 or bmahone@nc.rr.com. To learn more about Ms. Mahone, visit her website: http://www.talk2bev.com

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Baby Boomer Valentine's Day Contest Finalists Announced

The Top 11 Finalists have been named in the first Annual Baby Boomer Valentine's Day Essay Writing Contest presented by Fabulously40.com and Talk2Bev.com. It was supposed to be only 10 but there was a TIE so the decision was made to go with 11. And here they are, along with a portion of what they wrote:

Linda Alexander
“While it's important for the man to make the day special for their lady, it's equally as crucial for the lady to do so for him. If ladies make Valentine's Day special for our guys, they will respond in kind.”

Faye Mims-Barbee
“Well after 22 yrs I would like to think of a romantic evening as if my family paid for me to go to the spa and get a rub down from head to toe and work on that back and my feet. Then I would come home and see a empty house and a take out meal waiting for me and some wine.”

Jennifer Evans
“I feel that most men should keep it SIMPLE. In this day and time some men think that buying all sorts of BIG gifts is what most women want and that truth of the matter is this, we just want to be appreciated, respected and loved (in our way).”

Dana Hall
“Cook for her. Almost anything edible will do, remember it is the thought that counts.
Cooking and eating, can be very romantic. Feed each other.”

Eva Hall
“This is what we want: Our slippers waiting for us, our bubble bath waiting, lit candles everywhere, you in bed, with Chinese food, wine and roses. You beckon us out of the tub, toward the bed, leaving the new lingerie right on the dresser in the wrapped box, beside the box of chocolates.”

Nita Lopez
My dream night with my hubby would start with HIM preparing a Treasure Hunt for me. He would need to find 3 or 4 of my friends to help him pull this off though. This would require him to have all bases covered...overnight childcare too!!!

Jaisun McMillian
“The first year I was married to my husband he really got me good on Valentine's Day. I had been ripping and running all over town trying to find something for the "man who has everything, because he asks so little", my husband.”

Carine Nadel
“So for a truly successful Valentine's Day don't think breaking the bank at Tiffany's or on a bottle of Dom Perignon is the only way. Think outside the little blue box and try some time-one on one.”

Angelika Schwarz
“Hubby makes a special effort to be patient and understanding with my mom, just because he knows how important it is to me. I see in the shadows of the night, his silhouette bending over our grandchild's crib, as he sings in deep whispered tones an old German lullaby.”

Diane Tegarden
“Remember the ABC's of romance; Arrange to leave the kids with a sitter.
Buy her a delectable dinner.
Create an evening of passion, with copious amounts of Chocolate and Cuddling.”

Debra Shiveley-Welch
“The most important thing you can do to make your sweetheart feel loved, is to give her…you. At times, we all feel like we are not heard or appreciated. Show her that you care about her opinions, thoughts, and feelings.”

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES---The grand prize winner and other winners in order of their scores will be announced on Wednesday, February 14 on my website. Stay tuned.
www.talk2bev.com

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstruation stops permanently. It's a gradual process and could begin as early as the mid thirties.

Menopause can also occur when the ovaries are surgically removed. Most women go through menopause between the ages of 45 and 55. In the U.S., the average age for menstrual periods to stop completely is 51.

I refer to the symptoms of menopause as the "seven dwarfs" but I have since learned that the dwarfs have a lot of other relatives who pop in an out from time to time. In addition to hot flashes, night sweats, and headaches; there's also dizziness, fatigue, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, mood swings, urinary incontinence and vaginal dryness.

Doctors say menopause usually begins at a time in life when other dramatic changes are taking place. Some of these changes may include loss of parents, adjustment to children growing up and leaving home (empty nest syndrome), becoming a grandparent, retirement or career changes. These changes, in addition to the changes in a woman's body, may result in psychological or emotional stress.

Next time I'll talk about how vaginal dryness can result in major problems when it comes to intimacy. Stay tuned...and don't forget to purchase a copy of my book Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age on November 16.

Come visit me sometime at http://www.talk2bev.com and take the weekly Health Quiz and play the Baby Boomer Trvia Contest