Resources

Of the many stages of life there are wins and losses. There are gifts and disasters. There are blessings and tragedies. We can all compare notes of what each of these has been for us, but I will declare loudly my biggest blessing has been being a Granny.

Nothing holds a candle to the moment you hold your first grandchild and realize that new baby is a part of you. In that moment, your life changes forever as you hope to help grow that baby into adulthood. And with each new grandchild that realization continues to grow.

You hold them. You watch that baby grow. You watch them and their parents grow into a family…….. Remembering to be supportive of the parents. Remembering you wanted to raise your kids your way. They do too. So, help the parents by following their schedules and rules.

Build a closeness with those babies because ties between Grandparents and Grandchildren can be so valuable for both groups.

And today’s ways of staying in touch help so much. We have Smart phones, Alexa, text, messenger, Zoom, Facetime, WebEx and so much more. Options seem limitless and sure help Grandparents watch those babies grow even when families live far apart. Plus we can still write a letter. Send a card.

Studies show these relationships have benefits for both. There is less depression in both groups and fewer behavior and emotional problems for the Grandchildren. Even fewer difficulties with peers. Grandparents can help by telling how they handled similar situations when they were growing up. Offer solutions and different ways of looking at things.

And grandkids keep the Grandparents in touch and up to date with what’s happening in today’s world. Expose Grandparents to different ideas and the new meanings of age-old problems.

Grandparents often have the time to spend with the kids. They can often do the things with the grandkids they did not have the time or money to do as they raised their own children.

Grandparents can help teach values. Right from wrong. Reinforce manners and other lessons parents encourage the Grandparents to share. Sometimes Grandparents become the confidant for the kids. The one who they can turn to. The adult who it is safe to share worries or problems with.

And remember it is not all easy!! Like the rest of life there are bumps in the road. Mistakes are made. Things are misunderstood.

Plus keep in mind sometimes a child’s grandparent might really be Great Aunt or Uncle. Or they might not even be related at all. It could a neighbor, a family friend, the babysitter, or someone else who is close to the family. So whoever you are, remember you are important and can truly make a difference in that child’s life. And your life will be much richer for it too.

So, help the parents. Offer date nights.  Babysit. Have a sleepover.

Get out there and take a kid to a museum, a park, for a walk, play a game and you will both have a great, meaningful time.

Marketing trends have been heading in new directions for a while but the COVID19 is really pushing that envelope into horizons we cannot even imagine. We currently are living, working, and shopping in ways we never dreamed of. And these new ways too will change quickly as we readjust to a whole new “normal” as we come out of this lockdown. We will mourn the loss of many things, as we start consuming services and goods in different ways. We will be discovering what companies and businesses have survived. What new businesses have emerged.

Stopping for a coffee can be a good example. How many of us stopped daily for that great cup of Joe? Couldn’t live without it…. Until….. Our lives changed. The habit got broken because we were no longer leaving the house every day. The question becomes how many cups of coffee will that business sell as we all come out of this pandemic? Will the local shops even reopen?

Companies must adjust quickly if they plan to survive and be profitable over the next 5 years. Marketing trends have been heading in new directions for a while but the COVID19 is really pushing that envelope into horizons we cannot even imagine.

Trends show we will continue to hold virtual meetings which will become a more efficient use of time. We will socialize in every different ways. We have found we do not like social distancing so much. Clubs will pop up and memberships will increase. Facebook groups will evolve and start gathering in person. Established groups such as VFWs, The Elks, The Moose will attract new members. Senior Centers, the Y, Park n Rec and similar organizations will experience a surge in activity as people discover their new routines.

The public will spend months perhaps years looking for and discovering their new day to day habits. And when creating this new life, they will select the parts they liked and discard what they will not do again, and businesses need to be where the consumer can find them such as SeniorCenterCt.org. This collective site is trusted and contains trusted information. This cutting-edge resource is that place where users find what they are looking for, mark their calendars with activities and though clickable ads find services and products they are looking for. Plus, then can relay all this information to their family and friends.

Businesses need to:

• Be that trusted advisor/service/site/provider
• Strengthen existing customer relationships
• Identify real opportunities and shift accordingly
• pinpoint key priorities
• determine their brand and do extensive brand building so their company is easy to recognize
• Be ready for the recovery

And all businesses need to be very aware of the senior population. As a group they will be for the most part the least affected by all of this. For the most part their income will continue to be very stable. And they still will be purchasing and consuming at the rate they were.

Resources like SeniorCenterCt.org will grow in popularity as the senior population, their friends and families are looking to establish and get back their “new” ordinary lives.

So here we sit with Coronavirus snuggled up right next to us on the coach. And yeah, I’m not liking it very much.   You? How about we ask those germs to please leave? Tell them they have overstayed their welcome? Just flat out tell them to get out!! I don’t think any of us could have ever imagined or thought up a worldwide situation like this!! But it is what it is and we need to all – Be Safe, Be Smart, and Be Wise!

When we think of safe, we often think of being secure, protected, free from danger. In this situation being safe is… Stay home. Keep 6 feet of space between you and others.

“WASH YOUR HANDS”

We have started using “My Tribe” “My Circle” “My Posse” as a way to refer to those closest to us. So be sure they are safe too. Contact those loved ones, friends and neighbors. Work together to make things as good as you all can. Take care of each other and stay safe.

Now let’s Be Smart – Use your time wisely. Create new routines because being together for way more hours than usual can create difficult situations. Find new ways to stay calm. Maybe find a yoga video. Learn to meditate. And you can probably find what you are looking for online. YouTube is amazing. Take a look – There is like nothing that is not there. Learn something new, maybe a craft skill, a new language. Watch silly movies. Make your own videos. Share them with those you are missing. Share online. Make others laugh. Make a list. And do the things at home you never seem to have time for. Enjoy the great weather and start spring cleanup. Get the garden ready. Clean closets, cabinets, paint that room, reorganize, fill out your census form. Be smart and “Don’t hoard” For everything you have too much of – someone else needs it. Just what are some of you going to do with 100 rolls of toilet paper??? Buy what you need and leave the rest for the next guy.

And “WASH YOUR HANDS”

Be Wise – take care of you!! If you don’t – you can’t take care of those around you. Be nice to you and nice to those around you. Develop a new schedule. Structure helps. Be thankful for those still out there taking care of us. The xray tech, the nurse, the doctor, the CNAs, police, EMTs, firefighters, TRUCK DRIVERS, everyone that is still working. AND Stay positive!! Don’t hoard!! Use your time wisely!! Plan parties and events for when this is all over!! Look at this as more of a gift than a punishment

and “WASH YOUR HANDS”

We are in a new decade in a new century in the midst of a huge political season.

Take some time and reflect. Decide what you believe in today. Challenge yourself.

Don’t settle for status quo.

What we thought was most important in the past might have changed. We are not the person we were 20 years ago nor is the world the same.

I recently was at a networking event and we were asked “What is important enough to you that you would protest for it?” That’s a pretty deep question to answer when you don’t know those around you. My answer was “our basic rights” The freedom of speech. The right to assemble. The right to bear arms and the right to vote.

For others it was the ocean or the environment. We all know there are many important issues. Some have been around for a very long time and resurface. And this country was founded so we as individuals could not be suppressed. We have freedom of speech which enables us to voice our beliefs and we need to continue to exercise all these basic rights.

We need to be a part of the process. We need to stand for what we believe in. We need to be different. Have different beliefs and wants.

But we need to hear each other and be respectful.

Look around at the candidates running for office. In your town, state and nationally.

Who stands out? Who is expressing what you are thinking? Who do you think would do the best job?

Pick a campaign or pick a cause. Get out there. Get involved. I don’t know of a group that isn’t welcoming others to join them. Campaign for what and who you believe in.

Remember we don’t all need to agree. But we must respect our differences and listen to those other opinions.

And as Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed’ it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Now go out and be a part of that change!

For those who aren’t certain – Baby Boomers are the children who were born after World War II. As the soldiers returned and married there was a population explosion creating a baby boom thus the name Baby Boomers! These babies were born between 1946 and 1964. They now are between the ages of 55 and 75. And there are more than 76 million Baby Boomers!

As this bunch moved through the different stages of live, society needed to adapt to accommodate the vast number. Schools were built. TV programming was geared towards them. Advertising was directed towards them. They protested the Vietnam war. Held sit-ins. Woodstock, The Beatles and TVs in every home happened because of the Boomers. And now society needs to continue to adapt as this massive group moves through the third stage of life.

This group is competitive, self-assured, goal oriented and has a strong sense of community. They are independent and make up their own mind. They are smart, confident and do their own research. Plus, they don’t part with their money easily.

As they become retirees’ changes will continue to develop and evolve. Boomers will need everything retirees have always consumed but in a much greater number and in a much different way. One example is the Boomers are generally staying in their homes. Not going to Florida. Not relocating. But “Aging in Place”.

Baby Boomers will live better than the generations before them as they live and work longer. Baby Boomers, also, had smaller families and are apt to be alone when their care needs change.

Society will need to again adapt and change to fill the void all of this will create. They will have more needs than the present aging system can supply. The current workforce will not be able to support this group’s future needs.

We already see some of these changes starting with the resourceful development of new ways to do things.

Uber and Lyft offer the beginnings of affordable on demand transportation.

Technology offers assistance to varying degrees. Alexa, Fitbit, telemedicine and fall monitors all offer various levels of help. We even have a TV we can talk to. And new devises are being developed and promoted as we speak. Updates continue to be made on existing devices and apps weekly.

The more we are able to talk with devices the more support we can get at a very low cost. They are not the robots we pictured as we watched “The Jetson’s”. But we can vacuum with iRobot. See who is at the front door with Ring. Call for help with our Medical Alert. Change the channel of the TV. Play music, make phone calls, monitor the thermostat and more with Alexa. Even start our car with our Smartphone.

What will we be doing with devises in say 5 years?

As Baby Boomers strive to live the lives they imagined and maintain their independence, they will be looking for those companies and products that market to them. They want companies that provide useful information. Have clickable ads. Give better than average customer service. Companies that understand $3+ trillion of the disposable income is in the hands of Baby Boomers will win those Boomers over with targeted marketing campaigns. One excellent example is SeniorCenterCt.org. A Collective website that’s easy to navigate and filled with useful information designed for the Baby Boomer.

There is much more on the horizon so as we look at change but sure to welcome it!