Category: Living Happy

NEW YEAR’S HAPPINESS LIST

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

This is the moment of the year when we would like to rid ourselves of everything that did not work and make it better next year by making New Year’s resolutions. And with the hope of a new year the list of most people will be is very ambitious.

But is it really something you want to do?  Maybe not! You will ask why not? Because the list for the New Year won’t be so different from last year’s – no, you didn’t lose the 20 pounds this year, no you didn’t visit your brother as you had put on last year’s list, and  while making a new list do you really want to remind yourself of all the broken resolutions?

I have a better idea – how about making a Happiness List. This will record  all the good thing that happened in the last year –  those which gave you  joy and you are proud of. It will be a happy ending to the year that is just leaving us – your list might look something like this:

  • – remembering that you got your degree
  •  – remembering getting married
  •  – remembering the trip to made
  •  – remembering evenings with friends
  •  – remembering sharing time with your family
  •  – remembering how you felt when you were promoted
  •  – remembering shopping trips with your girlfriends
  • –  remembering the warm, fuzzy feeling when holding your dog.

Of course your list will look different and probably be longer. When I made my happiness list I was surprised about all the positive events and happenings the past year has been filled with. It makes me feel  confident and gives me hope for the New Year,  promising that more good things are on the way.

New Year’s resolutions are self-imposed expectations which one probably can’t or won’t keep – so instead of having unrealistic goals start your HAPPINESS LIST – you still have time before the clock strikes 12 – then your glass of champagne to greet the New Year is not half empty by half full overflowing with happy bubbles.

Wishing you a

Happy New Year – Bonne Annee -Feliz Ano Nuevo – Frohes Neues Jahr

Brigitte –

 

And Never forget – A Smile Changes Everyhting!

 

 

Enjoy Your Money NOW……..

Published on by Brigitte Nioche1 Comment

………….. in your Golden Years!

The money you have worked for most of your life is now ready to be spent.  But I know from experience that it is easier said than done. After all  we have been used to saving our money, to being careful and not wasting any and always being reasonable how we spend it. The nest egg we have built that way is comforting, but now is the time to change the rules and  have that nest egg do something for us.

I got my first wake-up call when my husband tried to book a cruise for us from Berlin to Prague. When he finished talking to the travel agency and told me the price my reaction was that this was more than I thought we should spend. He had no comment at first. But after a while he looked at me and said, “Well, if you want your heirs to go instead, we won’t go!”

It took me only a second to say ‘book it’ because suddenly I  was scared that I might not go if I don’t go now, that my time might be limited. No, don’t misunderstand me,  I do want my heirs  to go on a cruise too, but honestly, I don’t want them to go instead of me!

Many friends of mine who are also in their Golden Years don’t buy or do things they would like by using excuses like, “I can get that cheaper somewhere else” or “I don’t really need that” (you don’t have to need it to want it) or “I have to think about it” – really – why?

Oh, yes and then there is  ‘since I don’t know how long I will live I have to be careful.’ True – but what  our generation has learned when it comes to spending money will never make us go crazy or reckless. So letting a few more dollars slip out of our purse for extra pleasures will not ruin us. And if you are healthy listen to my friend Carol who, when paying for a treat, always says ‘at least I am not spending it on medication.’

If you take this little pep talk to heart – the extra dollars spend will give you joy you deserve.

And Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything!   Brigitte

 

Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

Published on by Brigitte Nioche4 Comments

Oh, I know what a cliché this is –  but clichés do remind us of what we so easily forget – so here goes…….

Image result for photos of half empty glasses meaning

We do not lose enthusiasm because we are getting older. We begin to age through loss of enthusiasm. One can be a victim of age or its master. Psychiatrist Eric Berne, author of Games People Play, put it this way: “A healthy person goes, ‘Yes,’ ‘No,’ and Whoopee!’ An unhealthy person goes, ‘Yes but,’ ‘No but,’ and ‘No whoopee.'”

Because the word whoopee, or wow as we say today, is the most important of the three, you must never lose your curiosity, your ability to be surprised, your wish to learn our desire to be a part of what goes on around you, and your capacity to recognize when something deserves a wow!

Recognizing that something is wow! will stop you from feeling old. It will stop you from thinking that something is not for you anymore – because it is. Staying in touch with current events through television, newspapers, theater, lectures, and movies (just to name a few) keeps you aware of the world you live in.

Stay current to Stay Young

Unfortunately, nobody comes knocking at our door pulling us out of our comfortable recliner or sofa to take us to the movies. But movies are an exciting, easy way to stay in touch. I say easy because it is an activity easily done alone.

“What, you go alone to the movies?” some of my friends ask

“Yes, why not? We don’t talk anyway, do we?”

It might help that I am a movie buff, but having said that, I also go the movies to see what it going on in the world. Movies reflect the time we live in; they always have. Often a movie is not my taste, but I feel that I must find out why it is so popular that it takes in over $100,000 in ticket sales during the first weekend.

Even if I don’t like the movie, once I’ve seen it, at least I know where the world is coming from.

(excerpt from my book – Living Longer Living Well)

Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

Looking for a Place to Retire?

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

Why Is Stuttgart, Germany, the Least Stressful City in the World?

Elise Taylor

Stuttgart, Germany.
Stuttgart, Germany.

Photo: Alamy

Despite not appearing in any part of Eat, Pray, Love, Stuttgart, Germany—a small city sandwiched between Munich and Paris—is the least stressful metropolis on earth, according to a new study.How exactly did Stuttgart, which is home to not one, not two, but three luxury car companies, claim that top spot? Plenty of green spaces, good mental health, and strong family purchasing power (or, the amount of goods or services that money can buy. TL;Didn’t take Econ 101 in college—the economy is good.)However, we’d like to nominate one other factor that wasn’t included in the official chart: wine. Stuttgart’s smack dab in the middle of Germany’s wine district and even has a bunch of vineyards within city limits. That means wine, good wine, all the time.

Because, dear friends, guess what makes up for meh weather, Stuttgart’s worst-scoring category? Lots of wine to forget you’re in a cold, dark winter that’s like one of those medieval crusher things, but for your soul. And what’s the tradeoff for a place with mediocre-at-best public transportation (Stuttgart’s second worst?) More wine. But also, beer! Because turns out, they’ve got a lot of those too!

But there must be something else in the German water–or, erm, economic and social planning—because three German cities made the list: Hanover, Munich, and Hamburg (somehow, we think being the location of Prince George’s utterly adorable helicopter ride has something to do with it.

Germany’s got the strongest economy in Europe at the moment, so that no doubt boosts some of these towns up in the rankings. After all, when business is strong, there’s more money to buy wine with!

And Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything!  – with or without wine

Find A Roommate. What At My Age?

Published on by Brigitte Nioche4 Comments

 

Did you have roommates when you were young? When you went to college? Or before you got married?

I recently came across some information  I want to share with you, but first let me say this.

In the beginning of life we make concessions and find it quite normal. Now being older, being  at the other spectrum of life compromising might be the answer again for the daily increasing number of baby boomers. Many of them live alone because their spouse died and the children, besides having their own life, live far away. A lot of advice is given on how to keep busy, how to connect with the world, how to make new friends, but all this is easier said than done. And not everybody is proactive enough to create a new life for themselves, making loneliness their biggest enemy.

One way to overcome this is to  step back in time – be somebody’s roommate again. It will help to overcome:

  • loneliness – you won’t get up every morning and not see another face
  •  paying a high rent – sharing a house you will pay less
  • receiving rent –  will help pay expenses of your house
  • staying in your home because you share expenses with a roommate
  • you have support when you get sick
  • you can share interests
  • it will avoid moving into a retirement community one day
  • it will be good for your health – (it is commonly known today that people who live alone are more at risk to get depressed or ill.)

Whenever I speak to someone who complains about being alone and I suggest that maybe a roommate could be the answer, the reaction is “Oh, this is not for me, I couldn’t live with a stranger.” (remember they won’t be a stranger for long once you move in together).

I read an article recently about two women who were living together but had been total strangers before becoming roommates. They admitted that it was an adjustment, but  once they had overcome some hurdles, now enjoy life again. One of the women described their success this way: “I learned to love her dog, and she learned to love my cat! And now we have things to share and we don’t feel alone anymore”

Of course how to find the right person is a big question – and here is what I want to share with you, a website that has all the answers.

http://www.silvernest.biz

Home Sweet Shared HomeFind Your Perfect Housemate

A unique roommate matching service for baby boomers and empty nesters

Even if you don’t think this is ever for you, spend some time to check it out. If nothing else it shows possibilities and ways of how others manage to overcome loneliness.

Image result for photos of older ladies

 

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

 

PS. Silvernest covers all states in the US

 

Sixty and Beyond: 5 women who prove your best years are yet to come!

Published on by Brigitte NiocheLeave a comment

Most people think that life is long over for sixty-year-old women, but nothing is farther than the truth. The older we get, the wiser and more dynamic we become. We waste less time on trivialities and we spend more time on the things that matter.

If you’re heading toward the sixties and beyond, don’t sell yourself short. The best years of your life are ahead of you. Just look at the accomplishments of these five women.

Svetlana Alexievich

Noble Prize Winner Literature 2015
(awarded at the age of 67)

 

Helen Mirren

Oscar Winner Best Actress 2007
(awarded at the age 61)

 

Linda Buck

Nobel Prize Physiology or Medicine 2004.
Also, awarded honorary doctorate by Harvard University
and elected a Foreign Member of the Royal Society
(at the age of 68)

 

Angela Merkel

Chancellor of Germany
(at the age of 62)

 

Meryl Streep

3-time Oscar winner.
Also, reached the most Oscar nominations of a single person
(at the age of 67)

 

So don’t let the amount of candles on your birthday cake dictate how you will live the rest of your life. It’s your time to shine!

Do you know of any inspiring women over sixty? Please share below.

Photo credits

Svetlana Alexievich

Helen Mirren

Linda Buck

Angela Merkel

Meryl Streep

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

Brigitte

CHAMPAGNE – Makes You Healthy and Happy

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments
Now that the New Year is here let’s start it the right way, and do the right things to make us happy, prettier, and healthy!

All the Ways Champagne Is Good for You

As if you needed another excuse to drink it

We’re big fans of champagne (here’s proof, in case you needed it). But until now, we weren’t aware that the bubbly we’re drinking on the reg actually has a quite a few scientifically-proven health benefits. Take a look:

It’s low-calorie.

While a glass of red or white wine contains between 135 and 200 calories, a glass of brut (dry) champagne clocks in at only 95. And the low-sugar version, called “low dosage,” has a mere 65 calories per glass.

It prevents dementia and memory loss.

A study at the University of Reading determined that drinking one to three glasses of champagne each week can boost brain health. The study was done on rats, half of whom were served champagne every day for six weeks (nice life for a rat, right?). The rats were tasked with completing a maze, and while the sober rats had an average success rate of 50 percent, the bubbly drinkers had a 70 percent success rate.

It’s good for your skin.

“Champagne detoxifies the skin with antioxidants, and its lightening tartaric acid helps even out the skin tone,” says dermatologist Marina Peredo. “For those with oily skin, its antibacterial properties [help with] breakouts.”

It’s a heart-healthy beverage.

In fact, it’s just as good for your heart as red wine. Another University of Reading study concluded that “two glasses of champagne a day may be good for your heart and circulation and could reduce the risks of suffering from cardiovascular disease and stroke.” Maybe they should rename the place Champagne University?

It may actually help you drink less in the long run.

Champagne and other effervescent drinks have been shown to make people drink slower and feel full more quickly. There’s even a diet plan based around it. Score!

Cheers!

From: Town & Country
                                                                  ******
And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!
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Living Longer, Living Well

Published on by Brigitte Nioche3 Comments

WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN YOUR  LIFE

When you speak about yourself, I am sure you always say, “In my life.” But do you really have only one life? I don’t think so. Looking back, I see that I went through many different phases, which all had a distinct beginning and end like chapters in a book.

This phase of your life is a new chapter. Will it be happy one filled with challenges, new experienced, joy, and laughter?

That depends on you. You are the author of this new chapter in your life, and you will write the story’s happy ending. Yes, there will be difficulties, and you will have to deal with them, but the story will be happier and easier to write if you stay optimistic, positive, and refuse to let old age creep in between the lines.

The only thing constant is change. How you deal with change determines your future — and if you never give up, the future will be brighter.

************

And never forget – A Smile Changes Everything!

2016-01-27 12.40.02 (5)Brigitte