What Is Your Dream?

Posted April 3, 2008, 6:11 pm by Growing Bolder

Growing Bolder asks leaders, thinkers, writers, life coaches, entertainers and role models to weigh in on issues affecting our lives.

Our question is: When we're young, hopes and dreams dominate and steer our lives. Now that we're older, what is your dream? How has it changed as you've aged?


	Sherrie Mathieson When I was young ("chronologically" that is) I was a woman who was dominated as much by hormones as I was by clear thinking. My career goals were stunted by other yearnings that conflicted with the demands a lifestyle of costume design makes. So I made compromises on both sides, not getting either quite right. Now the "dust has cleared" and I want to realize my full potential. I now have added 39 years of professional wisdom to the table. My total focus is on my "com-padres"... the baby boomers... and how my work as a style consultant today (a shift I made 15 years ago), can help them. I think the fashion and media world (that has so far, been rather stereotypical in their fashion experts) needs a new voice for the baby boomer generation to address their style challenges. I think my age is an asset, because all along I've experienced similar challenges and used myself and my clients, of both sexes, as a means to experiment and find real aesthetic solutions for real people as they age. My dream is to take "senior" out of the lexicon...especially in the realm of style-- while remaining appropriate. I want to reclaim a certain refinement and beauty that has been lost in the style world for young and old. It's based on being natural but totally hip and modern, and thus more youthful as a result. I want to challenge my generation to look their best. That's what I teach. About Sherrie Sherrie Mathieson is an award-winning costume designer and stylist who has created a manual to help bring you and your clothes into the 21st century. Her book,"Forever Cool: How to Achieve Ageless, Youthful and Modern Personal Style" is full of tips for men and women.

Ciji Ware My focus these days is covering the issue of Housing After 50, (www.rightsizingyourlife.com ) and I realize, the deeper I get into it (and the more ominous the mortgage meltdown becomes) that my dream is to recapture the wonderful beauty and serenity of my growing-up years spent in the seaside village of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California where artists and writers could afford to live, and virtually "everybody knows your name." I want to find it for myself (it doesn't have to be Carmel, per se) and to help others discover a way to feel safe and secure within the four walls of their own, personal "Castle." After food, our next basic need is shelter---and so I guess having a cozy home with family and friends nearby has become the paramount focus of both my work life and my own personal dream. Perhaps I'm resonating to this lately as our wonderful building, right on the water here in Sausalito (7 miles across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco--see attached pictures) is up for sale. Nothing like change to serve as a kick-in-the-pants for dreaming new dreams! About Ciji In addition to her career as a non-fiction writer and novelist, Ciji was a reporter and commentator on radio and television in Los Angeles for over 20 years. She holds a degree in history from Harvard where she was the first female graduate to serve as president of the Alumni Association. She's the author of five novels in addtion to her non-fiction works.

penpopup('/857/popup/')">	Gordy Shields When you're 90 your dream is to make it to 91! Seriously, as a member of the "Greatest Generation" I guess my hope rather than dream is that present and coming generations will not only outlive me but become even "Greater" by remaking our world image in ways of peace rather than war. About Gordy The California resident is living proof that it's never too late to excel at whatever it is you enjoy and that you can overcome almost anything. He can't walk more than 100 feet but he's one of the country's best cyclists. The discs in his lower back are slowly deteriorating, which leaves him hunched over. Rather than focusing on what he can't do, he says his condition is ideal for bicycle racing.

Helen Kuhn You are correct. As we age our dreams do change. As a younger pilot, my dream was to fly our small plane to Alaska as so many private pilots do. However, at 94, my dream is to fly to a relatively closer airport for a nice lunch and a pleasant flight home in time to allow for a brief nap before dinner. In other words, the early dream was for adventure. The present dream is for comfort and pleasure. About Helen She may be a late bloomer, but 94-year-old Helen Kuhn is anything but a wallflower. After getting married for the first time at the age of 60, one year later she took another brave leap and got her pilot's license. When she turned 70 she became instrument rated -- the most difficult rating in aviation. This is a woman who's feet are firmly planted on the ground, but continues to reach for the skies!
penpopup('/1934/popup/')">	Tony Handler Over the years, my dream has changed from a materialistic type dream to one of staying healthy enough to continue doing Triathlons until this body says "no more". The dream also includes seeing all of my family staying healthy as possible and avoiding the health challenges I have had. About Tony Tony Handler isn't supposed to be alive. In 1983 he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer. His doctor told him had two years to live. Despite this news he continued training. He's had a number of major health challenges since, but steadfastly refuses to let them be the focus of his life.

Sandy Scott A very interesting question. When I was a young, I was a constant and big dreamer. My theory was that in order to accomplish or achieve something, it starts with a dream - sometimes a seemingly impossible dream. I dreamed many seemingly impossible dreams, and amazingly I accomplished everyone of them! Whether it was aspiring to successful careers, academic achievement, recognition, financial security, the quest for toys, athletic championships, successful children, etc., I achieved them all! "Gee," you say, "it must be boring now that you have realized all of your dreams." Not in the least. If there was a hall of fame for retirees, I would be immediately inducted - I do it so very well!! I am leading a dream retirement, which by the way I neglected to list as one of my "younger dreams." I have the joy of looking back on a fulfilling path through my younger years, and an incredible present and future. Yesterday, was an example of one of my world class days - a simple day, but a delightful day. I awakened early to ride my bike downtown to join a cycling workout with the DePauw University cycling team. Prior to leaving the house I put in some stock buy and sell orders in that I do a bit of day trading to pay for toys and supplement my retirement income. I then enjoyed an incredible intense workout that reached speeds in excess of 36 mph on the flats. I rode a total of 85 miles, returned home to discover that I had added a few hundred extra dollars (apart from my "normal" investments) to my toy fund, and then off to join friends for a world class Sushi dinner. Did I mention what a high it is for a 68 year old geezer jock to hang with college varsity athletes? I then went to watch Midori perform an incredible Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. It was another in an endless number of "it doesn't get any better than this" kind of days. I still dream, but mostly on behalf of others. I dream and hope that my children and their children will have the privilege of having the kind of life I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy. I dream about winning Florida State cycling championships, but I have been there and done that so it is nothing terribly pressing. I do have a current quest - I am searching for a Model T Ford automobile to buy, drive about, and play with. It doesn't get any better than this!! About Sandy Sandy is a master cyclist who was headed for victory in the 2005 Florida Senior games trials when he was nearly killed in a collision. After two years, he's back! Sandy now owns the state record for fastest 5K time by anyone over 60. He is also the current Florida state time trial and road race champion.

	Roanne Weisman I've been a free-lance writer for most of my life but always dreamed of writing a book. It took having a stroke in my 40s -- and recovering completely -- to make this dream come true. My first book was about using integrative medicine--combining alternative treatments with conventional care -- not only for stroke recovery, but also for chronic pain, heart disease and generally aging with vigor and grace! I am now in my mid-fifties with six health books published (the latest out this spring) and in the midst of writing a seventh. The best thing about mid-life career changes is that you appreciate them more. Late blooming is sweet, indeed! About Roanne Roanne Weisman is an award-winning author specializing in science, medicine and health care. Her feature stories have appeared in Body & Soul Magazine, Alternative Medicine Magazine, Country Living Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. Two of her publications have won gold medals from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

Pat Paciello My dream as a child was to be a professional athlete. At some point in my mid-forties, I had to face reality and realize my prospects were slim. I guess having average skills, being slow-footed, and having a lack of desire for practice, contributed to me not realizing my true calling in life. As the years passed, my options hung on a very thin thread. Playing professional golf on the Champions Tour was my last hope. My rational was simple. You have to be at least fifty years of age to be able to compete on the Champions Tour. And while not commonplace, golfers with undistinguished golfing pedigrees in their youth have found the magic formula and emerged as stars on the circuit formerly known as the Senior Tour. I understood that my lofty ambition would be a challenge. It is not every day that a recreational golfer who shoots in the nineties and plays from the middle tees on municipal courses makes it to the professional ranks. I am proud to announce that my hard work and dedication have paid dividends. My golf game has gotten better and I have lowered my handicap. Unfortunately, based on my current rate of improvement, and assuming my body never physically deteriorates, I should be eligible to earn my tour card somewhere between my ninety fifth and ninety sixth birthday. Undaunted, I will continue my Don Quixote-like quest; resting only to watch sports on HD television hoisted on my black leather recliner with my trusted remote by my side. About Pat As author of "Has Anyone Seen My Reading Glasses The Humorous and Slightly Informative Chronicles of a Retired Baby Boomer," Pat Paciello shares his experiences, advice and insights on subjects like long term care, financial strategy, retirement for women and the unique relationship between adult children and their parents.
	Bobbe Lyon As the time ahead grows shorter, and the time behind me grows longer, I find my dreams are much more realistic. My current dream is to travel to exotic places I haven't seen yet. The second part of that dream would be to find someone wonderfully compatible to travel with. About Bobbe Bobbe Lyon, M.D. (mirth dispenser) is a believer and practicioner in the power of humor. She thought her life was over at age 45 when her husband died. After wallowing in despair, humor became her primary tool for survival. It worked so well the Laughing Lyon earned a BA in Journalism and an MA in Counseling. Soon she decided to take her humorous ideas public. She has been a National Speaker ever since.

Elaine Beaubien I am living my dream! It doesn't get any better! I believe you can have your cake and eat it too, just not at the same time. Retirement? Ha! Not for our generation. We look for reinvention. For a sequential realization of our dreams. We believe that if you are coasting, you are going downhill! At the age of 50, I wanted to continue to work, but not every day. I decided to reinvent my life, reevaluate my work, and redefine my passions. I negotiated a part time contract with Edgewood College and now only work with corporate clients and associations on projects that interest me. Then, because I wasn't through taking risks and pushing forward, some would say I completely jumped the track, I began writing! Because I wanted to. Because I could. Since the summer of 2002, just like Diana Prince, who removed her public persona to become Wonder Woman, I periodically shed my briefcase, PowerPoint presentations, and class notes to become…E. K. Barber, writer of romantic fiction. Writing under the pen name of E. K. Barber to protect my polished, professional persona, I continue to teach business to graduate and undergraduate students and consult with corporate clients by day…and by night I sit tapping on my laptop. By day, marketing, supply and demand, leadership, employee retention, communication and team building…and by night love, lust and intrigue. From the corporate boardroom and college classroom to the world of romance and suspense…from the pragmatic and practical to the provocative and romantic. Now that is a paradigm shift! Like many of my generation, I have pursued professional and personal goals sequentially. I built a successful career in my 20's, 30's and 40's. I had bills to pay. A reputation to build. An education to use. Been there, done that. At my age, I want to shift. Now, making a living seems less important than making a life. True success is when you can do both, of course. And that's where I am right now. Not that you toss a life time of work and experience when taking a different direction. Elaine Beaubien, marketing professor and corporate consultant, advises E. K. Barber, writer of romantic fiction, all the time. E.K. Barber is only 5 years old. She needs the seasoned guidance of the much more mature and successful Professor Beaubien. For example Elaine insisted that E. K. use focus groups, have a mission statement, and develop a marketing plan. Good advice. Send me a bill. My mission statement is: "E. K. Barber will write books that Elaine Beaubien likes to read." I'm delighted when others enjoy my work. Amazed, really. But it isn't the central goal any more. I primarily write for myself. That's a bit of a departure. If I were 20 or 30 or even 40 and wanted to build a career around this endeavor, the mission statement would read differently. "E. K. Barber will write books that her target market wants to read." I would commercialize my work. We did things like that to make a living. To my ongoing enjoyment, with this second occupation I don't have to make as many compromises. Now that I am nearly 60, I have less to prove. It's liberating to be able to develop a second career based on an earlier dream. Or a latent passion. Or an unrealized desire! Professor Beaubien's three step process for doing it too: 1. Dream it! If you can dream it, you can do it! First you have to stop and get a clear picture of what you want. As my Grannie used to say, if you're standing at the edge of a cliff, a step forward isn't progress. This first step is a step back. To see your life, assess your talents. To envision the possibilities. To uncover latent desires. To discover unrealized dreams. 2. Plan It! No one EVER pulled a rabbit out of a hat without putting one there in the first place! To move in the direction of the dream efficiently and efficiently, you need to focus and write a clear plan. Grannie used to say, if you chase two rabbits, they're both going to get away! A clear, well developed plan doesn't guarantee success, but increases the possibility that the dream will become a reality. 3. Do it! As Will Rogers said, "even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there!" Okay, so Grannie said that too, I just think Will Rogers said it first! (She was a big Reader's Digest reader.) You can't just talk and dream and plan. Ultimately, you have to move! Do it! Take charge. Take the risk. One of my favorite philosophers, Wayne Gretzky once said, "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take!" Take the shot. A tragedy is not to fail if you've tried. A tragedy is to die with a dream still inside! About Elaine Elaine Beaubien is an award-winning professor, an international speaker, entrepreneur, corporate trainer and a popular columnist. But after turning 50, she knew she wanted to try her hand at something else -- writing romance novels. So, she started writing under the pen name E.K. Barber. Growing Bolder members know her secret is out.

What Is Your Dream?

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