Life's Too Short

Millions of people in their 50s and 60s find themselves facing job and financial insecurity.

Financial wellness can be defined as the amount that makes you feel grounded and content. You have to find a textured and meaningful life on a modest income.

As you age, you may not be considered for jobs that pay as much as the last job you left. Consider taking a freelance position or two in order to generate income. Short consultancies, subletting rooms in your home and driving for a ride share service are options.

Things beyond your control may have landed you in your current financial state. You can learn from past mistakes, but the economic state of the country doesn’t boost your savings.

Listen as Elizabeth White joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how to find your financial footing over 50.

When you reach a certain age, finding the right low-impact fitness can be a challenge. Yoga is a great option for middle-aged individuals to strengthen muscles and maintain mobility.

Mid-life is roughly defined as ages 45 to 65. It’s a peak time for career-minded individuals, and the hustle and bustle of running a household is also a challenge. Yoga encourages stress reduction and mindfulness.

Listen as Dennis and Kathy Lang join Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how yoga can benefit you in mid-life.

Men 50 and over have a lot of opportunity ahead of them. The trick is to be healthy to enjoy them.

Older men often become more sedentary and neglect their health. Oftentimes, partners have to motivate them to get necessary screenings and make lifestyle changes to live longer.

Tips for Men in Middle Years

For partners, it’s ideal to be supportive and encourage longevity. However, you sometimes have to take control so the life-preserving actions can happen.

Listen as Louis Bezich joins Melanie Cole, MS to discuss how to find fulfillment as you grow older.

Menopause ends the female reproduction window. Perimenopause is like adult puberty, the transition from regular menstrual cycles to one year without periods.

Perimenopause is tough to define. Symptoms can occur for three to five years or longer. Menopause occurs when the ovaries have fully retired. Heavy or light periods, irregular bleeding, vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats may pop up as the ovaries wind down their work.

Until the ovaries shut down completely, it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Progesterone may be prescribed by your provider to even things out. Some over the counter products like black cohosh may provide some relief from symptoms.

Listen as Dr. Mary Jane Minkin joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss what to expect from perimenopause.

Different cultures contribute to our culinary melting pot. The flavors of American foods alter with these new contributions, influencing generations to come.

What was once known as “foreign” food eventually becomes adopted and Americanized. It’s inevitable that food changes as it mixes with American cultures. Lack of unique ingredients and brushing up against other cultures gives food a new identity.

Americans are spoiled, as we can enjoy a panoply of flavors every day. The strength of our country is in our differences and should be celebrated. Be adventurous and try something new.

Listen as Chef Edward Lee joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how Americanized foods are worthy of celebration.

Parents can feel an emotional upheaval when their children venture off to find their fortunes. Empty nest syndrome is legitimate.

From the moment the child is born, the focus of a parent becomes the best survival of that child. While watching out for the next milestone, personal activities and relationships can fall away.

Start asking yourself what you’d like to be doing. What is fun for you? Re-engage with those things. Find time for yourself before your child leaves the nest so you can start to reclaim friendships and discover new interests for yourself.

Listen as Samantha Lewis joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss how to prepare yourself for and survive empty nest syndrome.

It’s not uncommon to have at least one person in your life who stresses you out. Holidays can force interactions with toxic family members.

First, don’t take their toxicity personally. It’s often not about you. They may misdirect upset from other aspects of their own lives. You don’t have to have this person in your life regularly.

If you are upset with someone, acknowledge the different viewpoint. “Interesting point-of-view; I have this point-of-view.” Unexpressed to the source of stress, this can help you handle their opinions. Repeat to yourself until you don’t feel as charged up about it.

Additionally, you can be a kind and caring person without a toxic person in your life. It is a kindness to let them go. Be good to yourself and live your life without this person as a regular participant in it.

Listen as Doris Schachenhofer joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how you can interact with toxic individuals... or not.

Victims of abuse (physical, sexual, verbal) are often fearful of leaving the abuser for a number of reasons. Aside from personal safety, a significant concern is financial well-being. Many times, the "bread winner" of the household is the abuser, making it problematic for the abused to leave the relationship. 

Rosemary Lombardy is a financial advisor with over 35 years of experience. Although her professional expertise is in financial matters, her perspective on marital abuse, divorce, and recovery is deeply heartfelt and holistic, having gone through her own abusive situation.

Rosemary has some helpful tips for anyone who is in a dire situation and needs to seek help:

If you're unable to afford legal help, shelters often provide a lot of assistance, such as free or reduced cost legal counsel, therapy, and job assistance if you've been out of the workforce. If you can, Rosemary suggests getting the advice of a financial expert in addition to your attorney.

Listen in as Rosemary joins host Melanie Cole, MS, to learn more about the "right" way to get out of a bad situation and additional resources for those who are suffering abuse.

Warming up and cooling down are both important parts of any workout. People want to get to the meat of the workout, skipping these necessary parts.

The warmup gets the muscles warm and pliable, making them ready for a complete workout. It also helps focus the mind on the work that’s to come. Blood flow is increased to the muscles and other parts of the body. 

Tailor the warmup to the activity you’re about to undertake. Do the warmup close to the time you’ll be engaging in the activity so your body doesn’t cool off before you begin.

The cooldown helps your heart settle down. It gives the lactic acid from the workout a chance to clear out a bit. If your head is above your heart during the main workout, the blood is pushed to the lower body. Cooling down allows the blood to return to other parts of the body, reducing lightheadedness after exercise.

Listen as Dr. Brian Parr joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the importance of warming up and cooling down.

What conversations should you have with your potential mate to know your love will last a lifetime?

If conversations start out harsh, the relationship will often break down into loneliness and unhappiness for both parties.

Conversations where each partner discusses the positive things they need tend to go smoother.

You don’t have to hook up with your clone. In fact, someone a little different from you makes it interesting. You can learn from each other.

Here are the topics that make a date easy and enjoyable, while giving you the information you seek quickly:

Discussing the history, experiences and preferences with each of these topics will help both of you see if this is a relationship worth pursuing.

Listen as Dr. John Gottman joins Melanie Cole, MS, to share how to have the conversations for a lasting love.