Scripture tells us that God, who does not change, has spoken in many forms and in many ways. He counsels us speaking in dreams, puzzles, riddles and parables of life.  What have we been missing when we simply thought that was a strange dream and then promptly forgot about it without seeking divine interpretation? Dreams are his personal letters to us. We will explore the basic principles of dream interpretation using the biblical model.

We will be focusing on communication with our friends and family, community, technology and home modification tips and techniques to enjoy life as we age and stay at home as long as possible.

 Have you looked at your birth certificate lately? If it says you were born between 1946 and 1964, welcome to my world. You and I are officially considered "Baby Boomers". What do we have in common? Well, we're over 59, which means accumulated wisdom (I believe). We share a unique time and space. We were born in the middle of the 20th century, and we hope to live to the middle of the 21st. When our earliest members were born, only 141 million people lived in the U.S. Today there are over 295 million. In this class we'll share a bunch of facts, fiction, and fun. I hope you can join us...especially if you're a Boomer who believes, "We're not over the hill...we're just reaching the top."
 
 

Our lives are full of busy schedules and a constant stream of information to process, leaving most of us feeling highly stressed by the end of the day. Many people are turning to Meditation. Meditating can boost our emotional and physical well-being. People who practice meditation as part of their regular routine have reported higher levels of happiness, patience, and compassion. They also show lower levels of stress and frustration, which leads to other benefits like lower blood pressure and increased energy levels. 
 

American on opposite sides of the political spectrum don't just disagree on the issues -- they increasingly dislike one another. This growing partisan animosity is a crisis of our time and threatens our nation. This class will bring participants together to build relationships so they can have respectful dialogue regarding current issues of the day.

Memory loss is one of our biggest concerns about aging. But our fears are usually overblown. This presentation will help you better understand the changes you can expect and how to manage them. Topics include: types of memory and the processes involved in each; the factors that affect our ability to learn and remember; causes of cognitive impairment; mnemonic techniques for managing memory challenges; and general lifestyle issues that support optimal mental functioning.

Explore volunteer opportunities by hearing from a panel of local non-profit organizations sharing their mission to serve our community.  Panelists will provide an overview of their organization, a description of volunteer opportunities and contact information. This fall we meet  The Welman Project, The Taste Project, Center for Transforming Lives, and the Christmas Wish Project. 

 

Have you ever found yourself saying any of the following?

"My closet is overflowing, yet I can't find anything to wear."; "I feel overwhelmed when I try to pick out an outfit."; "Getting dressed takes up too much of my time." ; "I waste money on clothes that end up collecting dust."; "My closet is filled with regretful purchases."; "I often find myself apologizing for my appearance." If so, it's time to take control of your closet. Learn how to efficiently organize your clothes and determine which items are worth keeping. Decluttering your closet is the first step towards simplifying your life.

Soul Collage® is an easy, enjoyable, intuitive collage process for self expression and self-discovery. Come and explore this fun art making experience that reflects your inner landscape! A library of found images from magazines and other ephemera will be provided, as will the 5"x8" mat board, scissors and glue sticks for the Soul Collage card/s that you create. Feel free to bring your own photos and other images to use in your collage making.

A home downsizing and move management expert will introduce you to downsizing and the considerations when planning to downsize your home. The class will introduce you to the different living options that are available, educate you on the resources available to make a downsize as seamless as possible and offer tips for downsizing.

For many of us, conversations about death and dying are very uncomfortable and avoided as much as possible! As a result, we are unprepared when faced with the loss of a loved one. In this tender and engaging conversation, we examine approaches to preparing for, and partnering in the end-of life experience. Strategies are introduced that can promote deeper understandings about what is actually happening. Communication pathways and ways to interact in compassionate and honoring ways are introduced. Documents pertaining to end of life options and wishes are also included.

Did you know that exercise might be the most potent drug we have for extending our quality and quantity of life? Switching from a sedentary lifestyle to an active lifestyle is comparable to "smoking vs not smoking." Join me in a lively program where many of the myths about aging and physical decline will be dispelled with research based guidelines for exercise and nutrition. I will give you some valuable tools to increase the quality of your life, improve your health and function, and live independently as an active ager. Topics covered will include aerobic exercise, resistance training, and balance/stability training. Say goodbye to your sedentary lifestyle once and for all and start feeling great again!

There's a reason that people love to hear jokes, read comic strips in the newspapers, and pay attention to comedians. Those folks use humor to make points, or to teach life lessons. Would you like to do the same thing? Rix Quinn was trained as a biographer, but he writes the humor feature ""Quinn Minute"" for about 200 weekly newspapers. He offer ideas to develop funny features, columns, newsletters and quips that help you get your message delivered in a memorable way.

Owning a versatile wardrobe that effortlessly blends and pairs to produce a multitude of outfits is a smart money-saving strategy. Discover the art of crafting your personalized capsule wardrobe tailored to your specific style and needs. Whether you're curating a complete seasonal collection or assembling a compact travel wardrobe, this capsule wardrobe formula offers flexibility and efficiency.

Retirement, a whole new world out there but what's really running the show? In this 2-week interactive mini-course, you will discover what your automatic and predictable reactions to life are, as well as who you are authentically. Get the most out of retirement through authentically being yourself. Who are you? Come on, put the class in your cart, discover what's running you, enjoy exploring the authentic you, and see what you are missing!

This presentation examines the fascinating psychology of Carl Jung through the lens of astrology.  We will learn how the structure of the Psyche is illumined by celestial principles to provide deep insight into your character.  We will cover the core archetypes of Ego, Persona, Shadow, Syzygy and Self.  Our exploration will also touch on complexes, libido, defense mechanisms, projection, and the Jungian Typology of attitudes and functions.

This will be a discussion-based class on experiences with loss - not merely surviving, but living well following loss. We will discuss the process of grief from loss and what that is like and then begin to focus on how to live as well as possible going forward. Four sessions: A Time to Grieve, Experiencing Grief, Finding Hope and Healing, Rebuilding and Remembering. This is best for those who are at least several months to years past their loss.

Association. Pictorialization. Acronyms. Rhymes and Songs. In this WORKSHOP you will practice these and other techniques for learning and recall. You will work in small groups and individually. The emphasis is on remembering names, but time will also be devoted to other common challenges such as shopping lists. Bring a notebook.

What does it mean when we can remember details from high school but can't remember what happened yesterday?  And, what is actually happening  in our brains when new information is introduced or when we are trying to remember something? In this interesting and informative session, we take a quick look at our amazing brains as we consider how we handle new information and the pathways to memory.  We conclude with practical strategies to enhance it!

So many young families are using sign language with their babies.  Motor skill develop before speech and language skill so this is a great way to communicate early.  Babies can sign what they want, like milk, more, finished.. so they won't get frustrated and neither will you!!

The trip to wellness after a stroke, and the path back to normal. A real-life experience, and the development of a Pro Team to guide progressive redevelopment to be normal again. Within depth technical data for attendees to use for themselves, a loved one, or a dear friend/relative.

Still have a yard? Do you have trees in your yard? If so, are you properly taking care of their health? This course will walk you through the basics of good tree care to ensure they live as long as possible, don't pose a hazard to people or property, and provide great shade.

Using Joan Chittister's book, The Gift of Years, as our text, the class will reflect on and discuss this specific time of life (after retirement) as expressed by the author. Our major themes and engagement will come under these topics/chapters: success and accomplishment, finding and giving joy, meaning and purpose, intentional becoming and spirituality for the second half of life. Our learning methods are to: 1) read and reflect on assigned chapters (prior to class), 2) consider how and if this chapter intersects with your own experience of life, and 3) be ready to participate in class discussions. FIRST ASSIGNMENT: Read INTRODUCTION, pp. vii-xvi and MEANING, pp. 7-12

Our class format will be reading, then reflecting and often writing down your thoughts on how or if our author's perspective intersects with your own life experiences. Usually, we will have opportunities for discussion in small breakout groups. This way, we all will be both learning and teaching each other!

Below are some steps to take and an assignment to do prior to our first class on March 16

1. Get your copy of our text ASAP, so that you can do the assignment before our first class: The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully, by Joan Chittister. ISBN #978-1-93334-633-5. 
2. PRE-ASSIGNMENT: Read the INTRODUCTION, pp. vii-xvi and the chapter called MEANING, pp. 7-12. Reflect on your readings.
3. Bring a Journal, small notebook, or note paper to the virtual class each week to keep track of your own and others' reflections as we cover each topic.

 

This is the SECOND level for students who have already taken the first Professional Organizer's Guide class. You'll learn how to tackle your own specific clutter crises {including photos and paperwork}, file fold t-shirts like an Olympic sport, and wrap lamp cords so they look like a piece of art. You'll find out all the best places to take your donations and consignments. And you'll even have a class on Elizabeth's favorite products {for any budget). 

Are you at a loss for what to do with that giant box of family photos? Or that Jadeite glass collection you've been collecting for decades? Or a garage so full you can't park two cars inside? Then this class is for you! Not only is it a step-by-step guide on decluttering and organizing, but you'll learn how to honor the things you love and want to keep.

Close to 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and there is much misunderstanding on the signs and symptoms of these dementias.  This class will leave learners with a clear understanding of what dementia is, and what it is not, and dispel any myths surrounding the disease. We will discuss the differences between Alzheimer's disease and other common dementias including Vascular dementia, Lewy Body dementia and Frontotemporal dementia. We will also explore common causes of memory loss and confusion, discuss how to receive a proper diagnosis and what types of treatments, therapies, and interventions are available. 

In this course we will use some creative and imaginative ways to look at how our life experiences have helped shape who we are. This includes the creative use of images as well as taking a bird’s eye view of the seasons of our lives to identify watermark experiences. Using the understanding of the significance of those events, both positive and negative, we’ll explore how we might use the wisdom they bring.

Who are you? Where did you come from? I can help you trace your family history back through the centuries--back to Kings, Queens, and Emperors.  I will show you how to quickly use all the online resources and how to organize your data.  I will show you how to prepare and assemble a 350-page hard-covered book for your family and friends.   No genealogy experience necessary.

This lecture will examine the properties of color. After learning the properties of color you will see how the properties of color are used to determine what colors are flattering on a person. For example: why do certain colors of clothing enhance your appearance while other colors are not as flattering? Have you noticed your coloring changes as you mature?

Do you want to create your own personal story -- your autobiography -- to share with family members, friends, and business associates? Biographer Rix Quinn is a former magazine editor who has written well over 500 short biographies. In this two-session workshop, he'll offer you several ideas to share your beliefs and values with your readers. And he'll share with you some dramatic ideas to keep your readers engaged as they read about your early life, your education, your career...and the values you want to pass forward to future generations.