Boomers Guide to Surviving Downsizing

Recent economic events have upset the apple cart of the baby boomer generation. In 2009 through 2011 millions of people lost their jobs in a very short period of time. As there were few jobs available, among the hardest hit were the older works nearing their retirement years. The baby boomers thought that they had plenty of time to plan their retirement and did not anticipate being downsized from their job at this late stage of their career.

Much as an athlete requires physical therapy to heal the wounds of an injury, a person facing forced retirement requires mental therapy to heal the wounds of an unjust termination. Ending your work life does not mean that you are never going to work again. It may only take on a different form in retirement such as working part-time, starting a homebased business or volunteering. Some of the greatest entrepreneurs, writers, artists, inventors and others had their greatest accomplishments at sixty, seventy and eighty years of age.

Family

As you continue the journey to write your memoir, you first want to document your family. Your family played a major role in your life and helped define the man or woman that you became. Our early years are our very first environment and form our experience and knowledge. It also shapes our behavior-either negatively or positively. It prepares each of us to take part and become an economically productive member or society. It is interesting to note that families create generations-each gaining in maturity and self-suffiency-to create and provide for subsequent generations.

Memoir Writing - Where

To understand "where" you are today, it helps to spend some time thinking about your family-grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters.  Much has been written about family and the early environmental impact on us.  Our early years form our experience and knowledge.  It shapes our behavior-either negatively or positively.  It also prepares us to take part and become an economically productive member of society.  It is interesting to note that families create generations-each gaining in maturity and self-sufficiency-to create and provide for subsequent generations.

Memoir Writing - Why

"Why" write the story of your life?  During your lifetime, you were striving to make a differenece.  In return you wanted your life to matter.  Writing the story of your life is your opportunity to matter.  Your story is a wonderful gift for your family and friends.

As you write your memoir, the path that you took over your lifetime will unfold.  You will learn more about yourself-your beliefs, values and the meaning of your life.  You have a wondreful opportunity to tell about the memories and experiences that shaped your life.

Initially, just start writing as you want to get as much on paper as possible.  Details are important but do not go overboard.  You will know that you are on the right track when your words have special energy and touch you deeply.  You will have flashbacks and rushes or emotion.

You should strive to write a little everyday.  Some days, you will fill pages and pages while other days you may only write a page.  This is all part of the process that it takes to writing your memoir.  Do not get discouraged as there is no time clock on this project.  Just work at your own pace day after day.

Memoir Writing - When

It is never too late to get started on your memoir.  "When" you are ready, just start writing.  You can begin with a person, place or event that had special significance in your life.  Or, think of a period that was life-changing for you.  In any case write about the impact on your life and those around you.  It may help to start with a journal where you record information about you life.  Then, let these memories become the basis for the different chapter of your memoir. It can be a lot of fun and very fulfilling to get your life on paper for others to share.

Memoir Writing - What

Legacy is "what" you are remembered for and "what" you leave behind.  However, legacy seems to be the elusive something that is always off in the distance.  Elusive because it is uncharted territory.  Off in the distance because the subject lies deep in the human psyche.  Your life consists of thousands of people, places and events that all add up to your legacy.

You begin your memoir by creating a road map of your life.  All your personal information and events will be the heart and soul of your story.  As you embark on your journey, you will bask in your early years with your family, progress through your education and career and relive experiences such as falling in love.  You will savor seeing a foreigh city for the first time and looking into the eyes of your newborn child.  By the time that you are done, you may have a very different perspective about your life than you did before beginning your journey.  Your journey is meant to be fun as you relive the memories of a lifetime.

Memoir Writing -Who, What, When, Why & Where

Wouldn't it turn the world upside down if everyone immediately answered the question, "How do I want to be remembered?"  When you read the question, do you feel a burden in every fiber of you being; does your heart palpitate?  Does it make you want to be a better person; do you want to right some wrongs?  If so, you are now ready to begin the long journey down memory lane to rediscover your life.  First, you are going to learn about your destiny.

Destiny is the life that you were born to live.  It provides the basis for your life and life's work.  Destiny plays a major role in your life, as it is the source of your wisdom, but also the source of many obstacles along the path of your life.

Over the next few weeks, let's consider the who, what, when, why and where of your life.  This will help to put the story of your life, your memoir, into perspective.