Tom Murphy,  November 22, 2008

I’ve never liked the word "unemployed," and not just because it means that someone is without a paycheck. I don’t like it because it means someone is without work. There’s a big difference. We tend to connect work with payment in America. Sure, we all want to be rewarded for a good day’s work, and we do need to sustain ourselves. But those are two different things. If you can find rewarding work – a task that makes you feel better about the world and yourself – then you should do it, even if it’s a volunteer position or a risky entrepreneurial effort or taking care of your children.  To pay your bills, you should look for a way to earn money. If you can bring those two things together, that’s a wonderful thing. But most people can’t. They end up doing work they don’t like for the sake of a pay check. (Money can’t buy you job satisfaction.) And when that check vanishes, so does their sense of worth. They then start describing themselves as "unemployed" and mournfully start collecting the unemployment insurance that they bought through payroll deductions at their job.  I’ve been without paid work more than once. But I’ve never been "unemployed," and I never intend to be. There’s way too much work to do in this world.

Tom Murphy,  November 2, 2008

It’s hard to overestimate the challenges of the next four years either personally or globally. There is widespread unrest in Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and other countries of the Gulf region that threaten to spread into a world war that would involve the Middle East, Russia, Korea, the US and Europe and possibly parts of Central and South America. The economic crisis worldwide affect everyone who buys food or tries to keep a roof over head. We face looming healthcare shortages in the US as boomers drift towards old age, and there are more severe health crises around the world. It will take each of us to act wisely in the days ahead, to live our own lives in moderation, to show tolerance and respect to others, to be open to new thinking and new ideas and to share what we have. Together we can make the world whole again. Alone, we will struggle.

Tom Murphy,  September 26, 2008

From high gas prices to the threat of a new Depression, there’s been no shortage of bad news when it comes to money. But try to bring that into balance with the rest of life. There’s an old song that goes "Please tell me, my friend, why it’s so hard to find one rich man in 10 with a satisfied mind."  Money is important, but so is good health, eating well and having fun. And a wise person would view the current problems as a gentle nudge to reconsider the importance of money. If high gas prices give you the impetus to ride a bike on errands, then do it; you’ll not only get exercise and save money, but studies show physical activity can also help you shake the blues. If you’re tired of paying high prices for produce at the market, consider planting an organic garden full of winter crops like greens. Call yourself a locovore and your friends will think you’re inspired. As far as fun goes, get outdoors to enjoy fall’s splendor while you can. That doesn’t cost a dime. And if you’re still losing sleep over finances, do something positive about it. Get some counseling from a financial advisor on how to make ends meet.

Cecily O’Connor,  August 22, 2008

I would love to volunteer, but I don’t have a clue where to start. I routinely donate money to organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, simply because my grandfather was affected by the disease. But I don’t necessarily know if that’s a group that would be a right fit for my time. Granted, I haven’t even looked into the prospect of volunteering there. But, like many people, I feel that when the time is right, I want to give back to my community in a significant way. A new article about the rebirth of a AIDS-ravaged village in Kenya makes a good point about how to approach community work, noting that the effort is "not just a list of projects; it’s a change of heart." I think that’s a really important distinction, especially at a time when more boomers are looking to donate time in their communities and leave a social legacy for younger generations. I hope that I can find the right opportunity going forward. Heck, maybe I’ll be fortunate enough to set the priorities of a new cause on my own.

Robin Evans,  August 19, 2008

Iran tested a rocket it says will launch a research satellite into orbit. Predictably, when its first test was declared successful in February, the US called it "troubling." Let’s hope this isn’t just more fodder for the marketing of fear – and war. David Hoffman’s documentary "Sputnik Mania" couldn’t be more timely. it recalls the launch of the first satellite into space – by Russia. In the humiliated US, it created a panic that lead to a rush to catch up and headlong into military buildup then- President Dwight Eisenhower (a Republican and a former general famous for warning of the "military-industrial complex") fought hard to slow down. It turns out neither he nor then-Russian President Nikita Kruschev wanted an arms race. In an amazing revelation, we find that both admitted in a private meeting they were under pressure from their military. And it was sobering to see Democrats like Hubert Humphrey castigating Eisenhower for his hesitation. Things are a bit different today. Today you might call it the oligarchial-industrial complex, wealthy families entrenched in the political system and their peers in the corporate world. But other than that, it seems little has changed.

Cecily O’Connor,  August 12, 2008

Aon Consulting reports health care costs are expected to rise again. Duh. That’s hardly unexpected, given that costs have been rising for several years. But what is surprising is the expected 10 percent increase for 2008 is the smallest that the consultants have seen in a half-dozen years. That’s because those weight management and smoking cessation programs your employer put in place several years ago are paying off in better employee health. Not to mention that some insurers are encouraging the use of cheaper drugs, while doctors and hospitals, too, have worked to contain costs. It’s reassuring to know that this overall emphasis on wellness is having a positive effect. That said, I still wonder how relevant it will be when employers start researching their benefit options for 2009. Let’s face it, when they determine their health care plan costs, factors such as the aging population and technology will make it hard for costs to go down much more.

Cecily O’Connor,  August 5, 2008

I’m definitely the type of person that needs to "talk it out" when I have a problem.  But if I run into some serious emotional roadblocks down the road, it’s likely I’d be prescribed a pill rather than have some one-on-one time in a psychiatrists’ office. That’s because the prevalence of pills and lower insurance reimbursement rates are contributing to a significant decline in psychotherapy practiced by US psychiatrists. I find those trends really troubling. The fact that there’s a willingness to push pills over parley is not some Freudian slip. It suggests, rather, that it’s financially better to solve a problem through a medical type of intervention than seeking a natural cure from within. To be sure, some individuals may have a serious condition that warrants the need for medication. But for the rest of us, the encouragement and guidance of a psychiatrist to explore our emotional life, thoughts and behavior can be sufficient. Knowing that, the American Psychiatric Association is working to restore interest in psychotherapy. Let’s hope the couches stay warm.