"Fabulous after Fifty™" is the Syndicated On-Line Weekly Column by Shirley W. Mitchell, a National Author/Writer/Syndicated Columnist/Speaker and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, also known as "The Golden Egg of Aging™" -  View some of the most inspirational and motivational articles on aging, baby boomers, seniors, senior lifestyles, health, diet, exercise, business, women's and men's issues, specific topic articles, poems, writings, recipes, area news, and special people. Shirley W. Mitchell's "Passion" for encouraging Aging people is both Contagious and Intense! We have the Ability to Change Aging History with our "Pulse" & "Faith". To Teach. To Educate. To Transform. If you enjoy the Articles posted here, you will certainly enjoy my Column Articles within  "Senior Lifestyle Magazine". "Fabulous after Fifty™" is fashioned after her "Lace Over Steel™" and "Fabulous after Fifty™" Weekly Newspaper Columns that appeared in the Sand Mountain Reporter of Albertville, Alabama. We want to thank the newspaper and all our readers for their support over the past 25+ years Ms. Mitchell's Column was printed. We inspire to bring more Style and Enthusiasm to it in the future.

Feb. 25, 1999

Feb. 25, 1999 - Faith Offers Best Support © by ShirleyW. Mitchell, Golden Year - Fabulous after Fifty™ "What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. Men of God in days of old were famous for their faith." Hebrews 11:1, 2, The Living Bible Dr. Thomas S. Haggai, Chairman & CEO of the Grocery Company, IGA Inc., inspired me when I heard him speak on faith. He gave the definition of an atheist - "a person dressed up with nowhere to go." God gave us faith for our own sake. He gave us hope of abundant life on earth and assurance of eternal life in heaven. Haggai gave three qualities of faith: (1) "Faith gives you uncommon insights. God has given us ourselves. It's important for us to make ourselves better so we can be our. best. Faith makes us comfortable with ourselves. Faith makes us sensitive to other people." (2) "Faith gives you uncommon courage." Paul encourages us in Romans 8:31, "...If God be for us, who can be against us?" (3) "Faith is uncommon forgiveness." Holding a grudge is a constant boomerang. There is no burden heavier than a grudge; therefore God's way is to forgive a person the moment of the act, not after they have asked for forgiveness. Faith is the water for the fountain of youth.

Mar. 4, 1999

Mar. 4, 1999 - Singer Inspires Successful Aging © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ I recently spent a day in Birmingham and enjoyed the great motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar. I always like to share with my readers all I learn about successful aging. Zig drew a wheel with spokes. Each spoke represented a part of your life. He gave seven spokes for successful living: spiritual, mental, personal, physical, financial, career and family. In the center of the wheel, the hub that connected all the spokes, he put God. Believing and having faith in a higher power empowers each of us to live our lives more successfully. You might enjoy reading Zig Ziglar's latest book, "Christian Motivation For Daily Living." Naomi Judd shared in the Success Talk meeting how she had overcome difficulties in her life. She stated that a crisis in life creates danger and opportunity. She exercised her ability to choose when a crisis hit her life. She chose to have a breakthrough rather than a breakdown. Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C when she was enjoying the height of her singing career. The doctor told her she had three years to live. Through her faith, life style, medical attention and support of family and friends, she has outlived the three-year deadline and is now free of the virus. Naomi Judd's life lessons proved to be a rich source of inspiration to me. May I share them with you? "Change is the true nature of our world. The real security deal with change comes from within. You are attracted o what you think you deserve." Naomi thinks you should honor your intuitions. Slow down and live. "The deepest source of your identity is God; so be defined from within." She testified that "you are child of the most High God. You are designed to win; stop living in boring black white, but live in living  color... Get out of your stinking comfort zone and take a caculated risk." The grand prize of living with God in control is peace of mind.

Mar. 11, 1999

Mar. 11, 1999 - Aging Means Remodeling © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ The excitement of remodeling a house that has become "outmoded, inconvenient and unserviceable adds zest to life. Our lives could be compared to our homes. As we become older and wiser, we realize that certain areas need tearing out and rebuilding. Workmen who remodel our homes start with a strong new foundation for a new wing. Adding a new wing to our lives requires a strong foundation of faith. Carpenters may tear out walls that have been weakened by termites or age to be replaced by new walls. There are times when the walls of our lives have been eaten by the termites of busyness, mediocrity or complacency and must be replaced by new boards of excellence, enthusiasm and wise use of precious time. When windows age and get clouded, they are replaced by new ones. Remodeling our lives involves putting new windows in the rooms filled with hate, frustration and selfishness to allow the warm sunlight of God's love to beam inside. The roof is a big project when remodeling a house. Throwing away the old shingles of insecurity, fear and hopelessness, then replacing with new ones, faith, hope, love and peace, will make life feel new. When the house is remodeled, we take good pieces of furniture, refurbish, polish and shine each one. We probably add a few new pieces. As we age we must refurbish, polish, shine old skills and add new ones. God, the master planner, has the power to remodel our aging lives into beauty and charm. "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures." Proverbs 24:3-4 NIV "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing." Psalms 92:13-14 KJV

Apr. 8, 1999

Apr. 8, 1999 - Water Has Important Link To Life And Aging © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Water helps make old folks and old oaks. A beautiful oak tree is growing, strong and straight, in my yard. As the vast sprawling root system goes deep into the fertile soil, it drinks water from mother earth. The oak on top of the ground grows tall and strong, spreading its branches far into the air. Water is everywhere. It fills the oceans, rivers and lakes. It's in the ground and in the air we breathe. Seventy percent of the earth is water. Without water there can be no life. Plants, animals and people must have water to live. Water is never used up. There is as much water on earth today as there ever was or ever will be. Almost all water used finds its way back to the oceans. There it is evaporated by the sun. It then falls back to the earth as rain. Water is used over and over again. Thus the old oak tree continues to grow with its daily water requirement. So it is with fabulous 50-plus people. Two-thirds of our weight is water. Water is the basis of body fluid, (a) digestive juices, (b) blood, (c) urine, (d) lymph and (e) perspiration. Cell processes depend on water. Organ functions depend on water. Water is essential for lubricant. Water is the basis for saliva and mucous secretions. Water bathes the joints. Water keeps food moving through the intestial tract to eliminate waste. Water helps regulate body temperature. We may live several weeks without food but only a few days without water. Each person over 50 should strive to drink six to eight glasses (8 ounces each) of water everyday. Plain old tap water will do. Juice, milk and soup will provide some of your water; however, coffee, tea and cola are not ideal substitutes for water because they have a diuretic effect. Eight glasses of water a day will also keep fat away. How? Water suppresses natural petite and helps the body metabolize stored fat. If you don't drink enough water, the kidneys will dump part of their load into the liver. Since one of the main functions of the liver is to metabolize stored fat into energy, it is important to keep the kidneys and liver operating at optimum level. Drinking enough water will help keep your hands, feet and legs from swelling. When we don't get enough to drink, our body screams "not enough water." It then stores every extra drop outside the cells, causing water retention. Keeping our bodies hydrated helps maintain muscle tone. Water also plumps skin, leaving it healthy, resilient and clear. Water helps in waste elimination, therefore helping relieve constipation. Water is certainly a link to healthy physical aging. Drink up! To become totally fit, physically and spiritually, the aging person will find drinking "living water" will enhance spiritual life. While sitting at Jacob's well, Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. "The Samaritan woman said to him, 'You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?' "Jesus, answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'" John 4:9,10 NTV

Apr. 22, 1999

Apr. 22, 1999 - April Is The Month For Poetry © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Poetry as literature began in prehistoric times. Its sounds and creative language combine to enhance feelings and ideas. Poetry is used many times in songs and prayers. Many of you read, listen to or write poetry. Break, break, break, Oh thy cold gray stones, O sea! And I would that my tongue could utter The thoughts that arise in me. The English poet Lord Tennyson could have said, "I wish I could tell you how rotten I feel today;" however, he used poetry and the connection between the sea and himself. The sea breaks up on the rock like his thoughts break up before he can express himself. I would like to share with you my poem, "A Fresh New Day." I could have said to you, "I feel fresh as God gives me a fresh new day." However, you will feel my meaning and feelings more completely through poetry. A Fresh New Day... The early morning sunlight Spreads its rays across sky. Like great golden fingers Making my spirits fly so high. The brightness of God's sunlight Cheers my soul and warms my bones. What a magnificent creation God's great beauty to behold. God says to be in the stillness "Feed my lambs with great delight. In a world that's filled with darkness I want you to be my sunlight. Enjoy reading your favor poetry this month.

Apr. 29, 1999

Apr. 29, 1999 - Eliminate Energy Zappers From Life © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Zip puts you on pitch to sing the song of successful aging. Zip, zeal, vigor and energy are hot commodities for the "Fab Fifties." Jesus wore zeal as a cloak. "He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak." Isaiah 59:17 NIV Zeal is energy with power. Energy is the power surge that keeps one young and active. Four basic steps keep our energy levels high: (1) Good health is the trump card of aging and energy. (2) Exercise is the golden egg of aging and energy. Keep moving. (3) Enthusiasm captures the energy and excitement of aging. (4) Self-efficacy is the energizing power to stay in control of your life with Jesus Christ, the Captain. The happiest people feel in control. Energy squeals, I'm excited about life! If your energy is always on the low level, examine your lifestyle. Center your life around things you enjoy. Have a good time with people you care about. Keep active. Experience new things. Some of the great energy zappers are boredom, poor health, too little exercise, not enough sleep, stress, poor diet and nothing to look forward to. To be a high energy person is to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and wear zeal as a cloak. Growing older with zip, zeal and energy can be attained through a positive attitude, a youthful, healthy lifestyle and hard work toward a goal of  personal excellence. Dr.  Billy Graham and wife, Ruth Graham, were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, 1997, in Washington D.C. I have followed poetry and power of these giants in the world of faith family for many years. Their zeal for life has been shared with all people. Though disease has slowed the pace of Dr. and Mrs. Graham, the aura that surrounds their life's work is a skillet of sizzle.

May 6, 1999

May 6, 1999 - Laughter Is Good Medicine © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ As we anticipate the millennium, a large number of health professionals believe in laughter and a positive attitude as a part of continuing good health. Are the scientists about to catch up with God's word? Wise old King Soloman said, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Laughter juices the chemical endorphins in your brain. It makes you feel good. Laughter ringing in the rafters allows you to experience the total joy of life. Minnie Pearl said, "Laughter is a drug, and I'm totally addicted." I enjoyed the movie Patch Adams last week. Actor Robin Williams portrayed a true story about a Virginia doctor who helped patients get well through humor. Writer Norman Cousins published "Anatomy of an Illness," a true story of defeating pain and disease by deliberately dosing himself with reruns of "Candid Camera" and humorous books. It is a proven fact that laughter stimulates the immune system and mental functions. It reduces stress and pain. So, have fun as you grow older. A hurry-worry attitude, an overcrowded life, the failure to set priorities and goals, an out-of-control feeling and a negative attitude could make you sick. We have a gold mine in laughter. Spontaneous humor invading our living gives life a spicy flavor. Laughter is a stress-buster. It lifts the spirits and the face by giving you a cheerful attitude. "...He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." Proverbs 15:15 KJV

May 27, 1999

May 27, 1999 - Plan An Awesome Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ I received my pre-ordered appointment book for the year 2000. Staring at the front of the book, "Millennium, 2000, appointments," the reality that God is propelling us into the new millennium left me awe struck. I remember being at the prime meridian of the earth, Greenwich, a borough of London, England, last month. Being at 0 degrees longitude, I thought of all the "O's" surrounding the mania of the millennium. Thousands of people will place themselves at that spot to welcome in the new year. The price tag for many Millennium, New Year's celebrations will include many zeros. For instance, $75,000 for a trip around the world on the Concorde. Of course this is excess; however, let's face it, we only have one time to inaugurate the next 1,000 years. You will agree with me, however, the price tag is not what's important. It's about being in a place you love with the people you love when that big moment arrives. Now is the time to do some positive planning for a new millennium as we realize that life is a rush into the unknown. Demand for unique New Year's Eve celebrationd is so great that many hot spots have been booked for years. Millennium Mania will pull many to Times Square in New York while others will enjoy watching the Big Apple on their private television screens. The millennium is a super time to refire not retire. A special time for new beginnings: The perfect time to universall worship and praise our creator. "Let the people praise thee. O God; let all the people praise thee." Psalms 67:3

Jun. 3, 1999

Jun. 3, 1999 - Every Aging Person Has Hidden Wealth © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Hurried living finds us sometimes too busy even to catch our breath, let alone discover more about our creator. If an apple a day can keep the doctor away, what can't a scripture a day accomplish? To align one's life with the rule book of life - God's Holy Word - is an aging bonanza. Time for daily communication with your creator will allow Him to direct your path. Prayer is the key to victorious living. Unlike e-mail, prayer is talking to God without a glitch. The trendy buzzword, e-mail, refers to communication transmitted along the cyberspace network by computer. When you click the "send now" command on your computer, you wonder if the party you are trying to contact will turn on their computer to look at their e-mail. Things run through your mind like, will their equipment be in working order? There is always questions when sending e-mail. Will the message get through? However, with God, He is always there. "The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer." Psalms 6:9 KJV God is omnipotent. This means He is all powerful. The faintest flicker of faith, he understands and will respond. He can read your faintest thought. "And when Abram was 90 years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the almighty God: walk before me, and be thou perfect." Genesis 17:1 KJV God is  omnipresent. The whole universe is filled with His presence. "I can never be lost to your spirit! I can never get away from my God! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you an there. If I ride the morning wind to the farthest oceans, even then your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me." Psalms 139:7-11 The Living Bible God is omniscient. He has all knowledge. He knows more about you than you know about yourself. "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings." Proverbs 5:21 KJV Within every aging person there lies hidden wealth. Like an unmined shaft, your depths are teaming with nuggets of golden greatness. But having the potential for extraordinary achievement that results in the fulfilling experience of satisfactions isn't enough. The nuggets must be mined, brought to the surface, taken through the fires of adversity and polished to their peak of brilliance. The aging people who have discovered this untapped gold mine have torn the archaic veil of covering from them and opened the window of light to find a prevailing pattern, too long hidden under a defeatist attitude. Once an aging person discovers the common thread of potential that runs through winners, it's easy to tap into it. This can forge a pristine path toward fulfillment, happiness, health and a rewarding state of satisfaction beyond wildest dreams. Knowing God can make you an ageless person.

Jun. 10, 1999

Jun. 10, 1999 - Exercise Helps To 'Down-Age' © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ A goal for each of us to work toward is to be ageless and elegant like 80-year-old singer Lena Home. Or jog the Boston Marathon each year like 60-year-old Dr. Walter M. Bortz II, author of "Dare to be 100." When a grandfather clock stops running, it is broken, worn out or needs to be wound up. So it is with the frailty of older people. Frail older people need to be wound up like the grandfather clock. Lean, fit, active older people will start their body clock to tick with more energy. Healthy, active seniors are down-aging, a term coined by Faith Popcorn, a marketer and trend forecaster. She said, "Down-aging is the refusal to be bound by traditional age limitations." George Bernard Shaw said, "I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I life. Life is no brief candle for me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations." Exercise fans the torch of life and makes it burn more brightly. The heart is the pump of your machine. It pumps hundreds of gallons of blood through the body every day. If the heart stops pumping, the blood pressure fails. The lungs fill up with fluid, and death lurks. Heart trouble is our dominate killer. The heart is a muscle and needs to be squeezed every day with exercise. Dean Ornish of the Prevention Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, Calif., published this study in the September Journal of the American Medical Association. He proved for the first time that blocked arteries can be opened enough to avoid surgery when patients adhere to a low-fat diet, stop smoking, lose weight, exercise and reduce stress. These lifestyle changes will reduce heart attacks and retard aging. To the million of baby boomers inching toward middle age, this study will affirm the notion that honing positive habits will carry one through the portals of old age in glorious fashion. Do it today. Exercise. Keep that big heart pumping at maximum force. The life you save might be your own. Walk, jog, dance, play ball, jazzercize, swim, participate in aerobic sports or whatever exercise fits your lifestyle. Marching toward the millenium, we have the opportunity to down-age!

Jun. 24, 1999

Jun. 24, 1999 - We Are Torch Bearers Into The New Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ What an awesome time to be living. We are standing at the threshold of a new millennium. The explosion of knowledge and communication will catapult us into new beginnings, new adventures and new ways of thinking. We have seen such rapid advancements in our life time. For instance, the Wright Brothers flew the first airplane on Dec. 17, 1903. Sixty-five years later Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. We can only imagine the advancements of the future. We will be torch bearers into the next thousand years. When I think of torch bearers, I think of the Olympic Games which takes place every four years which are held in a major city in a mountainous, snow covered area. Excitement surrounds the Olympics with colorful ceremonies and thrilling athletic competition. One of the most impressive parts of the Olympics is the opening ceremony. The athletes march to the stadium lead by the athletes of Greece, the original Olympics were held in Greece. The leader of the host country declares the games open. The Olympic flag is raised, canons boom, and as a symbol of peace 100 doves are released into the air. The most moving part of the opening of the Olympic games is the lighting of the Olympic Flame. Four weeks before the opening of the games, a lighted torch, "A stick of wood or some material dipped in tallow or oil and set ablaze at the end to provide a light that can be carried about," is brought from the valley of Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympics were held, by relay runners. Ships and planes transport the Olympic Torch over seas and mountains. The final runners carry the torch into the stadium, making a dramatic pass around the track then light the Olympic flame. Comparing those of us who will be torch bearers into the new millennium, I look to Webster for the ; second meaning of torch bearer, "one who conveys knowledge, . truth, etc." I recently sat under the teaching of Dr. Dennis E. Hensley. He has a new book out, "Millennium Approaches," an exciting look at the wonderful world of the 21st century. Dr. Hensley says, "Building on the momentum of the remarkable achievements of the 20th century, we are about to enter a new era of transformation that will effect virtually every area of our lives." Here are some of the headlines we're likely to see as we enter the 21st century. •Robot power replaces human power •Business flourish in remote mountain areas •Interactive shopping lets consumer custom design product •Computers revolutionize art and entertainment •Education moves from classroom to living room •U.S. Golfer plays 18 holes in Scotland without leaving home •Wheelchair bound woman lives in "Palace" of virtual reality •Fans watch major league baseball from playing field •China's economy grows to one-quarter of global product •Worldwide network means new life for millions.

Jul. 1, 1999

Jul. 1, 1999 - Celebrating The Last July 4th Of The Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Six months to the New Millennium. One half point on the last year of the Millennium. We are living in an awesome time. Being over 50, you may think, "Why get excited about the New Millennium, I have already lived the youth of my life." Listen to what Henry Wadsworth Longfellow said, "Is it too late. Ah, nothing is too late Till the tired heart shall cease to palpitate. For age is opportunity no less Than youth itself, though in another dress; And as the evening twilight fades away The sky is filled by stars invisible day." One thing we do treasure as we age is "freedom." America has been called the land of the free. Celebrating our treasured Independence on July 4, we still look to Jesus for our true liberty. "Now the Lord is the spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." II Corinthians 3:17 KJV In this blink of time before the new millennium we have a new awareness of our great heritage as we remember Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in fourteen hundred and ninety two. Have a blessed Fourth of July!

Jul. 22, 1999

Jul. 22, 1999 - Grow Old Without Getting Older © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ The "Age Wave," is here of that no one will deny. The older crowd is growing it's our time to fly. Jesus is the answer As we walk this earthly road. We're only getting better, We're not getting old. Exercise is the golden egg that will retard this aging. We walk, jog, and jazercise to keep our energy raging. With proper diet and attitude We golden oldies believe We retard the ravages of age, gravity and disease. The T-shirted woman moved briskly past where I stood. The T-shirt shouted "It took 70 years to look this good!" What's our secret for getting older without getting old? Positive thinking and enthusiasm is the oldest secret ever to be told. Jumping into the sea of aging with wild anticipation. Exhilaration, excitement and adventure will be our reputation. Living the after 50, life with the wings of God's power, empowers you to be "Fabulous After 50." You have everything you need right inside of you to outwit age. With God's sense of mastery, faith will fill your life with abundance and delight.

Jul. 29, 1999

Jul. 29, 1999 - Learning Strength From Our Heros © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ You and I have lived to the half-century mark and beyond. We have experienced triumph and tragedy. As I reflect upon the past week, I have a new role model for maintaining dignity and grace during times of triumph and tragedy: the Kennedy family. Witnessing their last adversity, the loss of young JFK Jr., his bride and sister-in-law through the eyes of the media, we reflect upon their deep faith. One priest interviewed on TV made the bold statement that their deep faith and family closeness had given them the power to bear the burden of fame and loss. When John Jr.'s plane went down to his watery death enroute to his cousin Rory's wedding, the family turned the wedding into a communion service and mass. Time Magazine invited John F. Kennedy, Jr. to be the guest speaker at Time's 75th anniversary party. He asked if he could bring his cousin Rory as his date. She was so proud of him that night. She must have been anticipating his attendance to her wedding. As we race toward the end of this century and millennium, we think of the Kennedys and many other people who have shaped our lives. The stage of the 20th Century is filled with people who have made our lives better. Albert Einstein's breathtaking discoveries; Orville and Wilbur Wright's first flight;  Helen Keller breaking her world of blindness and deafness to become a world advocate of the handicapped; President Roosevelt, though crippled by polio, steered our country through war economic decline. The stage is filled with wonderful role models. Looking forward to century and millennium, we draw strength, get new visions, and experience renewed enthusiasm from those who have gone before us. America's prince left us with the legacy of living life with decency and purpose.

Aug. 5, 1999

Aug. 5, 1999 - Intrigue Of Life Never Ends © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ I hope you enjoyed some time on the beach this summer. The intrigue of the sea draws us to the beaches to draw close to the master of the sea. It's great fun to have the grandchildren along. Fabulous after Fifty people always live in the now. We live in the present tense. We make each day a pearl and at the end of life we have a string of pearls. Mother Nature and Father Time put us in a frame of mind to be intrigued by the wonders of nature, the passing of time and the living of life. Wise old King Solomon gave us a key to longevity. "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." Proverbs 3:1-2 KJV Michelangelo was carving the Rondanini Pieta' shortly before he died at 89. His talents were gifts from God but not limited to age. "And I (the Lord) have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship." Exodus 31:3 KJV Michelangelo was intrigued with life. He painted the Sistine Chapel when he was 71. Aging people who are intrigued with life find quality of living is not a chronological affair. Winston Churchill assumed the role of Great Britian's prime minister at age 65. At 70, he addressed the crowds on V-E Day, standing on top of his car to speak. Benjamin Franklin published his first newspaper column at age 16 and had the honor of framing the U. S. Constitution when he was 81. Golda Meir became prime minister of Israel at 71. Rocketing toward the new millennium, our future is filled with hope and intrigue.

Aug. 12, 1999

Aug. 12, 1999- Millennium Redefines Aging © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Staring into the window of the next thousand years lets leave the myths and fears of aging behind us. For the first time in history, while many of us are growing older, some of us are growing younger. This is no freak accident or a secret key. Redefining the aging process has come about through scientific advancements, knowledge that we use it or lose it and teaching the brain that aging is not necessarily a negative thing. The Old Testament describes King David and other leaders as being "old, and full of day" I Chronicles. 23:1, 29:28 KJV In the 21st century, people of all ages will learn to "seize the day," both mentally, spiritually, and physically with such realities as diet, exercise, hormones, motivation and stimulation. When I think about the new millennium and the new life of aging, I think of the rainbow. Like the rainbow, life has many different colors and dimensions. The flood was horrible; however, the beautiful rainbow gave a new covenant with God. God said, " I have set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign to the covenant between  me the  earth." Genesis 9:13 NRSV The rainbow is a sign of new life, new beginnings and new joy. Moses was full of days "And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eyes was not dim, nor his natural force  abated." Deuteronomy 34:7 KJV Dr. Walter Bortz, author of "Dare to be  100" and president of the American Geriatrics Society, believes we are designed by our creator to live full of days for 120 years or 1 million hours.

Aug. 26, 1999

Aug. 26, 1999 - Learn To Age 'Sunny Side Up' © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ He is 62 years old. He is more fit, physically, mentally, socially and spiritually, than 10 years ago. I asked him, "How are you aging sunny side up?" He responded, "I jog four miles a day and work out in the gym. I have set myself a goal to finish my book by the year 2000.' I keep myself academically and spiritually active. I like my life." This man is a mentor to me. Isaac Newton said, "If I see farther than others, it's because I stood on the shoulders of giants." The challenge is to make aging a positive and enriching me. Having a positive attitude and learning to see life sunny side up is a big step forward. Dr. Michael Mercer, co-author of "Spontaneous Optimism," tells us that looking on the bright side pays off with a healthier immune system, more financial prosperity and much higher self-esteem. He suggests focusing on the opportunities of a challenge, not the drawbacks. People who see life sunny side up make lemonade out of life's lemons. The perks of positive thinking are worth the effort as we age. Older often means more energy and time to devote to the business of letting our lives flower. We learn that aging is an art form. If you want life to be more peaceful and laid-back there are music, videos, books, Web sites, friends and family. If your desire is to be more active there are gyms, careers, travel, volunteer work, needs to be met and new horizons to be conquered. Approaching the millennium, our vision sparks into full flame as we harness all the wise experiences and goals of past and aspire to new heights for the future. Jesus said, " ... I am come that they might have Life, that they might have it more abundantly." St. John 10:10 KJV

Oct. 7, 1999 Oct. 7, 1999 - Sand Mountain Holds Legacy Of Southern Gospel Music © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ Living in the Bible Belt is a heritage. I remember as a teen singing in the church at the Mount Vernon Baptist Church while the pianist Odis Moore ticked the ivory keys. Moore gave me my first love for southern gospel. He brought to our singings such greats as The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Speer family, the Goodwin family, Jackie Tony and others during the '50s. Moore played the piano for Sand Mountain Quarter, consisting of the members Lester Landers, John Free, Gene Starnes and Hubert Johnson. In 1938, Moore started his career playing the piano for the Stewart Quartet. During his career, Moore has written over 200 songs, the most popular being "In the Days of Noah." Scrap-books, and memorabilia featuring Moore and all the outstanding southern gospel singers of Sand Mountain can be viewed at Snead College Museum housed in the old library, the Norton Building. Dr. Bobbie Glassco and B.C. Littlejohn have worked hard to make this great collection one of great distinction. Spending time in this outstanding museum should be on each priority list. Bill Parish introduced me to the History of Gospel Music Museum at Snead State Community College. He said, "Sand Mountain is the cradle of southern gospel music that is now sweeping the nation."           National television is a great place to enjoy many gospel singers from our area, especially enhancing the Bill and Gloria Gaither gospel singing specials. Snead State Community College hosted the 1999 Alabama School of Gospel Music last June, directed by Tom Powell. This school followed a long line of singing schools back through the years, directed by A.J. Showalter, Dwight Teal. Homer Hill, Gurley Denum. Albert Coller, Westly Parhish and many others. Radio personality Beecher Hyde has certainly been a promoter of southern gospel music. After 44 years he is back home as a local radio station playing gospel music and interviewing local people. I asked him to give me some of the "hot" southern gospel music groups of today. He said there were so many he could not name them all. Some of the people's favorites are The Fishermen. The Regents and The Statesmen. Our southern gospel mask; even goes as far as Africa. Jackie Tony of the Sand Mountain area has been involved in teaching music in Africa recently. Southern gospel music is here to stay. Let's enjoy the music and the History of Southern Gospel Music Museum at Snead State Community College.

Oct. 21, 1999

Oct. 21, 1999 - Book Gives Tips For Seniors Living In The New Millennium © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ I am constantly searching for new books that will help my readers age successfully. A few years ago I reviewed for you the book, "Age Wave," by Dr. Ken Dychtwald. He has studied the baby-boom generation for 25 years and the effects this aging society will have on our homes, families and businesses. He is a psychologist, gerontologist and successful businessman. This national leader on the "Age Wave" has been honored with the American Society on Aging Award. He also sits on the World Economic Forum in Geneva. His new book, "Age Power," tells the reader how "the baby-boom generation is about to transform into the largest elderly population in human history, changing how everyone lives, large and small. No business, family or home will work tomorrow as it does today." If you read Dr. Dychtwald's "Age Power," you will be on the cutting edge of knowledge of how the 21st century will be ruled by the "New Old." President Jimmy Carter said, "I have been learning from Ken Dychtwald for years and am convinced that he is today's most innovative and original thinker on this important subject. This book, like all that Ken writes and says, offers a true education into the issues we all face as we age." In this empowering book, the author answers the following questions for us on how we will make individual decisions right now to "age-proof our lives. (1) "What will 'old' be in the 21st Century? With continued advances in longevity, all of the traditional life-stage markers and boundaries will need to be adjusted." (2) "Will tens of million of elder boomers outlive their pensions and retirement savings, and how can financial disaster be prevented?" (3) "What new life stages will be created as tens of millions live to 80 or even 100?" (4) "With the advent of four generation families, are we prepared to spend more year caring for our aging parents than for our children?" (5) "Are our politicians capable of distributing government resources fairly among many generations, each with its own distinct needs, fears and expectations?" (6) "Who will pay for the long term care of tomorrow's elderly and how will our current health care system handle the onslaught of chronic degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's?" (7) "What new products, vices and marketing strategies boom as a result of this age wave and how can existing business harvest this growth?" (8) "How can the aging nations of the Americas, Europe and Asia continue to be economically productive with so many dependent older citizens being supported by shrinking numbers of young workers?" (9) "What new roles can we create for elder boomers, so that their extended years of life are productive and meaningful?" I hope you will find Dr. Ken Dychtwald's new book, "Age Power," and take the information to make your own life more meaningful.

Oct. 28, 1999

Oct. 28, 1999 - Laughter Is Good Medicine © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ If you laugh... you last! A positive, youthful mind set helps us lighten up and lightens the load we haul around with us. Spontaneous humor invading our living gives life spice. Laughter is a stress buster and lifts both spirits and the face. Laughter juices chemical endorphins in the brain that make us feel euphoric. In the movie Patch Adams, based on a true story, Robin Williams plays medical student Hunter "Patch" Adams, who fights against the traditional structures of medicine with humor and patient empathy. Facing a supervisor who is angry about Adams' break with traditional medical treatment, Adams spouts that, according to American Journal of Medicine, "Laughter increases the secretion of endorphins which in turn increases oxygenation of the blood, relaxes the arteries, speeds up the heart, decreases blood pressure, which has a positive effect on all cardiovascular and respiratory ailments as well as overall increasing the immune system response." Though his supervisor was not impressed, his patients were, and Patch Adams' work led to the founding of a free hospital called "The Gesundheit Institute," with a waiting list of thousands of physicians ready to provide free medical care to patients. Laughter is healing, proving the truth of wise old King Solomon's words, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones" Prov. 17:22 NTV Frances Weaver, in "The Girls With The Grandmother Faces," writes "The never-fail rule for feeling better about being older is maintaining a sense of humor." Laughter also gives us an ageless quality, knowing no boundaries or limitations. Once again, we see the close connection to attitude and age. Richard Armour says, "I hope I have a young outlook. Since I have an old everything else, this is my one chance of having a bit of youth as a part of me." Age is just a number, and mine is not listed. The intoxicating joy of growing old with Jesus Christ makes laughter come easily and lavishes a youthful dew over the fifty-something person. The fountain of aging overflows with savvy, well-educated, fulfilled people who can laugh at the days to come. Glenn Van Ekeren relates the following story: "One Sunday afternoon, a cranky grandfather was visiting his family. As he lay down to take a nap, his grandson decided to have a little fun by putting Limburger cheese on Grandfather's mustache. Soon, Grandpa awoke with a snort and charged out of the bedroom, saying, "This room stinks." Throughout the house he went, finding every room smelling the same. Desperately he made his way outside only to find that' the whole world stinks.'" So it is when we fill our minds with negativism. Everything we experience and everybody we encounter will carry the scent we hold in our mind. As we march into the millennium, an increasing number of health professionals believe in living the moment, laughing and maintaining a positive attitude as vital parts of continuing good health. Put laughter on your agenda as you enjoy the last Halloween of the millennium.

Nov. 11, 1999

Nov. 11, 1999 - Fabulous After 50 Age With Style, Power © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ I picked up two magazines from my post office box this morning. I received an affirmation that people over 50 are aging with vigor, power and style. The New York Magazine displayed the picture of former mayor of New York, Ed Koch. The caption read "Single and fabulous." Sophia Loren's beautiful face peered at me from the cover of my Modern Maturity magazine. The article, "Sophie's Age-Defying Secrets," related simple things to help in our own longevity. She walks one and one half hours every day. She is careful to eat the proper foods. She gets plenty of sleep, works hard with a positive attitude and enjoys younger friends. I left the post office and picked up my USA Today. Sophia Loren, 65, has been voted the most beautiful woman in the world. British actress Joanna Lumley, 53, came in fifth and Raquel Welch, seventh. As we prepare to step into the new millennium with a new attitude about aging, we feel more zest for life. If you haven't checked the meaning of zest lately in your dictionary, let me share it with you. Zest - by Webster Contemporary Dictionary - (1) Agreeable excitement and keen enjoyment; (2) a quality that imparts such excitement; synonyms: delight, gusto, relish, pleasure, gratification, savor, thrill, kick. So my wish for you is that you delight in the new millennium. Celebrate with gusto, and relish the pleasure and gratification of living to participate in the awesome occasion. Savor the moment of experiencing the thrill of beginning the next thousand years. Get a kick out of being "Fabulous after 50." Remember Jesus said, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." St. John 10:10 KJV

Nov. 18, 1999

Nov. 18, 1999 - Thankful Heart Can Lead To A Happy Life © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ King David in Psalms 100 said, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him and bless his name." Age has not dimmed our zest for Thanksgiving. We are thankful for living in the generation that is living longer and better. We are proud to be seasoned older folks who still feel fabulous after 50. Many eager elders who have worked hard all their lives are happy to retire and follow their own bliss. They are not really retiring from life but retiring with a new life. As we fence off this holiday season with vibrant living, a spark of praise will start a fire of hope in hearts. President Lincoln officially proclaimed the fourth Thursday in November a national Thanksgiving holiday in 1863. This proclamation, a direct result of the editor of Godey's Lady's Book, Sarah Josepha Hale, is celebrated each year. For 36 years, one woman worked for her idea: a national day of Thanksgiving. She used her book, Godey's Lady's Book, the most widely distributed periodical in the United States, to infiltrate the nation with her idea. She wrote, "Thanksgiving, like the Fourth of  July, should be a national festival observed by all our people." On Sept. 28, 1863, she wrote President Lincoln, urging him to proclaim Thanksgiving a national holiday. On Oct. 3,1863, President Lincoln read this proclamation, "I do, therefore, invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning hi foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday in November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise by our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens." The proclamation was a 75th birthday present for Sarah Hale. She proved that one woman can make a difference. A thankful heart creates a better life for the mature person. The Thanksgiving season 1999 brings us closer to the beginning of a new millennium. President Lincoln and Sarah Hale would be thrilled to know that at the last Thanksgiving in the millennium the people of the United States were still celebrating that great holiday. With thankful hearts we anticipate the future. A new beginning is always exciting.

Nov. 25, 1999

Nov. 25, 1999 - Seniors Reach A New Day And Age © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ A cheerful patriotic cloud enveloped the auditorium of the Albertville Recreation Center as Evans Elementary School celebrated Veterans' Day and Awards Day. The outstanding students and faculty blessed those in attendance with thought provoking excellence. Many original poems were read by students about the approaching millennium. One poem written by fifth grader, Brent Borron, touched me deeply. I asked Brent to share it with my readers. A New Day and Age by Brent Borron... The new millennium is coming near, Some people have joy, some people have fear. But I'm as happy as can be For the new day and age I'm going to see! What new things will the millennium bring? What kind of songs will people sing? Will we have flying cars? Will anyone go to Mars? Will anyone cure cancer, And bring lots of laughter? Will I have a robot to do chores, And wash the dishes, and the floors? What happens tomorrow starts today. Change the future today, we may. Will our descendants look back on us and say, "How primitive they were?'

Dec. 16, 1999

Dec. 16, 1999 - Magic Glow Of Christmas Fires Millennium Mania © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ The magic glow of Christmas fires the imagination and warms the heart. Feasting "southern style," we feel proud to be a member of the elite southern, Fabulous After 50 generation. We identify ourselves with the privileged generation who has experienced the progress of the last 50 years of the 20th Century and is looking into the beginning of the new millennium. The famous author, Madeleine L'Engle, now 81, is writing a book on aging. She said, "We are as old as our identity." Looking forward to ringing in the next 1,000 years, our timeless celebration of millennium mania will burst forth like gold, with songs of "Auld Lang Syne." This traditional New Year's Eve song is an old Scottish song written by Robert Burns. Auld lang Syn is Scottish dialect meaning "days gone by." Counting down to the new millennium, we feel as if life is a rush into the unknown. We feel God propelling us into the exciting new millennium with the possibilities of living life to the max. New millennium resolutions will prove to be positive changes for many of us. A new year, new decade, new century and new millennium will certainly make an impact on every individual as we put into place positive planning for an exciting and vibrant life from here to eternity. We are aging torch bearers' into the new millennium. Aging with power, style and enthusiasm for the future, we will blaze a trail for the following generations.

Dec. 30, 1999

Dec. 30, 1999 - New Millennium Begins Time Of Jubilee © by Shirley W. Mitchell, Golden Years - Fabulous after Fifty™ It's here. The anticipation is over, and we are about to step into the New Millennium. In the Bible, the book of Leviticus instructs people to set aside the seventh year to observe a year of rest for the people and the land. Every 50th year is declared a year of Jubilee. Jubilee is a time of celebration, a time of festivities and a season of rejoicing. The new millennium is a great time for a personal Jubilee. A new beginning. A time to reflect upon our lives and make plans to move in the direction of our own personal goals and priorities. The beginning of a new decade, new century and a new millennium is a great time to count our blessings and remember that everything we are and have are gifts from God. Our very lives, loved ones, possessions and relationships are all from the Holy One. These things pass throug our lives like music through a saxophone. The God of Leviticus said, "For the land is mine for you are strangers and sojourne with me." Life is fragile and precious. To begin a new millennium is awesome. To vow throw away the extra baggage of hatred, unforgiveness, fear, insecurity and all things that destroy will make the new millennium a Jubilee. As you ring in the next 1000 years I pray you will be in the place you love with people you love. As we rush into unknown, I wish for you a  Happy New Year and New Millennium.

Shirley W. Mitchell is the Owner and Founder of Fabulous after Fifty™ - a Motivational, Inspirational and Educational Company located in Northern Alabama providing products and services related to Organizing and Conducting Educational Conferences, Classes, Symposiums, Seminars, Workshops, Speeches and Training Courses in the fields of Aging, Seniors, Senior Lifestyles, Health, Wellness, Nutrition, Generational Women and Men's Issues, Faith, Passion and Purpose, and Distribution of Materials including Multimedia Audio, Video, CD, DVD, Books, Newsletters, Journals, Magazines, Articles, Periodicals, Electronic Books, and other Written and Audio Publications. Ms. Mitchell and Fabulous after Fifty™ are managed and represented by Lighthouse Coastal Productions 466 Sardis Cutoff Road Sardis City, AL 35956. ***Copyright © and Trademark ™ Notice: 1967-2011 All Works, Venues and Content by Shirley W. Mitchell™ including "The Golden Egg of Aging™", "The Fabulous Author™", "Fabulous after 50®", "Fabulous after Fifty™", "Sensational after 60®", "Sensational after Sixty™", "Aging Outside the Box®", "Passionate Sparks™", "Spiritual Sparks for Busy Women™", "Lace Over Steel™", "Ageless Living™", "Endless Energy™", "Better Half of Life™", "Citrus Park™", "Crosstown Info™", "The Amazing System™" and "Aging with Glamour™"are © Copyright and ® Trademark protected*** No part of this Web-Site or Column may be reproduced without the prior written consent of the Agent. If you would like to purchase copies of the articles, please send an E-Mail to us with your request. If you should encounter any problems with this Web-Site please E-Mail the Webmaster.