The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 140

Page 18 BoomerTimes a StniorUfe wwwbabyboomers-5cniorscom August 2009 look lor ivtuinaiiiu's Senior! 1 1 1 iii'cru-d nioilhh in Wiiinii Herald Rule and A complimentary cop) is random!) inserted in home delivery in the following zip codes: 33308 FL Lauderdale 33026 Pembroke Pines Cooper City 33327 Heston 33324 Plantation 33009 Hallandale 33180 Aventura 33160 Miami Bch Sunny Isles Bch PICK UP A COPY OF BOOMERTIMES SENIORLIFE! after the first week of the month at our office at 1515 Federal Hwy 300 Boca Raton a short list of advertisers that also have them: All AAA Auto Club South Centers in South Florida: Pembroke Pines Plantation Pompano Delray Beach Palm Beach Gardens 1 '-1 I rr -r 1 li i 1 oh "iiu Bristol Trading Company BocaPalm Beach a ii I i i i i Karp Law Firm Palm Beach Gardens 1 i ii i i I 1 i 1 I Primary Care Specialists of Palm Beach County LLC The Forum at Deer Creek Deerfield To get exact addresses of these locations and more or for a subscription Call 1-800-230-1904 or email srlifegatenet 5 1 Bx Dm ul Pollux BOOK REVIEW: A Memoir bx Lawrence Brane Siddall Resa wed Anna Fades JE5 Ill POLAND their know ledge of you) and ask them if they would be willing to share their thoughts with you about something important to you hen they say "yes" and they always will then pose your questions to them 5) Listen with humility Write down their answers And thank them for their insights and their time hat will happen? First you will be amaed at how much people will appreciate your reaching out to them You will have show respect and interest in them and for that they will be giateful even it they do not express it immediately You will have deepened your relationship with them Second you will be happy to have received help from people you care about and admire And very importantly you will have learned something valuable about an aiea ot your life that matters deeply to you Your focus on what's important to you plus your humility plus your questions will lead to increased momentum in your life Have a great month and let me know how it goes! Das id Pollux the creator of The Law of the Garhave True A Mr Pollux writes the Mondax Morning Momentum Blue eai eek www potlaxhlov com) He is a sxnduated columnist with the North Star Writers Croup and an internationally sought after speaker Mr Pollux 5 hook The Law of the Garbage Truck is due out later this xear thelaw ofllieearbaxt ti tic i om I et me check something out ith you Pretend for a moment that your friend child spouse employee or your boss said to you: "1 would like to learn from you It would mean a lot to me if you would help me" How would you feel? My bet is that you would feel great We all like to believe that we have something to offer the people we care about People want to help us when we are humble enough to ask for help demonstrate our curiosity hen we seek assistance We telegraph to the world that we are on a search for new ways to do see and experience things Psychologist Todd Kashdan of George Mason University wrote a chapter about the character stiength of curiosity in Martin Seligman and Christopher Peterson's book Chut utter and Values In it Kashdan reviewed research that showed when people demonstrate curiosity they learn more are more engaged at woik and perform better academically Curiosity leads to better performance So this month ask for help our plan: 1 Think of two important areas in your life in which you could use some ideas help or input 2) Write down a few questions you could ask people about these two critical areas 3) Then identify three people you could approach to ask your questions Choose a friend a family member and a colleague 4) Finally ask your questions But first tell them why you appreciate them (i their perspective ideas expertise or Corps especially those over the age of 50 Siddall who volunteered from 1997 to 1999 following his retirement was one ot only 450 senior volunteers out of 6500 worldwide Age however didn't seem to be a factor in his position as a high school English teacher in the small Polish community that he was assigned He was readily accepted by fellow volunteers and colleagues of all ages Culture shock was something he had to deal with but that worked itself out shortly In the end the experience enriched his life in ways he hadn't contajnplated Throughout the narrative Siddall who was born in China where his father was a medical missionary intersperses flashbacks of other personal adventures including an 11000-mile trek from Europe to India in 1956 and other life experiences that-led to his volunteer spirit and zest for living His writing is extraordinarily clear and exciting as it weaves each chapter into another making the reader anxious to learn what happened next sure it will encourage others who have had a yearning to go into the Peace Corps ever since Kennedy prohibited that exciting opportunity to perhaps do it Siddall is a perfect example of what can be if you are adventurous and want to give to others (and to yourself) hout the author Law renjee Siddall grew up i This is my kind of book As a gerontologist I have always told people who are considering that the word should be banned from the dictionary It should be replaced ith and many other words but not retiring W'hat someone retires to is the essence of how successful a person will be in the later years We hear many stories about people playing golf traveling and other leisure activities but they never last Anyone who has been successful in hisher life needs to be fulfilled with other challenges mostly ones that serve humanity Volunteerism is in full bloom because of the enormous population that have changed their professional lives to their avocations For example many community orchestras consist of retirees who are contributing their music for their own benefit as well as for their Few however have reached the pinnacle of what Lawrence Siddall has plished He certainly deserves a round of applause Many people spend their retire ment sitting back and enjoying life Lawrence Siddall stand the inactivity and joined the Peace Corps Tw Years in Poland and Other Stories is the story of a retiree who is one of four hundred and fifty senior citizen volunteers He speaks as an older man adapting to a new language and culture with plenty of anecdotes through his life that will intrigue many a reader His book is a work ot poignant and entertaining story telling Darey Alvey Editor California After 50" had this to say about book: memoir is a valuable read on several fronts At the most basic it is good story telling well written and easy to follow a tale of one man's adventure learning a new cultuie and discoveiing inner resources that he may not have known he had before his epic journey to Swidnicdt Poland On another level the 256 page book can be read as a pi inter for those who have contemplated joining the Peace TWO I in Oheilin Ohio i Hetsal952grad-I uate of Obeilin I College and holds adv anceddegiees from the Umver-1 sity of Connecticut and the Univer- 1 sity of Massachusetts A retired 1 psychotherapist he lives in Amherst 1 Mass I (Published by" Pelham Springs Piess Two Years in Poland costs $1695 and can be purchased at amazon com barnesandnoble com and by going to the website www' lawrencesiddall comoi by calling the author at 414-549-0547) 1 Wanted! RepN Dade 1 5 Broward High commissions Leads supplied Full-timePart-time employment Experience in sales Enthusiasm and good work habits Work in Boynton Beach office Call Anita at 531-733-323 or Email: srlifegatenet 0 Fax resume to 561-369-1476 if available ''V is a marvchitis chemical Lihcrnterv a rtirar-e Every voluntary or Involuntary full of secret and msrvchJ Ihewlor Ilerzl 1.