Do you smoke? Great! Because this is just for you. Thursday November 18, 2004 is the Great American Smoke Out Day! What a great day for you to quit!

Need some reasons to quit?

• Women who smoke are 2-6 times more likey to suffer a heart attack. The risk increases with the number of cigarettes you smoke each day. Quitting now will protect your heart.
• Women who smoke generally experience menopausal symptoms at a younger age.
• Over 4,000 individual compounds have been identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke. 60 of these substances are known to cause cancer. In order to cleanse our body of these deadly substances, you need to quit.
• Got a fur baby at home? Second hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in your dog or cat.
• If you spend $3.00 per pack and smoke 1 pack per day, you will spend $1095/year. (That's low in my part of the country!)

Some resources to assist you:

• www.quitnet.com
• www.smokefree.gov
• www.4women.gov/quitsmoking
• www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit/canquit.htm

Influenza: Last month I advocated getting a flu shot. Just a few days after that newsletter went out, a significant shortage in flu vaccine was announced. Here are my current recommendations:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Keep plenty of rest, take your vitamins, and avoid getting run down. Chicken soup works!
• If you are exposed to influenza, or you become ill, contact your health care provider within 48 hours, as there are medications that may help reduce the severity and time your are ill.
• Help everyone by staying home if you do get ill.

Successful aging has everything to do with living consciously. But do we really do that? Here are some suggestions to wake that part of your being up.

• What is your days purpose? If we live each day as if it's our last one, and learn from our mistakes, we will develop real wisdom.
• Who are you really? Are you living your life in a manner that is consistent with who you are? One way to awaken those thoughts is to stop about every 2 hours and ask yourself that question. The learning will set you free.
• Each morning, awaken and spend a few moments visualizing the person you want to become, the life you would like to live. Be clear, you mind will help you reach your goals.

Don't go overboard this holiday season, heed these 3 simple suggestions:

1. Have a holiday gift list and stick to it. Think ahead of how much dollars you can and want to allocate to gift giving.
2. Shop ahead of the actual holiday. Don't get caught in the last minute buying frenzy that leaves no selection or choices, even though you might find some bargains. When we feel hurried and stressed, we are less likely to stick to our plan and are more apt to buy on impulse.
3. If you are having problems with managing your credit card balances - PAY CASH for any purchases or DON'T BUY IT. Commit to stick to your plan.

You can read the complete article here.

The world is full of wise women whom we can learn from. There are political leaders, spiritual leaders, artist, sages, teachers, health care providers, business leaders, mothers and grandmothers (just to name a few!).

The World's 100 Most Powerful Women, a recently published article Forbes Magazine, reminds us of the strength, power, and wisdom that is present in OlderWiserWomen. Though I might have made a few substitutions on the list, the article was definitely an eye opening experience.

Since this is election month in the US, I'd like to point out that in other parts of the world, women are presidents and premiers of their countries. Food for thought.

Is there an OlderWiserWoman you would like to see profiled here? Let us know....

Giving is important for all us. Of the many ways an individual can give, financial donations are always looked for by organizations trying to make ends meet. I encourage all of us to give...it does the heart wonders.

Try this. Commit to giving a certain percentage of incoming dollars each month. You can set up a special account with that amount and donate it all. Try that for a few months and see how your life changes.

This month, my choices for donations are two organizations in my community. And food seems to be the need.

The Community Action Program which runs the Senior lunches (including a meals on wheels program) ran out of funds due to increased need. This program not only provides food, but assistance with medical transportation, socialization, and a host of other vital projects.

Each November, a wonderful fundraiser happens in our community. The two high schools (serious rivalry here folks!) participate in Food-Bowl. Each school has 10 days to see who collects the most in food or cash donations for the county food banks. The whole community gets involved, and these kids, in the past, have raised enough to keep food bank going most of the year.

What's going on in your community? How can you get involved? Where can you give thanks?

The WiserShop is THE place to find that special gift this season for our favorite OlderWiserWoman. I recently purchased one of thse tote-bags for myself...and love it. Strong, large and colorful.

WiserBookstore: I don't know about you, but I love to give receive positive, affirming books by and about women...here are a few of my favorites.

• Women by Annie Leibovitz and Susan Sontag. Leibovitz is a supurb photographer and when I first saw this book, I was thrilled. She presents American women in all our diversity.
• Mother Earth: Through the Eyes of Women Photographers and Writers, Revised Tenth-Anniversary Edition by Judith Boice, editor. I was literally stunned the first time I saw this book. It is the vision of what I wanted my own photography to be. Take a peak...it just might touch your soul.
• While not a book, these cards are a favorite that I gifted many friends with. Power Thought Cards (Beautiful Card Deck) by Louise Hay. We can all use some beauty and powerful and positive thoughts in our everyday life.