That which defines Rock-n-Roll, the music of the baby boomer generation, is its special back-beat. I believe there is also a determinate back-beat that denotes the baby boom generation. Individual choice, I believe, is the driving force behind our generation and our insistence upon “doing our own thing” the vehicle by which we have made our greatest contributions. Often, when a suitable choice didn’t present itself, we created a new one. Our thirst for freedom and the right to live by our choices gained greater liberty for woman and minorities. Education in America has been forever changed through the creation of charter schools and the very independent choice of home-schooling. We have left an enduring mark upon every aspect of our culture. Some of the results were good and some not so good but our legacy is that of searching for truth, embracing constant change, and pressing forward by the power of our own choosing.
At Boomer Back-Beat, you will find a variety of subjects to choose from. The most important personal choice this baby boomer made was at nineteen, when I began to believe in, Jesus. He is the center of my life and with my blog being an expression of, Me He is part of most everything I write about. Of all the things that my faith means to me, it is how practical it is in the everyday living out of my life. I have endured and overcome many things that could have destroyed me, through my faith in, Jesus. My hope is that the words I write are empowering to my readers in their personal process of aging and the problems they face. As I share how my faith strengthens me and enables me to face all things, that others would also, be strengthened and encouraged. I am not exclusive of non-Christians and I don’t wish to make anyone feel uncomfortable or pressured if they don’t share my beliefs. This blog is dedicated to, Jesus and Jesus is not exclusive but allows everyone to make their own choice about what to believe. I seek to follow His example.
Baby boomers changed the world and I believe, we still have a great deal to contribute. As a grandmother, my heart goes out to children today. Too many children aren’t getting the nurture they need to grow up to be healthy, happy adults. Children are very valuable and that needs to be recognized. As an adult survivor of child abuse, I hope to be a voice for children because too many children today, are being abused and exploited. I believe this can change if victims speak out and I use my blog to speak out about the abuse I survived in hopes of making people aware of the damage caused to children by abuse. In my personal life, healing came when I faced the truth about my past and myself. I believe that same truth has the power to heal our world and put an end to child abuse. We boomers have fought to save many endangered species. My hope is that as grandparents, we will fight to save the children. Boomer Back-Beat is a place where grandparents can take from my experiences what they can use to aid them in their healing (I know there are many baby boomers out there who were abused as children and remain silent about it)and educate themselves on the plight of abused and exploited children. Grandparents are important and this is a problem we can do something about.
Elder abuse is also, a growing problem in our world, today. Baby Boomers are likely to experience elder abuse in greater numbers than any generation before us. Child abuse and elder abuse are the same problem. The cycle of abuse has to be broken in families and people must learn to treat one another with respect. I hope my writing, which is sometimes truth presented through fiction, will give people the insight they need to break this cycle. Sadly, it isn’t unusual to grow up in an abusive household. It is unusual for family members to be truthful about it and face the problem; but employing truth is the only way to stop familial abuse. Elder abuse in nursing homes and by care-givers is also, a problem of not respecting all people equally, regardless of their status in society. The weak and the strong are equally important and people must work together to restore mutual respect to our society. Respect for one another’s personal boundaries creates a safer world for us all.
I know we boomers will not live out our golden years in the same way that our parents are living theirs. My wish for this website is that it be a place where old age is joyfully, embraced, as we continue to make contributions to the world we live in. May the expectations of aging be forever changed, as we continue to dance to our unique back-beat.
