How hard we fought! How long the battle between the sexes raged! How earnest our efforts to move from mealy-mouthed maidens to strong independent women with rights and privileges of our own. Lest we forget, it wasn’t until 1974 that we could establish credit and make major purchases without first obtaining the co-signature of a male willing to vouch for us.

It is from this vantage point and with reference to my own HERstory that I was nearly struck dumbfounded by the latest Forbes list of “Most Powerful Celebrities.” Glory Hallelujah—7 out of the top 10 were female!

This was good news indeed. Although women are still a long way from parity with men in the boardroom or the halls of Congress, we’re making major strides in the world of celebrity. Yet, it was with a certain amount of ruefulness, I observed the sole woman who’d made the top 10 and was a boomer over 50 was Oprah Winfrey. The rest, with the exception of Jennifer Lopez who is 43, were well under half-century mark.

As I’ve aged, I’ve learned that life does not hand you everything you want. The trick to happiness is to focus on life’s blessings, be grateful for what you get, and try to overlook the inequities you cannot change. So I try not to focus on the lack of opportunities we encountered growing up. We know all too well that as girls of the ‘50s and ‘60s, we experienced a far from a level playing field—but that was a long time ago.

Nevertheless, every once in a while, it might be nice for one of those young female mega stars—who benefited from the multiple advantages our struggles afforded them—might acknowledge us. Rather than focus on the glam-cam and what they’re going to wear on the red carpet, it could be refreshing for them to give us a nod of respect and gratitude… and perhaps even a “thank you.”

That said, however, as strong, independent women in our own right who are growing feistier by the day, let’s give ourselves that all-important nod. It’s high time we take stock of all we’ve accomplished, revel in our glorious maturity, and take a moment to pat ourselves on the back. And, as a role model of our own who’s busily climbing the ranks of star power, Betty White might just top the Most Powerful Celebrity list next year. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants?!

And, speaking of brains, hopefully you’ve just excited your neurons with these fascinating facts. Our world is a source of wonder and, as we age, we find even more reasons to realize how true this is. ENJOY!

Enter Chico’s. Although this company doesn’t specifically brand its products “for the mature woman,” it seems the majority of its clientele are probably boomers. With generous sizing, brighter colors, and styles that flatter figures larger than a size 2, it’s become the go-to store for many of us on the far side of fifty.

I’ve become a customer myself and now receive a monthly catalogue. The latest arrived a few days ago and, as I was thumbing through the pages, I had an epiphany. No, it wasn’t about the latest trends in style and pattern—my inner fashionista has definitely seen better days. My a-ha moment had to do with the models.

First off, I wish the women they chose to represent the Chico’s customer looked a bit more like us. Of course models need to be slender and pretty to show off the clothes to best advantage, but these young women actually were a size 2 or even smaller! And, believe me, there was nary a hint of a laugh-line, muffin-top, or droopy bottom in any of the photos.

Nevertheless I was pleased with the images. Why? Because—contrary to the fashion credo—the models were actually smiling! Yes, every photo displayed a woman who seemed happy and engaged in her life. Compare these pictures with some of the high fashion shots where the models look either bored, haughty, or like they’ve just eaten something that disagreed with them. (The truth is—they’ve probably gone without eating for so long they can’t help but appear disengaged and sour.)

So here’s the insight I’ve gained from my Chico’s catalogue: Women our age really do smile and it’s better to boast a few pounds and a couple of wrinkles than to walk around looking like sourpuss. Give me some color, a bit of fun, and a happy outlook any day. And, on that note, I hope each of you enjoyed a very Happy Mother’s Day!

Here are 3 keys that distinguish the modern mover and shaker from her more matronly counterpart.

A blast of creativity: It seems just as Mother Nature removes the female body’s ability to procreate, a new form of creativity is awakened. Most women in midlife claim to experience a rush of ideas, energy, and, as Margaret Mead discovered long ago, a sense of “menopausal zest” that transforms their lives.

The power to say “no:” Suzanne Braun Levine, founding editor of Ms. magazine as well as prolific author of books on women and aging, claims that learning to say “no” is one of the cornerstones of successful aging. No longer burdened by the overwhelming need to please experienced by many younger women, the hormonal gifts of menopause empower women of maturity to set boundaries that support their authentic drives and needs. Once she can say “no” to unwanted distractions and obligations, her “yes” becomes genuine expression of intent and her actions and energy are in alignment with her purpose.

A feeling of liberation: Freed up from many of her earlier responsibilities of raising young families and/or building careers, the mature woman enjoys the gifts of both time and focus. She can take stock of her life, identify where she wants to go, and has the confidence to pursue her goals with a single-minded determination.

So the next time you read an article about older women becoming invisible, remember this truth: with creativity, power, and a feeling of liberation, we can do anything we choose. And, better than that, we can celebrate our age with attitude!

We boomers have known for quite a while that exercise is good for us on many levels. But new research is proving that, with a modicum of movement, we can actually grow new brain cells! A recent article in Inc. reports that exercise helps our brain resist age-related shrinkage and improves overall cognitive flexibility. Moreover it seems exercise triggers the birth of gray matter cells with an added plus—movement makes the shiny new neurons extra nimble by wiring them up to the appropriate neural networks. This is exciting news, indeed!

Better yet, you don’t have to kill yourself to achieve that awesome brainpower. Most of the studies were performed on people doing aerobic activities, however even walking as little as 40 minutes three days a week can make a big difference. Older subjects who committed to the 40-minute walk actually improved their memories by shaving two years off the age of their hippocampus, the brain’s memory center.

So, if you want to renew and revitalize your own noggin, it might be as simple as taking the time to head out for a stroll or go sweatin’ with the oldies—and who among us wouldn’t like to rock out with the Stones, Little Richard, or the many mellow sounds of Motown?

And, to add even more steam to your energy-fueled brainpower, I urge you to take a look at Lumosity (see the link to the left). It’s the only product (other than my own) that I advertise because I believe in it so much. Their entertaining, varied, and FUN brain exercises are based on extensive research and cutting-edge science from such prestigious institutions as Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and UCSF and the cost is literally pennies a day. So take a moment to check them out and get a free trial—your little gray cells will thank you for it!

Recent advances in brain imaging have produced several surprising new wrinkles to the great gender divide. It goes without saying that those of us who lived through the women’s movement are especially fascinated by the topic of nature versus nurture. In fact this particular conundrum laid the foundation for many a heated skirmish at the height of the battle between the sexes. Now it looks like nature plays an even greater role than we’d thought—especially when it comes to the human brain. One of the most striking differences between the brains of men and women involves the ability to process language.

To the utter dismay of many a long-suffering woman, it appears that men do not listen well! One cause for this phenomenon may come as a result of their lower oxytocin levels. (Oxytocin is the hormone involved in bonding—sometimes dubbed “the cuddle chemical). Unfortunately, the lack of the cuddle chemical makes our guys likely less inclined to want to bond and connect—especially through conversation.

However, hormones aside, the main culprit for their turning a deaf ear to us is that their brain is actually “deaf” on one side.  When brain images of live subjects were taken, they showed the neurons on both sides of a woman’s brain were activated while she listened to the voices of the researchers. However, in males, only one side of the brain displayed activated neurons. And, when verbal tasks were given, women showed higher blood flow to various areas throughout their brain. They could remember what was said and, therefore, recall what they were told to do. No surprise, this increased activity did not occur in men.

Consequently, it seems a biological determinate that when you have a need to send a verbal message to your male partner—especially when it concerns a task you want them to do—you’ll need to be extra certain that your message will actually sift through to the side of his brain where he’ll hear it.

As many of us will attest, dealing with guys can prove challenging… and this frustrating brain-fact makes Tammy Wynette’s words even more on target: “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman!”

Those of us gals who attempted to join the workforce in the 1970s could expect certain questions at each and every job interview. Whether or not there was a B.A. after your name, the primary question remained: “How fast can you type?” And, if the lady candidate sported a wedding ring, the next question was always: “Does your husband mind if you work?” Meanwhile, male college graduate applicants of the time were swiftly enrolled in the firm’s management training program and were never questioned as to their typing speed or their wife’s concern regarding their employment choices.

Moreover, if a woman already had a family and decided to go to work because she was widowed, divorced, or otherwise needed an income; she was generally viewed as an aberration—someone who was out of place in the business world. In fact, the term applied to such females was “displaced homemakers…” not exactly a sign of respect for their business acumen!

Nevertheless and despite the enormous odds stacked against us, we feisty gals pushed hard to gain a semblance of parity with our male counterparts. And we succeeded! Granted, major inequities in compensation, seats in the boardroom, and in a thousand other ways still exist—but our struggles made a difference for our daughters and ourselves.

Yet it goes without saying that the younger generation tends to want to shock and surprise their elders. We certainly outraged our parents with our long hair, protests, and fondness for pot. But this latest news is almost too much to bear: A brand new survey found that more than 25% of women would trade in IQ points for bigger breasts. I’m speechless!

I do try to adopt a positive outlook in most things but this one is challenging me—big time. What could they be thinking? I’ve always considered the triumphs of the Women’s Movement to be one of our lasting legacies that will forever change the lives of future generations… but maybe not.

Is it possible to feel feisty, frazzled, and dumbfounded all at the same time?!

However, as with all great movements, there is still a long way to go. I recently had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite activists for women’s rights, Gloria Feldt. This feisty woman is on a mission to empower us even further. Gloria proudly wears her substantial personal power and is helping us to grab onto our own by writing her riveting and life-altering book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power.

No Excuses is one of the most important works I’ve read in a long time. But, true to its author’s style, it’s far from a dry and lecturing tome about what women “should” do. Rather the book is an exhilarating call to claiming your personal power—not only for yourself, but also for the wellbeing of all women. Gloria defines her nine “Power Tools” in engaging and often wryly humorous terms citing stories from the many women (and men) she’s interviewed and observed. Believe me, as a boomer woman especially, you won’t be able to put this book down!

My favorite power tool was the one dealing with a definition change: transforming the definition of power from “power over,” (the hierarchical, masculine version) to “power to,” (the ability to claim your right to be accountable for yourself, take action, and make things happen). As Gloria puts it: “Power-over is amoral. Power-to is responsibility.” You can check out each of her power tools on Gloria’s website.

Moreover, with the election looming, Gloria’s words take on even greater meaning. It’s difficult not to notice that this power-wielding landscape remains loaded with testosterone… and that, of course, means more of the same.

So let’s take a listen to Gloria’s advice, recognize some of the ways we might be abdicating our personal power, and start claiming our female power-to. As Gloria points out, it’s valuable for us individually and vitally important for the sake of future generations.

In fact, she’s presenting a special interactive chat on her Facebook page this Sunday, (3/25) from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. You’ll want to be there and learn what you can do with your own powerful presence. There’s no better way to celebrate the Feisty Side of Fifty than by becoming a united force—and one that’s powerful enough to change our world for the better!

Nevertheless, modern gadgetry is creating new scams and schemes that tech savvy thieves could use to target you. I’m not an alarmist nor do I consider the world to be a dangerous place but, when I got an email warning of these types of crimes, I thought I’d pass them along.

Here are two ways you may be vulnerable:

Your GPS: People attending a professional football game returned to their car to find it had been broken into. Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money, and a GPS, which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.

When the victims got home, they found their house had been ransacked and just about everything of value had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry into the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish, and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.

Something to consider if you have a GPS—don’t put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station). You can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else will know where you live.

Your Cell Phone: A woman’s handbag, which contained her cell phone, was stolen. Twenty minutes later when she called her hubby from a pay phone to tell him what had happened, he told her that he’d received her text asking about the pin number to their bank account. “I replied a little while ago,” he reported.

When the couple rushed down to the bank, the staff told them all of their money had been withdrawn. The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text “hubby” in the contact list and, thanks to the helpful husband, got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes, he had wiped out their entire account.

So for safety’s sake, avoid using names like “Home,” “Hubby,” “Dad,” “Mom,” etc. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, confirm by calling back. Also, when you’re being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don’t reach them, be very careful about going places to meet ‘family and friends’ who text you.

The above information both surprised and upset me. Not being a doom and gloom type, I hesitated passing it along–but a word of warning is best to keep us feisty gals on our toes and in the know. So enjoy your gadgets but do so in a way that won’t make you vulnerable. None of us wants to be an easy mark!

He’s just come out with his latest book, The Blood Sugar Solution: The Ultra Healthy Program for Losing Weight, Preventing Disease and Feeling Great Now! It’s packed with information about the foods you should and shouldn’t eat, how you can rev up your metabolism and lose weight, and how you can eat well on a budget. The book also features Dr. Hyman’s 7-step plan to ultra wellness that includes a series of quizzes to help you pinpoint areas where you might need special attention.

It’s obvious this physician has found his calling because Dr. Hyman is out to transform the SAD (Standard American Diet) from one that promotes “diabesty” to one that helps us achieve and maintain peak wellness. Moreover, if you’re past 50, Dr. Hyman’s message is especially important. Our bodies don’t bounce back as easily as they did twenty years ago, so it’s even more critical that we feed them well.

I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Dr. Hyman on Feisty Side of Fifty radio. In addition to being a huge fan and over the top excited, I learned a lot. I hope you’ll check out this important 15-minute discussion—full of doctor’s orders straight from the rock star himself.

And don’t forget to take a look at The Blood Sugar Solution. It’s hard to feel feisty when you’re suffering from a debilitating disease brought about by diabesity. So take the challenge, turn your health around, and rock on courtesy of the fine doctor who truly is a star in the world of wellness. Before you know it, you just might be cranking up the music and feeling groovy!