TURNING TO VIDEO GAMES AFTER RETIREMENT GAME-FULLY EMPLOYED
that gaming is for people of all ages. Each member picked up the game for different reasons; some played as a way to connect to their grandkids, while others did it to pass the time. One thing’s for certain: This alliance has turned into a hellscape for their opponents. With every team member being over the age of 60, the combination of BirDie, Windy, Knitting Knight, Teen Slayer, and Berra Bang — all gaming aliases — has proved to be a first-of-its- kind powerhouse in the growing circle of older gamers. As one member explained, the game is not just for having fun. Gaming has given the team a chance to connect and be a part of a massive worldwide community. The gameplay also allows for mental exercise. It offers teamwork challenges and improves cognitive function, multitasking skills, and reflexes.
The rise in popularity of game-streaming platforms like Twitch — a service seemingly only used by snarky teens playing under quirky aliases — has paved the way for a whole new generation of video game enthusiasts. They just might not be the type you had in mind. Clips and articles are popping up online showcasing how older generations of tech aficionados have taken to gaming en masse. Long gone are the days of grandparents calling grandsons in frustration to ask how to send an email. The current generation of seniors bucks the stereotypical ignorance of technology, embracing hand-held controllers and battle cries as they take on their decades-younger counterparts in the digital arena. One team in particular has stolen the spotlight of late: The Silver Snipers, bringers of destruction in “Counter-Strike” leagues around the world. The team from Stockholm, Sweden, took their talents to the stage of Dreamhack 2017, an esports tournament, where they battled it out against some of the world’s most skilled esports players. Their mission was simple: to show the world
If The Silver Snipers are passing along one message, it’s that you’re never too young for an old-fashioned digital beat down.
UNDERSTANDING MY PASSION FOR FINANCE
With Help From Martina McBride
You can hear it in people’s voices. You can see it in their mannerisms. When someone is passionate about something, that enthusiasm is clear as day. Take Martina McBride, for instance. Some time back, we had the chance to talk to her. At one point, we asked her about singing “Suspicious Minds”which appeared on the 2014 album, “Everlasting.” “It’s somewhat like Elvis’s version.”Martina told us, “It’s a little bit different. The trick when you do a record like this is you don’t just want to make a karaoke record just like the original. But you also want to pay respect to the original.” Martina continued, “And the original guitar player that played on Elvis’s record, Reggie Young, he came in [to our studio] and played in on ‘Suspicious Minds,’ so that was really special. Kind of a full-circle moment to have him in the studio.” As Martina was describing this experience to us (my daughter and myself), her husband, John McBride, put the record on. It wasn’t a CD, but an actual vinyl record, which was really cool, going back to the old days. They played it, and one of the things I watched between her and him— he’s the engineer on a lot of her music — is the fact I could see and hear her passion for covering the song. She made it her own, but you can get a distinct vibe of its Elvis heritage.
Feeling and seeing that excitement was just amazing. I realized as I listened to Martina, and as she shared her love for her music — and when she handed us the guitar — I was struck by a “wow”moment, and I recognized the passion I have for our clients and what we do. That kind of feeling can be hard to put into words. It’s part of an experience. As you know, when we sit down with our clients, I get excited about what we’re doing and how we change things for the better — all so they can achieve their own dreams goals and desires in retirement. I saw that passion in Martina and understood it much better than ever before.
–Gary Mattson
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.thenewsletterpro.com
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