As often as you tell yourself to stop worrying, you can't help but think about the upcoming holidays and entertaining your family, your son's struggle to find a job, and your mother's forgetfulness and declining health. Is there any relief in sight? This article offers some proactive ways to keep worrying at bay, including forcing yourself to look at the worst case scenarios, confiding in friends, and finding ways to make yourself laugh. Checking out these 10 tips is a first step at taking control of your thoughts and staying calm.

Funerals and the word "solemn" have always gone together. But, as more and more mourners are turning to friends and relatives to tell the story of their loved ones, there are smiles amidst the grief. While clergy still officiate at most of these services, those close to the deceased are providing a personal, and often humorous, glimpse that brings tears of laughter, as well as sadness. As one person who spoke at his 39-year-old friend's funeral put it, "A rabbi's eulogy tells what someone was. I wanted my eulogy to tell who he was."

While boomers are being told to wait to collect Social Security as long as possible, a growing number are flouting the advice of financial planners to claim their first payments at 62, the earliest age to file. This is happening in spite of the fact that by delaying benefits individuals can boost their payments by 7% to 8% each year until age 70. Seems that many 60 plusers are becoming increasingly afraid that lawmakers will raise the retirement age of Social Security or shrink benefits. To learn more about this trend and its ramifications, click here.

As boomers consider leaving their homes for smaller spaces, one of the most formidable tasks is figuring out what to do with all their "stuff." For years, Americans have been gathering and collecting at an amazing pace, filling homes that over the past half-century have more than doubled in size. And even that hasn't been enough to contain our nation's overflow of furniture, knick-knacks, antiques and kitsch. With some 8,000 Americans turning 65 every day, millions are facing a massive purge. And many don't want to just give away their treasures...after all, this "stuff" is valuable!

AARP of PA, a founding partner of Coming of Age, invites you to a Long Term Care Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, April 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the National Constitution Center. This free event will include a moderated panel discussion with questions from the audience about long term care issues. The panel includes representatives from the Regional Office of Health & Human Services (HHS); CARIE, AARP of PA; Pennsylvania Homecare Association, and the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Registration not required; free parking at the Constitution Center garage. Refreshments. For information, contact cubit@carie.org.

Join Marjorie Margolies--change agent, advocate, Congresswoman, founder of a nonprofit, journalist, mother, and storyteller--as she speaks on "Empowering Women" as part of Night Out With Meaning: Women & Giving, a series of storytelling events for women to connect with others. This presentation will be held on May 4th, 6:30 p.m. at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, 415 West Willow Grove Ave., Philadelphia. Ms. Margolies founded Women's Campaign International (WCI), in 1998 to help increase women's participation in political and democratic processes around the world. $65 for dinner and wine. To register, click here.

Hear about the impact that art has on the lives of older adults and learn about Philadelphia area organizations that are promoting arts and aging opportunities! The Creative Arts and Aging Network, in partnership with Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, is sponsoring "Creative Conversations," a free panel discussion that will feature older adult artists, teaching artists, and representatives from organizations that promote arts programming for people of all ages on May 4th at the Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street. Arrive at 5 p.m. for a reception and art viewing; at 6 p.m.-7:30 older artists will share their stories. To register, click here.

Join Coming of Age founding partner, WHYY, on Friday, May 6th at 7 p.m., as Tavis Smiley, the acclaimed host of the public television program that bears his name, sits with WHYY's Marty Moss-Coane on the stage of the Levitt Auditorium at the University of the Arts, 401 S. Broad Street, for an intimate interview about his life, inspirations, career and more. Smiley is celebrating his 20th year as a broadcaster. Tickets: $15 for WHYY members.

The Sexuality and Aging Consortium Group at Widener University is hosting a discussion on May 6th, 9 - 12:00 p.m. at the Alumni Auditorium, Widener University, about sexuality and aging and how it relates to privacy, sexual rights, advocacy, social stigma, physical changes and baby boomers. Keynote speakers are Peggy Brick, renowned sexuality educator and Bill Taverner, editor of the American Journal of Sexuality Education. To register,

To take your place with 150 of our region's most prominent business, civic, and government leaders in exploring the theory and practice of creating change in organizations and regions, you need to send in this application today! This day-long session, an initiative of the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, will examine innovative ways that leaders across the country are orchestrating strategic organizational change. Applicants must live and/or work in the Greater Philadelphia region and serve in a leadership role in a business, civic, or government organization. Deadline for application is April 22nd!

If you are interested in learning more about evidence-based volunteer management, plan to attend a free seminar being presented at Chestnut Hill College on Thursday, April 28th, 8:30 a.m. to noon (in the Redmond Room at St. Joseph’s Hall). The presentation has been designed to assist participants in adding value and credibility to their work and that of their volunteers. Key points include measuring quality in volunteerism, balancing experience with data, identifying barriers to change, and using evidence to support recruitment and retention. For more information, call (215) 248-7032.

The Free Library of Philadelphia's 53 branches are always looking for volunteers. Staff at each of the branches are eager to place volunteers in positions that both fit their skills and interests and help the library serve its users well. The branches differ in what they offer-- some available opportunities include serving as hosts/hostesses for author events, being computer buddies, working at special events, cataloguing books, helping people write resumes, and reading to children. Once you fill out this application, you will hear from a library staff member about next steps.

Longwood Gardens, located in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, employs year-round part-time employees in a wide range of positions. These employees work a variety of hours, which may include evenings, weekends and holidays. All part-timers receive free access to the Gardens, additional complimentary Gardens passes, a discount at the Gardens Shop, and a discount in the Terrace Restaurant cafeteria while working. To learn about available opportunities, and how to apply, continue reading.

The University of the Arts has an opening for a Director of Alumni and Parent Relations whose job will include planning and implementing new programs and projects that engage alumni and current parents and strengthening current programs to provide tangible and measurable benefits for both. Serving as an ambassador, the Director will work with development colleagues to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward alumni and parent giving. To learn more about responsibilities and qualifications, continue reading...

Since 1953, Family Service Association, in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, has assisted families and individuals by providing comprehensive social services for all age groups, including counseling and community and family life education. This nonprofit is looking for volunteers to add their skills and commitment to serving the more than 6,200 who benefit from Family Service's programs each year. To learn about the available oppportunities, click here. To register to become a volunteer, please go to this link.