Help those around you to understand their purpose and how what they do has meaning and contributes to the greater good. Remember the janitor at NASA when asked what his job was answered "to put a man on the moon."

If you do not know your purpose, reexamine. What is your passion? Check this out: http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobseeker/tools/ept/printallept.html?post=126&eptTemplete=careerarticles

Would you still be doing what you are doing if you had all the money you need or had a short time to live?

Think of great experiences in your life. Where were you? What were you doing? How did it feel? How can you shape your life to recreate these feelings every day?

STAY ACTIVE

Physically put time aside on your calendar for fitness. The only way you will do it is to schedule it like everything else. And encourage co-workers or friends to do the same. Start a walking club. Go for a walk as part of your lunchtime routine. Want inspiration? Watch The Biggest Loser television program.

Listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs.

LAUGH EVERY DAY

Bring humor into your life and workplace. Listen to comedy in your car, on your mp3 player. Watch something humorous at night. Buy a book on standup comedy. Open yourself up to fun. Then use fun as a motivating tool in the workplace.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW

Lifelong learning is not just about degrees and classes or what's going to get you ahead at work. It sometimes about "Gee I always wanted to learn…" That's just it. Most just wonder and wander. Make a list of things you want to learn. List how you can learn about these things - class, internet, experiencing. Schedule it. Embrace diversity in your life by trying new things and being open to the possibilities. Be curious about life. As Jim Rohn says "Formal education will get you a job. Self education will get you rich."

NURTURE FRIENDSHIPS

Be a good listener. Friendship is less about you and more about the other person.

Estranged from someone? Life is too short. Make amends. Pick up the phone.

Who do you count as true, meaningful friends that you can confide in? Use opportunities such as today to make new friends. Friendship requires work on both sides. Is there someone you sense could use a friend? Reach out to them.

HAVE A GREAT ATTITUDE

Consider these things as you spring clean your attitude:

-- Procrastination = deterioration: if something is nagging at you, find out what it is and deal with it.

-- Beware of all or nothing terms -- "It's always", "I never". They trigger negative thoughts.

-- Do you expect the best or prepare for the worst? You know the right answer for a positive attitude.

-- Stop beating yourself up for not being good enough. Stop being your own worst critic.

-- When recalling the past, do you remember the good or the bad? Allow the good inside.

-- Do you give up or never start things because you are not perfect? No one is perfect and never will be. Don't let that stand in your way.

-- Do you motivate yourself with your wants or avoiding your fears? You will never stretch yourself if motivated by fear.

-- When you think of others, do you think bad thoughts or good ones? Wish the best for everyone. It will come back to you.

-- Trust in your ability to change.

-- Don't live in the past but learn from it.

-- Can you enjoy leisure without feeling guilty? Hmmm. Deep huh?

-- How do you handle criticism-with anger, rejection or with open arms and appreciation?

-- Take the time to appreciate your accomplishments. Yes, pat yourself on the back.

-- In a typical day, do you look for miracles or obstacles?

BE GRATEFUL AND BE LOVING

Make a list of things you are grateful for. Post it somewhere visible and read it each day. Take the time to thank the creator for those you are grateful for and tell them yourself. Tell your co-workers why you are grateful for them.

Spirituality can boost self-confidence and even lower blood pressure! Measure your spirituality at www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/selftest/item_234.html.

Make a list of what is important to you - people, activities, values. Pare it to ten. At the end of a month, examine how much time you have devoted to what is important to you.

BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE

Determine your priorities and focus on them. Don't be pulled into anything -- meetings to readings to conversations -- that thwarts your priorities.

Average Americans receive over 200 phone, paper and email messages a day. Take care of those that are a priority and let the rest alone.

Think about what balance means. It is not about your available time and the commitments you have but rather an alignment between your behavior and your values. Then it becomes a choice and less of a battle to do everything. Are you spending time consistent with your values and priorities?

Build in time to relax and recharge.

Anthony Cirillo, FACHE, ABC is an advocate for seniors and a thought leader in healthcare. President of Fast Forward Consulting, he is a prolific national and international speaker who consults with hospitals and long-term care facilities internationally. Anthony is the author of "Who Moved My Dentures?" a book that debunks myths about nursing homes. He is an aging and senior health expert on Wellsphere and a guest blogger for Advance in Long Term Care Management and Long Term Care Living Magazine. A native of Philadelphia, he attained his undergraduate degree from Drexel University and his graduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania. www.anthonyssong.com.

Remember, if you're struggling to help your aging loved one, I urge you not to wait for a crisis to develop. Please call me toll-free at (877) AGE-WISE or email me at Barbara@AgeWiseLiving.com for a complimentary "get acquainted" conversation. I'm here to help!

September 1st Age Wise Living Radio Show

Surviving Eldercare

Many of us -- especially Baby Boomer women -- have been raised to believe our job is to take care of our family's needs, including those of our aging parents. It's easy to lose sight of ourselves during the process of caregiving. We so often feel that we shouldn't complain. After all, they're our parents and we have a duty to them. Finding the balance between eldercare and the rest of our lives is critical. That's why I'm so delighted that life coach and writer Ellen Besso will be joining us to help us understand how eldercare affects every aspect of our life - and how to find the balance. http://www.ellenbesso.com

FYI . . . www.Laughtub.com

Laughter should be free. Amen. It's how I get through a regular day. Simply put, it's a free place to get user-submitted funny, true stories that are designed to make you laugh. It's absolutely free, covered by advertising. Laughtub was started to bring laughter and happiness into people's lives, especially in such current times. Basically, as it says on the Laughtub site, "If you like laughing, Laughtub is for you." http://laughtub.com and @laughtub on Twitter.