No matter what your age, it's a proven fact that we grow older with each passing day. But aging does not have to be a battle to wage. Instead it can be an enriching process that brings us to different phases in our life adding clarity, wisdom and growth.

People who grow old successfully focus on the GROWING and not on the OLD. They incorporate into their lives what is really important to them such as enjoyable work, meaningful relationships and emotional, physical, and spiritual health and well being.

Here are some Sanity Savers to help you enhance your life as you focus on growing older with style and grace.

1. Have a Positive Mental Attitude
- Incorporate a Glass is Half Full perspective every day.
2. Allocate Your Time Wisely -Time is precious. Make the most of every minute. Change your attitude about stressful or draining situations.
3. Challenge Yourself
- Find new ways to stimulate your life. Learn a new skill, take an interesting workshop or sign up for those art classes you've always wanted to take.
4. Think and Act Creatively- There are many solutions to life's challenges. Go outside of the box and look for win-win situations that use your creative talents.
5. Have passion
- Live life with vigor and zest!
6. Nurture Relationships
- Life is a series of relationships with yourself and others. Alone time is essential and allows us to self reflect. Time spent with loved ones is best when gratifying and meaningful. You are blessed if you have friends of all ages.
7. Keep an Interest in the World
- Stay aware of what's going on around you and keep abreast of current events. Knowing that we are all part of a larger whole keeps us involved and interested in living.
8. Stay Present
- Concentrate on the "now". Worries about the future or regrets from the past are unproductive.
9. Be grateful
- Find ways to appreciate and give thanks to everything and everyone in your life. Contribute by making the world a better place.
10. Connect with your Spirituality- Practice prayer, meditation, breathing or visualization to align with your spiritual self.
11. Live Healthfully - Stay physically active, eat nutritiously and monitor your health (get regular check-ups).

Let's have a "virtual" cup of coffee together.

I'd like to know your thoughts about what you would like to see in this newsletter. My goal is to bring you interesting Sanity Savers, tips and articles about what's on your mind and what you confront in your daily life.

If you have suggestions, please click below. Who knows, you might even have a great topic for TV!

TODAY Show
Click to Dr. Dale's website for upcoming TODAY Show appearances.
Dates and times subject to change.

Self Image: A Work In Progress
Thursday, Nov 3rd, 2:15-3:30pm
92nd St Y MAKOR Center (Steinhardt Building)
35 West 67th Street, NYC
Click below to register

Annual Conference on Prejudice Reduction
Panelist:"Beyond the Ramp: Issues of Access & Equity"
Monday, Nov 14th, 10:15-11:45am
Suffolk Assoc. for Jewish Educational Services
Huntington Hilton Hotel, Melville, NY
For information call 631.845.1000

How to Talk to People When They Are Ill , and
Visiting Families of Those Who Have Died
Thursday, November 17th, 9:30am
"Jack Birmberg Speaks Out" Radio Show
WVNJ 1160 AM

Getting Older with Grace and Style and,
Sanity Savers for Life Transitions: Keeping the Balance
Friday, Nov 18th and Nov 19th
Canyon Ranch, Tuscon, Arizona
www.canyonranch.com/ranchnews/dale_atkins.asp

There Seems to be No Time to be Polite
In our rushed world, polite behavior is becoming the exception rather than the norm. According to a recent Associated Press-Ipsos Poll, people are more rude today then 20+ years ago. Parents are finding they have less and less time to teach basic character issues to their children and manners are going by the wayside.

If We Don't Teach our Kids Who Will?
What we are talking about is respect; for yourself and for the other person. When you treat someone respectfully, you are making a statement about who you are. Nowadays some children seem to lack respect for elders, teachers and parents. Is it the affluence in our society that has produced a world of convenience, entitlement and less social contact? We need to think about our kids' absorption in the world of cell phones, videos, computers and other electronic devices.

Teaching our Kids to be Polite
So how can we change this trend and get our kids back on track to being polite and respectful individuals? The answer first lies in ourselves. As parents, adults, mentors and guides we need to model respectful behavior to others and to our children. That may mean turning off your cell phone in a store, saying "thank you" to service providers such as waiters and clerks, and containing "road rage" (comments and gestures) in the car.

Children Need to be Acknowledged Too
It also means frequently saying thanks to your children for lending a helping hand at home or for a job well done. When they see you showing mutual respect to them as well as to others, your children will be more likely to behave respectfully and feel valued in the process.

Here are more TIPS for teaching our kids (and ourselves) manners and (not so) common courtesy:

By charity, goodness, restraint, and self-control men and woman alike can store up a well-hidden treasure -- a treasure which cannot be given to others and which robbers cannot steal. A wise person should do good -- that is the treasure which will not leave one.

"Khuddhaka Patha"