SANITY SAVERS: Tips for Women to Live A Balanced Life is in bookstores and is filled with suggestions to save your sanity every day of the year.

A must for any woman seeking to find her balance!

Just because you suspend judgment and cease being critical, does not insure you against being judged and criticized by others.

In my newsletters I often comment on the importance of being grateful and appreciative. We are often disturbed when we "show up" or do things for people who are unable or unwilling to show gratitude or appreciation. Why and how do we continue to be helpful or available? What motivates us? Is it because of our feelings toward God or some higher power? Is it because we realize at some point people we need to do what we think is the right thing even if the recipient can't say or show appreciation?

Only you can determine how far you are willing to go and willing to give. Life circumstances consistently change and you may be called upon to help at a time when the people you are helping are just unable to receive your help with grace. Understand that you may not "get anything back" except the satisfaction that you know you are doing the right thing. Do not expect that others will appreciate what you are doing and that it may be difficult for you. Your experience is yours alone. Not everyone has empathy. This is especially true where there are generational differences. Younger people often do not understand that older people have a different reserve of energy and may fatigue more quickly. You are the only one who can put limits on what is reasonable for you at this time.

Do what you think is right in your own heart, and do not expect to have a parade in your honor.

TODAY Show (NBC)
Please check website, www.drdaleatkins.com, for updated listings.

The Salon
Sept. 4: 7:30PM-9:00PM: Aging and Keeping Your Sanity and Balance
The Saugatuck, 35 Bridge St., Wesport, CT

Executive Women's Forum 2008
Sept. 18: 12:30PM: Featured Speaker
Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort, Chandler, AZ

Jack Birnberg Speaks Out
Sept. 18: 9:30AM: Coping With Loss and Death
Radio Station WVNJ, accessible via www.wvnj.com

Jumpstart for Young Children's September Leadership Institute
Sept. 28: 9:30AM - 12:30PM: Stress Management Strategies for Site Managers, Team Leaders and Site Coordinators
New Brunswick, NJ

Find Inspiration From Extraordinary Everyday People

Read about a person who has overcome physical, emotional, and societal challenges. Witness an unstoppable, forward-thinking person in action. In doing so, you can find inspiration for your own life, and think about how you can integrate their life's lessons into your daily routine.

All of us are surrounded by people whom we can turn to for advice, inspiration, motivation, and support to help us overcome our daily challenges.

September is a month when many people begin new projects and find themselves organizing and re-organizing to get their lives back into a routine which may have changed during the summer. In order to do this, we all can use some help.

Here are some tips to follow when you are in the position of helping someone in some way, whether it is changing a light bulb, sitting with someone during a chemotherapy treatment, driving someone's kids to school, accompanying a friend to an AA meeting, picking up groceries, walking someone's dog, taking out the trash, or offering a lift to church to someone who is no longer comfortable behind the wheel. Whatever it is, do it with grace and a smile.

"The Best Exercise for the Human Heart is Kneeling Down and Helping Someone Up"

Tim Russert