Your life is your own. It is what you make of it. We should remember that a life is an arc. It has a beginning, a middle and an end. And all of your life is important. It is just common sense that no one part can be more valuable than another. Remember that life is a gift and every day we have is an opportunity to accomplish something meaningful for ourselves and for others. We only need to start with small changes to make a big difference. It is our positive attitude that transforms a good life into a great one.

We are bombarded relentlessly by what we have to do all day. No wonder we're always feeling so worn out. We have to rejuvenate ourselves. You can't keep going back to the well and wondering why it finally ends up dry. We need to find ways to fill ourselves back up. We need to take time for ourselves, quiet time, so that we can tune in to our inner voice. Often we become tired because we are not listening, our inner voice isn't being heard. When life is reduced to just problem-solving, then we have no way to plug into the magic that makes life joyous and we very quickly end up becoming exhausted. We need to take time in nature, time to share with those close to us, to be of service, and to follow what brings us in balance. It can be something as simple as taking a bubble bath. When we do, we rejuvenate and revitalize ourselves. Then we are inspired and bring back enthusiasm into our daily life.

When you take the best care of yourself, when you want to look your best, you want to look your own best, not somebody else's best. There will always be somebody who has a cuter nose, a flatter tummy, or more luxurious hair. We have to focus on what we have. When we present our best self, we feel confident. Then we are able to offer what we have to give. At midlife, with all the wisdom we've garnered over the years, we are in an extraordinary position to choose for the future ahead. By using the Ageless Principles as a guide, you can live your true life, no matter what your age.

You don't have to be bound by your age, but why deny such an essential part of who you are? Own your experiences -- and your age too.

It's always good to have a little outward attention about how great we look, but it's even better when we know it ourselves. When you take the time to look your best, it gives you the confidence to dare to do so many other things. With the wisdom of midlife, you have choices open to you to live a bigger life. If you take care of yourself, you create the energy and the vitality to do what you really want to do. Then you radiate the joy of life that does make heads turn. And, that is true beauty. But, it's always fun to have a little outer confirmation that reminds you that you are still a hottie!

It's never too late to begin. One of my best friends went back to college to get her degree while in her mid-forties. Another friend quit the "perfect" job to do something that her heart directed her to do, while she too was in her mid-forties. We just need to know that midlife is the gateway to begin the second half of our life, with the added bonus of having a bank of wisdom at our disposal. We can travel, we can learn a new language, we can take cooking classes, pottery classes, even jewelry classes. There are so many courses and classes available to us. It just takes the energy and enthusiasm to know it's possible. Why would we want to go back in time when there's so much ahead of us!

Our generation makes up a third of the population in this country. We're 43 million women strong. We are one of the most powerful demographics in this country. Remember that! The advertising, media and beauty industries are only just beginning to catch up with this kind of power. As a group, we women are the ones who are going to change the way the media portrays us in midlife. But first, we have to change the way we think about ourselves. We need to connect to our wisdom that we have and remind ourselves of the value of who we are now and what we have to offer. At midlife, we are looking for real meaning and in that search the answers will come. We do that by taking care of ourselves: by eating right, by looking our best, by cherishing our experiences, by adding to our wisdom and by reaching out to others. So hold you head up high. This is your time. My friend Carole's grandmother always said, "Feel good, look good. Look good, do good."

Who nurtures the nurturer? The only one who can is you. You must set aside a certain amount of time during the day that is your time. A time where you can become calm commune with nature and listen to your inner voice. You need to be able to rejuvenate so that you can do all the things you need to do in a day. It is imperative that we find simple ways that increase our inner joy and weave them into your life so that it becomes a part of it. You can set aside a sticky note that reminds you it's time to go for a walk, to breathe, to meditate, or make a standing appointment with a girlfriend to share a walk in the park. Keep a journal by your bed and set aside time to write in it. Make time to meditate by setting your alarm a bit earlier. There are so many ways to rejuvenate, and by peppering appointments for yourself throughout your day, you'll find you have the energy to get through all you have to do, and feel energized.

We do, each one of us, have responsibilities that we must face and these are very real. Yet, if we don't have the personal resources to take care of these responsibilities, then where do we end up. It is important that we properly take care of ourselves so that we are able to give what needs to be given. That means getting the proper rest, eating well, exercising regularly and spending some time in developing inner strength. Then we will always have resources to fall back on.

Gratitude for what we have is one of the single most powerful feelings there is. The feeling of gratitude heightens our appreciation for what we already have, no matter how little it may be. One way to practice gratitude is to keep a gratitude journal by your bedside. At the end of the day you can make a list of the things that you are grateful for. You may be surprised how long your list may be. In this way, you can turn ordinary moments into extraordinary ones.

Realize that every day is a gift. Each day is an opportunity for adding more meaning. No experience is without value. There have been no wasted moments. It's never too late. Every day holds potential. No matter what has happened to you in your life, it is always the way you look at your experiences that gives them value. There is a treasure in every challenge and it is up to each one of us to find it. It's all in your attitude. That's what makes you wake up in the morning and say to yourself, "Today is the first day of my life. It's an adventure. What will happen next!"

Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice, but I would recommend women to look at the natural alternatives that are available first. It's good to ask yourself why you are having cosmetic surgery. Is it for you or to please someone else? It's also important to remember to focus on what we have gained over time, not what we have lost.

Tell them they've got it wrong: you're not a woman of a certain age, you're a woman of certainty!