Q: As I age, I'm finding myself less motivated to get things done that I found fairly easy to accomplish during my last 60 years. Lately I have talked about this issue with my friends and have learned they, too, are finding it harder to motivate themselves.

It seems many things are not as important as they used to be, and it is time for me to just relax. Let someone else take over!

Do you know I can stay involved in life and remain involved?

A: Consider how you talk to yourself and what messages you're sending. If you tell yourself over and over you do not care and nothing is worth accomplishing, then this lethargy will continue — and it's not a good feeling. We are all taught that work is one of our primary reasons for being born.

Make a list of positive phrases and repeat them to yourself several times daily. If you're having trouble with motivation, you'll find many forms of procrastination and endless justifications for choosing to delay doing things.

When you recognize these thought patterns in yourself, tell yourself to cut it out. Instead, visualize the end result of your efforts. The key to staying motivated and active is focusing on your goals. You still have a lot of life left in you, so make sure to make the most of it.

Don't resign yourself to staying stagnant and inactive: There's always time for change. — DOUG

Stress-Free Father's Day

Q: Father's Day is coming up, and it seems like every year follows roughly the same path: We all stress out, emotions run high and none of us enjoy it like we should. I'm glad that all of my children are driving up to celebrate it with my wife and me, but I want to make sure that it is worth the effort for them. How can I have a great Father's Day this year and in the years to come?

A: The key to enjoying any holiday is to balance our expectations with flexibility. If your highly structured plans don't allow for any modifications or accommodations, you're certain to run into problems. Making a plan that fits one person is easy, but adjusting that plan to fit the needs of a larger group takes some work.

For this holiday, your goal seems simple: You want to have a pleasant afternoon and enjoy being with your family, with minimal stress. The best way to eliminate potential complications is a little bit of advance planning.

Find a low-key activity that you can enjoy. You can visit a local museum or do something outdoors, such as a picnic or easy hike. It's best to keep this local, to eliminate any frustrations with further travel. If you plan to have a nice meal, don't forget to make a restaurant reservation in advance.

Whatever you decide to do, remember what you're celebrating. All you want is to spend time with your family, so consciously choose to be patient and pleasant with one another. Happy Father's Day! — Emma, Doug's granddaughter

Doug Mayberry makes the most of life in a Southern California retirement community. Contact him at deardoug@msn.com. Betty is a friend of Doug Mayberry, whom she helps write this column. To find out more about Doug Mayberry and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.