We know about healthy food, exercise and dietary supplements but most times the advice on strenthening your immune system ignores the mind-body connection.

As a man (woman) thinks, so is he (she) and negative thoughts and meaningless living are as deadly as a lifestyle based on junk food and couch potato lifestyle.

Some suggestions (I figure at my age, I can do this):

1. Find meaningful activities in your life. If your job is just a 9 to 5 paper push, and you feel like you're stuck there, look outside the daily grind for ways to contribute to world peace, feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted. The best plan is to find gainful employment that is satisfying to your need to have meaning in your life. Focus on the way your job helps people live better lives themselves. If you're desperately unhappy in your job, look elsewhere. Spending 40 hours a week in mind-numbing, soul-destroying pointless activity is a killer.

2. Do not suppress your anger; neither use it to attack others gratuitously. Speak up for yourself when you can and find nondestructive ways to vent. Buried anger is a killer.

3. Ask for help, just as you offer help. You are not responsible for doing everything. When you shoulder all the responsibility and refuse the connection of joint effort, teamwork, you damage yourself and your relationships. Going it alone is a killer.

4. Know your limits and respect them, just as you would expect others to do. You don't want friends, family, enemies to push you beyond your endurance; don't do it to yourself. Say "No" when you must and don't offer excuses (indicating guilt). Acting out of guilt is a killer.

5. Play. All work and no play is a killer.

6. Keep a journal. To thine own self be true. Understanding yourself is the first step towards understanding others. Understanding is the foundation for love. A life without love is a killer.

7. Volunteer. Self-centeredness is a killer.

8. Find a role model. My role model is my dog (don't laugh). She loves me unconditionally. When she's tired, she sleeps. When she's hungry, she eats. She protects what is hers and guarding our house has given meaning to her life. She accepts the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune with faith in the Universe and love for her people. I try to emulate her authenticity: Play, eat, love, sleep. And trust that all will be well.