Most of us working folk look forward to Friday (even though some of us work on Saturdays  too!). Even if we love what we do, after a long week, Friday symbolizes the light at the end of the tunnel and the beginning of a brief respite where we can relax without the responsibilities of work.

The bridge between those two states of mind is a good place to stop and look back at the week. Did we accomplish any goals we may have set for ourselves? Were we our best selves in all situations - big and small? Did we brighten someone's day when we had the opportunity? Did we face the days bravely or tuck ourselves away to hide out and/or build strength for the next day?

Examining our conduct can help us as we face all the new choices each day brings. If we want to move forward as valuable human beings we must act and those actions need to be true to our values and ultimate goals. We disrespect ourselves by being any less than our best selves in all situations. That doesn't mean we don't all mess up sometimes, and it certainly doesn't mean we can't have lazy days, but we can make better choices when we know who we are, what we're passionate about and where we want to go.

When I look at the people I admire most, they have similar traits and habits - kindness, humor, curiosity, dedication and passion for something, and a genuine warmth and honesty. It humbles me when I see what amazing lives they lead and recognize how far I have to go; yet they inspire me to do more, try harder and keep going. If we think of people who've accomplished greatness in their time on this planet - many in less years than we've gathered - it helps us remember that the sky is the limit if we have a dream and if we try. We're all people making choices on how we want to live. The people who inspire us can be our role models as we mold our lives and set goals for ourselves. The dreams we envision for ourselves may be great or they may be modest but the very act of setting and working toward a goal gives us purpose, and purpose is the reason we exist.