Be Thankful Its 2010 My Friends

The dying minutes of 2009 cannot come quick enough for most people. Its been a rough year. The financial crash that began in 2008 has changed the world we know forever. Governments around the world began regulatory reform on a scale we haven't seen since the end of World War II, and there is no end in sight to what they may do in 2010. Most people's wealth has been significantly depleted in 2009, and many Baby Bloomers who were heading for retirement in 2010 have had to reconsider. Jobless data indicates any recovery in 2010 will not create the necessary amount of jobs we need to get back to where we were in January 2009. The war in Iraq may have wound down, but Afghanistan has been rekindled with the insertion of 40,000 new troops, and with the botched attempt of another airline bombing on Christmas Day it looks like Yemen is going to be another front in the war against terror. The economies of the US, UK and Europe are on a downward spiral that, despite what the media and the Obama administration print, has no end in sight and is likely to cripple generations to come. Taxes are going up. Healthcare is a black box in the US. Detroit is, well, Detroit. And the Dollar is under siege, leading many to wonder whether their assets will be worth anything close to what they are this time next year. Politicians in the US, UK and France were all caught with their hands in the cookie jar at some point in 2009, leading to a distrust of the people that will have repercussions in elections ahead. Michael Jackson is dead. Tiger Woods was perhaps the biggest shock and disappointment of 2009. Who would have guessed that the first Billionaire in sports with the cleanest image would turnout to be an adulterous sex addict? No, there isn't much to look back on in 2009 that we want to hold on to, we are going into the new year with our faith in government, nations and people fully tested this past year.




But as I sit in a quiet spot waiting for the clock to chime midnight, it hits me that none of the events of 2009 or the gloomy picture of 2010 can impact how great I feel right now. You see, I have been sitting here for the past few days with family and friends thinking about all the things in my life that I have to be grateful for. And the list is long. From health to family, from old friends who have shaped who I am to new ones who have come into my life in the most unexpected of ways. It is good to be alive as we close this decade and enter the next. 


And that is the message I would like to share with you, my friends. Take some time in the next few days to think about all the things you have to be grateful for in your life. There are many. You just have to look. Your world is a beautiful place if you let it be. Recognize who and what you have in your life and be thankful you are alive to enjoy them all. And most importantly, whatever your faith is, keep it. Tomorrow is going to be a bright new day.


And with that I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year and best wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2010.