Best Year of Your Life in 2009?

Traditionally, many people resolve each year, at this time, to make the next year "the best year of my life." In view of all of the misfortunes that played out in '08, it would ordinarily be easy for many to reasonably expect that '09 would be much better. But, we go into '09 with a consensus economic view that is as pessimistic as any we have had in the last twenty years, if not since the Depression. So, is it really realistic to hope for "the best year of my life?"

Well, if you measure your life strictly in economic terms, then such a resolution is likely to bring disappointment. However, the notion of prosperity reflected in this blog goes far beyond mere economics.

Ben Stein, the well read columnist of the NYTimes concluded one of his most recent columns with this sage advice:

"We are more than our investments. We are more than the year-to-year changes in our net worth. We are what we do for charity. We are how we treat our family and friends. We are how we treat our dogs and cats. We are what we do for our nation and our community. If you had $100 million or $100,000 a year ago and now you have a lot less, you are still the same person. You are not a balance sheet, at least not one denominated in money, as was explained to me recently."

If you are more than a financial balance sheet, then 2009 can be the best year in our life, at least for most of us. We have the opportunity to:

1) Be in the best physical and mental condition of our life, or certainly of recent years.
2) Have the best relationships ever with our loved ones.
3) Treat everyone with more respect and compassion than we ever have.
4) Do more for our community than ever.
5) Serve our employer or clients better than ever, if we have a job or clients, and if we don't to make the best pursuit we ever have.
6) Etc. Etc.

Yes, if indeed you are more than a balance sheet, 2009 can truly be the best year of your life.

And, I know that if you go into the year thinking anything less, it is highly likely that you will be right.

I am absolutely determined to make 2009 "the best year of my life." I hope you will make a similiar choice.

Tomorrow, I will share with you one of the secrets I recently learned from North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams about how to create a best year of our life.

Coming Tomorrow: 365 Ways to Make 2009 the Best Year of Your Life, the fifth post in the series Countdown to New Years. The six part series starts here.