5 January 2009 — Happy New Year! And I mean it! I feel really good about 2009. While some people are worried about what 2009 will bring, I think if we look at the “good” in our lives, we have a lot to celebrate and be thankful for — despite the economic doom and gloom around us. It was so very heartening to see so many friends give to charity this holiday season — more in fact than ever before. Doing good feels good. Let’s do more “good” this year, and make it the best year ever.

Ben Stein has some wonderful words of wisdom that he shared on this weekend’s edition of CBS Sunday Morning. As he rightly says, don’t let the current economic woes define you — “…you are a human being with a soul, you are how you behave, how you help those in need, how you act towards family, community and animals … judge yourself by the content of your character, not the color of your money.”

Hear Ben Stein speak his words of wisdom — and hope: