I received an email just before Christmas. In part it said, “…. 2009 has been a horrible year — can’t wait for 2010.” You may have heard something similar. And normally I’d just write back ‘Happy New Year’. But when I got the original message it struck me how our lives have little to do with the year. Or, to put it another way, how much ‘the year’ has to do with us, not the other way around!

 Another friend, Tim Fernandez in Kuala Lumpur , put it this way: ‘The year has been somewhat extraordinary. The reason, not only because of the many things that have come to manifest themselves – I would say it was extraordinary for the simple reason that we’ve reached out to many and created possibilities.

And I am grateful for everyone of you who have made it possible for us to serve our purpose of spreading unconditional love and unfolding human potential.’

In his email, Tim then goes on to thank everyone who’s made the past 12 months extraordinary. And I thought, ‘Ah ha, there’s the real key again — gratitude’.

At the same time I was reminded of how B1G1 Founder , Masami Sato, turned her birthday into what she refers to as a 'G-Day' — a day of gratitude where she calls up and thanks everyone who’s impacted the last 12 months of her life.

And I realised that in all those time in 2009 when I’d been less than the positive person I strive to be it was because I’d forgotten to be truly and humbly grateful.

And amazingly enough, the MOMENT I wrote those words you've just read, I got an email ‘beep’ pointing me to a site where I watched the most beautiful little movie I’ve ever watched on Gratitude .

I never knew where this post was going or where it would end. But now I know, thanks to that little email. The movie featured a poem called ‘Weather Report’ by Barbara 'BJ' Gallagher Hateley . And although you really must watch the movie, let the words of the poem resonate with you as you say ‘Hello 2009’.