•  The Dow is up (big) 2 of the last 3 days.
•  Mortgage applications are up.
•  Sales of both new and existing homes are up.
•  The price of of oil closed yesterday at $65.30/barrel.
•  Americans are saving more.
•  Airplanes are still full.
•  There are signs that our frozen banking system is beginning to thaw.
•  The Tennessee Titans remain undefeated after 7 games.

There’s 8 solid bits of good news to start your day. Okay, the last one is nothing more than  a gentle jab at my partner, whose Jacksonville Jaguars haven’t performed quite as well.

Seriously, though we’ve got some real challenges on our plate at the moment, let’s not lose sight of the stuff that’s working. Consistent with the example set by British explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton when the ship bearing he and his 26 crew-members was crushed by the pack ice 100 miles from land, stranding them for nearly 2 years, it really helps to strive daily for a bit of levity, and to focus on something positive, even if for just a few minutes. Doing so unfreezes the grip of a difficult situation and lets you keep your wits about you. Pass it along!