Holiday time -- as far as I'm concerned -- is the best time to be a New Yorker. There's life, energy, and beauty all over Manhattan. I sincerely thought I was paying attention to the greatness of it all -- until this past Friday afternoon, that is.

If you want to change your glass from half empty to half full then you have to learn to embrace all aspects of your life and have gratitude for the gifts you receive every day.

Take a chance and try finding some good even in most situations by just switching the order of events you're retelling to a "bad news, good news" mode. Maybe life won't seem quite as difficult when you frame things that way.

Quick question. Are you happy? That's right, I am talking to you. You know, the one half of any relationship you create and the only part you can control: You.