“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
- Randy Pausch

I just read the latest brilliant post by the always brilliant Seth Godin, which really struck a chord with me. Seth explains that, in spite of all the excess and frivolity and empty promises of traditional New Year’s celebrations, each new year does bring with it something truly special. A very real sense of hope and possibility. The possibility to exceed your expectations. The possibility to be great.

The opportunity this year is bigger than ever: to lead change, to create a movement in a direction you want to go. While the rest of your world huddles and holds back, here’s a golden chance to make something that matters.

While everyone else makes the same traditional resolutions (get fit, lose weight, get out of debt), why not make 2009 the year you resolve to be remarkable.

In that spirit, I thought I’d do my first list post. In honor of the new year, here are my “Top 9 in ‘09: Inspirational Websites To Help You Maintain Your Focus in the New Year.”

1. 100 Blogs That Will Inspire You to Be a Better Person
Speaking of lists, Christina Laun at Massage Therapy Careers posts the mother of all inspirational lists — scouring the Internet to find this awesome collection of motivational websites on everything from personal development tips to ways to find more happiness in your life. Some of my personal favorites made this list, and it helped me find more great resources for staying motivated and inspired in the new year.

2. Advice From the Dalai Lama
This content has been circulating the web for some time, but it’s truly inspiring and definitely worth another read even if you’ve seen it before. This article features “Instructions for Life in the new millennium from the Dalai Lama,” as posted by MySelfDevelopment.net, another great source for personal development. After a tough year, I especially like this sage bit of wisdom:

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

3. How to Avoid the Biggest Mistake You Always Make
For me, this post really hit the nail on the head. As a chronic procrastinator, I sabotage so many areas of my life by postponing the inevitable and putting off doing what I know I should be doing. I’m not sure what drives me to avoid living in the present. But one of my key resolutions this year is to be more aware of this destructive tendency and work on taking action NOW. This great post from the equally inspiring website, Marc and Angel Hack Life, motivates me to want to follow through on that commitment to myself. As much as it’s difficult to hear, I love this great quote from the site:

Procrastinators self-destruct. They hinder their own potential by placing colossal road-blocks along the path to success. In other words, they subconsciously choose to fail.

4. Nice Matters
Let’s face it, life is hard. People don’t always say and do the right thing. Not everyone is on your side or in your life to be kind, supportive and nurturing. Each day, we’re surrounded by negativity and reasons to feel not good enough. But sometimes all it takes an unexpected kind word to turn a bad day around. Sometimes all we need to hear is that we matter, we’re special and we make a difference in the world.

When I get depressed about how mean and selfish and uncaring humans can be, I like to look for example of people being good to each other. Because, as much darkness as there is in humanity, there’s also plenty of goodness if you know where to look. That’s why I love the site Operation Nice by the spectacular Melissa Morris Ivone. I’ve written about this beautiful site before, but it’s certainly worth another mention and an important part of this inspirational list.

5. You Are Great
In a perfect world, we’d all encounter enough niceness each day to keep our spirits and morale high. Unfortunately, we all have days when it feels like the world is not on our side. And there are those painful days when you get way too much negative enforcement and not nearly enough of the positive kind. If you don’t have someone around to tell you how amazing you are, sometimes you need the strength to tell yourself. Here are 3 great pick-me-up sources when you need a little help to feel happy and inspired:

Automatic Flatterer: a fun, clever little script that automatically generates some kind words when you need them most; be sure to forward to a friend and spread the love.

Daily Reminders: regularly updated inspirational messages throughout the day.

Validation Video: a really inspiring short film about the powerful way we touch the lives of others each day and how we can change another’s life with a simple act of kindness:

6. Tom’s Twelve Laws of Life
A great post by Tom Hoobyar featuring 12 important rules to live your life by. Lots of really great advice that speaks to a number of challenges I face on a daily basis (and suspect you might face as well). My favorite is #12: It’s Never Too Late to Change.

You can begin to turn your life around in a second. The only thing you need to do is decide to make it better. You can start to change immediately, beginning with a simple act and letting the acts pile up on each other, creating the change almost effortlessly.

7. A Year of Change
For anyone wanting to make positive changes in their life or live life a different way, I highly recommend The Change Blog. One of my favorite posts is 50 Tips From My Year of Change — 50 tips to incorporate in your daily routine to make life happier, healthier, and more productive. Most of the 50 tips feature links to other really helpful self-improvement articles. Some of the great advice includes stretch yourself by trying something new, don’t settle, try yoga, own your problems, think different.

I also highly recommend you request the free A Year of Change ebook from the site. It’s a phenomenal read. All you need to do is sign up for The Change Blog newsletter, which you’ll probably want to do anyway.

8. The Positivity Blog
Another blog I can’t get enough of is the extraordinary Positivity Blog. So many great posts focused on positivity and opening up new possibilities through motivation, as well as practical articles on how to improve your life. One of my favorite posts to introduce you to this site is Ernest Hemingway’s Top 9 Words of Wisdom — sage advice from the talented writer, journalist and Nobel Prize Winner. #4 on the list is Just Do:

How do you get things done? You take action and do them. Maybe you’ll succeed. Maybe you’ll fail, but if you do then failure can always teach you a bunch of things. The worst thing is not failure, it’s to just sit on your hands and do nothing.

9. The Last Lecture
This definitely qualifies as one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever seen. It all started with Professor Randy Pausch’s incredibly moving and heartwarming lecture at Carnegie Mellon. Apparently, universities have a trend where teachers are asked to give what is called a “last lecture,” intended to be given as if they are dying and this is the last lecture they will give on any topic of their choosing.

However, when Professor Pausch gave his unforgettable lecture, the tradition took on a powerful new meaning. Because, for Randy, this really was to be his last lecture as he had recently been diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer.

The video of the lecture became a worldwide sensation and Internet phenomenon. And I defy anyone to watch it without shedding more than a few tears. To be honest, I bawled like a baby the first time I saw it — and everytime thereafter — and it’s even challenging for me to write this post without getting teary eyed. But, as sad as it is, it’s also one of the most beautiful and poignant speeches I’ve ever heard. One that really makes you realize that life is meant to be cherished. You can’t take tomorrow for granted. Make your life remarkable right here, right now. And embrace how truly spectacular life really is.

Unfortunately, Randy Pausch lost his battle with cancer on July 25, 2008. But his inspiring legacy lives on. Watch the video below of the speech that started it all (but please be advised to have Kleenex on hand). I also encourage you to read the book “The Last Lecture,” which expands on the inspirational message of the video.