Spike Santee

Edgar Albert Guest was a prolific English-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People's Poet. Guest was widely read for his sentimental, optimistic poems like this one.

Every now and then, you might feel like people are just piling it on. They just keep dumping more and more dirt on your back until you feel just like giving up. You're carrying around so much dirt you just don't think you can keep going. Circumstances aren't going your way. All you need is a break. If only you could get a break things would be so much better. Or would it? Why not just shake it off and step it up.

There have been 13 recessions in the United States since the Great Depression ended in 1933. The average time in a recession is 10 months. The average time between recessions has been 57 months. Historically, there are more good times than bad. Unfortunately, the pace of growth in this economic recovery from the Great Recession has been much slower than in previous recoveries. Here are five ideas than can help you have a more prosperous New Year and a brighter future.

Most people can agree on what Santa Claus looks like – a jolly old man with a big white beard dressed up in a red suit with big black boots. But that depiction of Santa is a modern day creation, the product of advertising.