I’ve always found the best gift (other than love) is sharing a good idea, great find or a hot tip. So as we wrap up the year, here a few of my favourite things from 2009.

Favourite book: The Road by Cormac McCarthy (www.cormacmcCarthy.com). In a post-apocalyptic landscape, a father and young son struggle to survive on a road littered with despair and depravity. In the constant face of death, when all else falls away, this dark yet life-affirming fable explores the limits of morality, compassion and humanity.

Favourite film: The Road, adapted from Cormac McCarthy’s Pulitzer prize-winning novel, with compelling performances from Viggo Mortenson and  young actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. A difficult, bleak film to watch, but one that brings into sharp focus the best and worst of humanity.

Favourite live concert(s): Leonard Cohen, still sexy and poetic at 74; and Cold Play, Chris Martin and fellow British band mates whose exuberance, playfulness and serious ability to rock made for an unforgettable show. Both at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.

Favourite new music discovery: Snow Patrol (www.snowpatrol.com), the Scottish pop-rock band who opened for Cold Play in Winnipeg, and could have carried a concert on their own.

Favourite website: http://www.ted.comThe absolute best and brightest working in technology, entertainment and design. Check it out and be inspired.

Favourite blog(s): http://www.sethgodin.comfor a regular dose of sage marketing advise and just good business sense; and 2 design sites that spark both the imagination and inspiration that beauty provides: http://www.designtherapy.com and http://vicentewolfblog.com

Favourtite restaurant(s): In Winnipeg, Bistro 71/4 (725 Osborne Ave.), a charming, intimate French bistro; and Pizzeria Gusto (404 Academy Road) whose unusual pizzas and European atmosphere live up to its name.

In New York City, Tartine (253 W. 11th St.), an adorable, tiny French café in the West Village that could have be lifted from the streets of Provence; and Pastis (9 Ninth Ave.) a large, bustling Provencale-style bistro in NYC’s meatpacking district that serves up fabulous, classic French fare and ambiance.

Favourite travel destination (this year): New York City – have been there more than 20 times, but as one of the world’s most energetic and culturally diverse cities NYC never fails to offer delight and discovery.

Favourite quote: “Fortes fortuna juvat.” (Fortune favours the brave.) Or as my friend says: Luck favours the bold.

Best life advice: “You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down and has made all the difference in my life… stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs (CEO of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation) in his address to the graduating class of Stanford University. Click here for the entire speech.  http://www.ted.com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to_live_before_you_die.html

What were some of your favourite finds, good ideas or new discoveries in 2009? Please send them to me.

And all the best for 2010.

It’s a week before Christmas and the best gift I’ve found is this slightly wacky but adorable Christmas song by the group Joy Zipper. So unzip some joy… and remember love is always a good gift.  (Note: I discovered this video on one of my favorite blogs www.designtherapy.com)

Big thoughts and small actions make a difference. – Seth Godin

Marketing guru and author Seth Godin has created an inspiring new e-book with thoughts from 70 of world’s leading thinkers and doers about what’s important now.  By focusing on what matters today, we will change what matters in the future. I particularly liked the entries by Seth Godin on Generosity, Elizabeth Gilbert on Ease, and Derek Sivers on Passion.

click here to find out What matters now to these authors.

My riff on what matters now would be about Humanity, and our need to rediscover what it means to be humane, kind and benevolent in a world that often opposes this — whether it’s greed on Wall Street fueling a financial and social breakdown, governments turning a blind eye to torture, or nations waging brutal wars, to name but a few examples. How a society treats its citizens represents its degree of civilization; how we treat each other reflects our own humanity… or lack of it. We cannot continue to think and act like barbarians and expect the world – including our own world – to be a peaceful and life-affirming place.

What matters now, and in the new year, to you?

I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. – Maya Angelou

I’ve heard that performing an act of kindness not only increases serotonin (the happy neurotransmitter that affects our moods) in the person receiving the kindness but also in the person offering the good deed. And the chain reaction of goodness doesn’t stop there, even someone observing an act of kindness will receive a boost of serotonin. In other words, being kind to others – or witnessing it – may be better than a dose of anti-depressants.

And you may discover that when you give to others, you give to yourself.

During the holidays, when the spirit of giving (and hoping to receive) is ever-present, I’ve found a wonderful place where you can give to others while raising your own happiness and feel-good quotient to a new level.

Enter Kiva.org – loans that change lives.

Kiva is the world’s first micro-financing website where individuals (like you and me) can go online and lend to unique entrepreneurs around the globe, usually in developing countries. For as little as $25 you can make a loan and change a life. Whether it’s a rice farmer in Cambodia, women selling clothing in Sierre Leone or a small business in Peru, you choose whom you would like to support and Kiva looks after the rest.

Kiva’s field partners, micro-finance institutions operating around the world, approve and disburse the microloan to the entrepreneur in their community. Within 6-12 months the loan is repaid, and you can reinvest it with Kiva.org or receive your money back.

Here’s the story of a Kiva loan and how it all works.

A Fistful Of Dollars: The Story of a Kiva.org Loan from Kieran Ball on Vimeo.