Healthy tip: Gratitude keeps you humble and happy.

As the year comes to a close, here is my list of the top 10 things I am grateful for in 2008:

1. I got to travel to some exotic locations. Thanks to a wonderful friend, I ran in the Gold Coast Australia marathon and experienced wind, rain, and a beautiful rainbow along the run. I also ran the Antarctica marathon, which was an endurance battle of epic proportions. Looking at whales in their natural habitat and miles of penguins lurking about... there is a calmess and stillness that exists at the south pole. Unfortunately, my time in this race left something to be desired, but I am grateful for a body that lets me put it through hell and somehow manages to keep bouncing back.

2. The gorgeous Aussie who walked back on the course just to bring me a jacket. Thank you Paul for a year of "How you going?" and "Are you winding me up?" and starry nights at the farm, not to mention the sexy accent and delicious cooking.

3. The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo, where would I be without thee Bravo? From juicy catfights, to fashion shows without fashions, my Tuesday nights would never be the same for the next 8 weeks. Thank you for a wildly entertaining ride of women stuck in the 8th grade so I can feel like a far superior human being.

4. Sprinkles cupcakes opening in Scottsdale, Arizona. I can't think of anything better or tastier than a one-serving size of sugary heaven. Sure, it has calories, but some things in life are just worth the extra 20 minutes on the treadmill. Cupcakes are the perfect dessert-the perfect size serving of buttery cake and creamy frosting.

5. My Life on the D-List. This is the funniest show on television. I love Kathy Griffin and went to see her show live twice. Sure, she is a bit blue and "curses like a boy," but she shows no shame in mocking Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, and Tom Cruise, and that is classic humor at its best. I'm not one to laugh out loud very often, but every episode I find myself wiping the tears from my eyes with some of her one-liners.

6. All-inclusive resorts. My girlfriend and I went to Jamaica for a little R&R. We literally spent no money once we got there. At our whim were Jamaican BBQ, smoothies, and Jamaican men catering to our every move.

7. Friends with benefits. My brother's friend works at my all-time favorite store--Sephora. I have received some delicious packages of beauty products all for gratis. Gratis is my new favorite word. From Dylan's scented "chocolate cupcake" lotion to Clinique Happy's fragrance, all were mine for gratis. And you know I love my beauty products!

8. Gold Class movies in Australia. I highly recommend watching movies in this fashion if you are ever in the land down under. You get treated like a rock star, from dinner and drinks to your own private leather, reclining seats.

9. Employment. In this day and age, you cannot take anything for granted.

10. Health and happiness. After a bad bike accident last September in a triathlon, I finally recovered in January. I met some tremendous people on the Antarctica trip who all share a love of adventure and a willingness to drop a few thousand dollars, or more than a few thousand, on a trip to the bottom of the earth just to run with attacking birds.