Are you willing to bet on yourself? This question is one I've asked myself throughout the years. It started when I was age 10 and decided to jump across a wide, slippery ditch. Call me crazy, but a part of me just knew I could make it to the other side even though I'd never jumped it before. Guess what? I made it! It was an exhilarating feeling that led me to push myself to do other challenging things in life. Of course, all of them didn't work out perfectly, but the fact that I was able to take risks helped me learn to trust myself. It is a feeling that I've had to rely on in order to make some of the most important transitions in life that would normally seem out of reach for me. For this reason, I was really happy to hear about a renowned runner who'd done the same: Mensen Ernst.

Mensen Ernst was a Norwegian marathon runner who was popular in the 1800s. Considered to be one of the world's first professional athletes, he traveled the world betting against himself. From Europe to Africa, he ran to beat his own times. What was his most spectacular feat? Ernst ran from Paris to Moscow in 14 days. It was unheard of in his day and set a precedence for future runners.

In 1843, Mensen Ernst died on a quest to find the source of the Nile River. However, his passing wasn't sorrowful. For most of his life, Ernst had bet on himself and it led him on an exciting lifelong adventure. As a result, his life became a testimony to anyone who wanted to achieve great things. He showed the world that if you bet on yourself, you win. Use this lesson for yourself and make the upcoming year your best one. Believe in your abilities to make the necessary changes in your life to be happy and win in 2009.