Someone I know who is a hypnotherapist and does all sorts of things like that said that everything operates on a 'cycle' based on the number 9. Apparently, 2007 was a '9' year which denotes the end of things, of negativity, death, decay etc so many people had a terrible year (me included)
2008, on the other hand is a '1' and the beginning of a new cycle - so good news for positivity and new beginnings.
I certainly hope so!