By now you’ve seen all the “best & worst” lists and the predictions.  We rush into 2009 expecting Change.gov and hoping it’s for the better.  Whether in good times or bad we experience life together by sharing – sharing brings us together.  We share to support our friends and sometimes find new friends.

This year, more than ever, we are migrating the human experience to the online world. Younger generations may never experience the 20 year high school reunion like their parents did because their social network will be a persistent and omnipresent support community.  This year I’ve unfortunately witnessed a few human tragedies but have been astonished at how the speed of the network organized friends and loved ones to support each other in inspiring ways.

When we were forming ShareThis and told people that we would make sharing simple, admittedly we received some quizzical looks.  Is sharing hard?  Why is it important? We believe that sharing is a fundamental part of how we connect with and relate to people, something that every one of us needs and desires.

Sharing isn’t new, but the things that can be shared and the ways we can share have increased dramatically… but sometimes the technology gets in the way. We share in different ways with different people.  Some of us use cool new tools like Twitter and others like to stick with Email.  It’s all good. References to sharing across the Web have been skyrocketing.

People share what matters.  We conducted a study with Forrester earlier this year and found that the number one reason people share is to help someone they know benefit .  Not only do we share what matters, we share because we care!   In a world of information overload, sharing cuts through the clutter.

ShareThis was launched just over one year ago and the growth has been amazing.  We appreciate each and every one of our publisher partners who joined us this year and to the users who have made ShareThis the people’s choice for sharing – we promise to keep innovating and listening to your feedback in the coming year.

However you plan to ring in the New Year, I wish you the best and look forward to sharing 2009 with you.

Tim