With this awful recession weakening people’s spirits, it’s important to remind ourselves now and then that there’s a lot of stuff to feel good about. Here are 5 of my favorite YouTube videos that never fail as mood boosters. Any one of them could make your day. Watch all 5 and you might choke on your own happy hormones.

Susan Boyle auditions for Britain’s Got Talent

I just came across this one yesterday via Career Renegade, but it’s quickly taking the world by storm. Susan Boyle, a plain looking, unemployed, 47 year old woman, did a singing audition last week before a highly judgmental audience, including the brutal judges Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan. (YouTube embedding is disabled for this one, but just click on the picture.)

Reunion with Christian the lion

John Rendall and Ace Berg rescued a lion cub from a sad life in a London department store in 1969. After Christian the lion got too big for them to keep, they had to return him to Africa. Then after he readjusted to the wild, John and Ace paid him a visit. Would he remember them?

Mister Rogers addresses the U.S. Senate

President Lyndon Johnson proposed a $20 million grant for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, but President Nixon wanted that amount cut in half. A youngish Mister Rogers went before the tough-as-nails Senator John Pastore, to persuade him that children are worth investing in.

Nick Vujicic living life without limits

Being a little different isn’t stopping Nick Vujicic from being happy, or inspiring millions of people.

Free parking changes the world

The short film Validation raked up awards at film festivals in 2007. No wonder, when you see what free parking can do for people. 16 minutes, but definitely worth setting aside time for.

By the way, a couple of these videos were popularized by big bloggers a few months ago, but subscribers to my newsletter saw them first. Sign up now, so you don’t miss the next one!