My New Year’s resolution last year was to get myself more organized in my paperwork and in my life. I share this with you as I sit typing at my desk which has way too much paperwork and clutter on it. Clearly, I have failed another
resolution.
Last year I got as far as purchasing containers to help me organize. The shopping part of the resolution I liked, but the actual act of organizing failed. Why? Because I find organizing to be one of the most boring activities on the
planet, so I lost interest. My empty containers sit in the corner of my office, a nagging reminder of yet another failed New Year’s resolution.
My resolutions are always destined to fail because I set resolutions that are in some way a form of punishment for some personal shortcoming. My resolutions are
typically about correcting traits that I don’t like in myself. I think many popular New Year’s resolutions involve people resolving to give up a bad habit or start a healthy one, because they recognize a personal imperfection and want to correct it. Most of us don’t follow through on these self-correcting resolutions.
Perhaps part of the problem with resolutions is the inward attempts at personal betterment. There isn’t anything wrong with trying to make ourselves better, but maybe if we focus our resolutions on outward goals, we might have more success. Instead of doing things to make ourselves better, we should be committing to something that helps the world and makes the world a better place. Let’s face it, the world needs everyone’s help.
In the big scheme of things, I am just one person and it seems doubtful that “little old me” could do anything that would possibly impact the world. Yet, the world is made up of a bunch of “little old me’s.” If we all resolve, in the coming New Year, to perform small, kind acts everyday towards our fellow man, the combined collective of selfless acts could have a global impact. If we all direct our energies on outwardly contributing to the world in small ways everyday, it could bring us that much closer to peace and ultimately make us all better people.
Here is my official 2010 New Year’s resolution: I resolve to help my fellow man, every day. In big ways and in small, I will lend a hand, not only to my loved ones, but to strangers on the streets. My mantra for 2010 will be, “How can I
help you?”
May all of you have a wonderful, safe New Year!