New Year's Resolution Challenge

There have been several fantastic articles by some of my favorite NV authors (Celestina, rwarner, just to name a couple) lately. They are along the same line as the feelings many of us have at this time of year. We begin making our New Year's resolutions to quit smoking, exercise, eat better, etc. It is along this line of thinking that I bring you my take on the tradition of New Year's resolutions.

Though I find it an impossibly ridiculous and arbitrary time each year to finally decide to do something you've been wanting to do all year anyway, I commend any and all that endeavor to improve themselves, their lives, or their situation with this New Year's choice as its catalyst. I do make one caveat here, however. Instead of the usual resolutions people tend to make as I mentioned above, I challenge each of you to, this year at least, make a second resolution.

No knee-jerk reactions here, please. I ask that you take a few moments or as much time as you like (remember you've only got a few days left though), to search your soul for what one thing you can do to resolve to improve someone else's New Year. Have you written an article on suffering somewhere in the world? Maybe you could volunteer in '07 at an assisted care facility. Did you comment in a thread about the Iraq war and how frustrated you are by its continuance? Why not set time each week in '07 to send an email or an actual letter to your local representative or member of Congress.

There are any numbers of ways you/we can make a difference in the upcoming year. If you have the time and desire to actually donate to a cause, would you be willing to take a moment to invest in our future? What if you were to become a Big Brother or Big Sister in your area? Imagine the impact you could have on a child's life and outlook! You could volunteer to visit a local school and read to a class of children. When's the last time you did that?

On a more self indulgent note, if you don't have it in you to do any of the above or you are already volunteering much of your time for your chosen worthy cause. How about you take a moment and find your inner child. That wonderful time when you had your whole life ahead of you, little or no responsibility, and laughter was your daily credo! The next time you find yourself driving by a park or a play ground filled with children, stop, sit down, and just watch. Turn your cell phone, laptop, pager, etc off and actually take in some of the positive energies from their playing and make them your own.

No matter what you choose to do in the upcoming New Year, I challenge you to make a difference not only in your life, but in the life of another. It will make you think twice before allowing yet another resolution to lapse unrequited!

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