Make This Year Remarkable for Someone Else
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Reflecting on New Year's Resolutions
During a recent conversation with friends about New Year’s resolutions, one of them shared an intriguing idea she stumbled upon on Instagram:
"What if we made it our goal to enhance the year for someone else?"
This thought struck me hard. As I was deeply engrossed in contemplating my own aspirations for the upcoming year, I realized I had never considered a resolution that extends beyond my personal ambitions.
Choosing to Make a Difference
I decided to focus my efforts on my mom. (Yes, this means I’ll have to share fewer stories because she can’t know my plans.) She lives far away in Florida, so I began by making more intentional phone calls to check in on her daily life. While I occasionally did this in the past, I never approached it with regularity or purpose.
Just yesterday, she reached out for help setting up her Zoom call, and I paused everything to offer my full support and patience.
This might seem like a small gesture, but it represents a significant shift in my approach. After doing some research, I discovered that the original Instagram post came from CRC Nashville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hygiene and household essentials to over 80 charities in Tennessee. Their commitment to service is inspiring, while I’m just trying to be a little kinder to my mom.
Despite my modest efforts, it has been enjoyable to brainstorm ways to bring joy to her day. My iPhone photography skills are improving, as evidenced by the following photo:
A Unique Resolution from CRC Nashville
As I reflect on this resolution, I came across part of a post from CRC Nashville that resonated with me:
"Many of us will take time today to think about the past year and set goals for the upcoming one. Our team at CRC is doing the same and we have a rather bold idea. What if we all added a new resolution to our lists? One that isn't focused on ourselves? What if we made it our mission to make 2022 fantastic for someone else?"
For additional inspiration, I found a 2013 SoulPancake video featuring Kid President’s Awesome Year Challenge. In it, he shares 25 ways to make the year brighter for others.
Time to Respond
I need to wrap this up; I've just received a message from my mom:
"Please get in touch when you can. I need help locating my junk folder in Gmail. Looking for a business email from a client. Thanks — Mom"
Who will you choose to uplift this year?