another year, another chance to make a change

     Each new year brings another opportunity to reflect on the past 365 days and to look forward to the next 365 days.  New Year's resolutions give us the chance to decide for ourselves what we want to change or improve upon throughout the coming year.  But most likely more often than not, those resolutions made on New Year's Eve are pushed aside and forgotten about within a short period of time.  In my opinion, this happens because we are selfish.  We make resolutions regarding ourselves, so when the time comes to carry out those resolutions, we reevaluate what we want at that moment and most of the time we want to do the easiest thing which usually does not include making a change or improving anything about ourselves.  According to one online poll, the top ten New Year's resolutions for 2010 were listed as follows:

1. Stop smoking
2. Get into a habit of being fit
3. Lose weight
4. Enjoy life more
5. Quit drinking
6. Get organized
7. Learn something new
8. Get out of debt
9. Spend more time with family
10. Help other people

     Coincidence that "help other people" was listed last?  I don't think so.  It's because we are selfish.  So how do we change that?  Maybe we should make it a New Year's resolution to focus more on others.  That way, when the time comes to carry out our resolution, we won't have to reevaluate what we want at that moment because the resolution doesn't affect us, it affects the people around us.  And if we follow through with our resolution, we won't have to worry about missing out on doing something that could change or improve ourselves because by helping other people we will be helping ourselves.  So challenge yourself this year, not to help yourself, but to help others.  They say there isn't a happier feeling than the feeling one gets while serving others.  And after all, we are all wishing for a happy new year, right?  So here's to making it one.