Every 12 months, as the New Year rolls around, we all brag about our New Year's Resolutions. With inflated chests and with all the authority we can muster, we announce to any and every available ear, that we're going to lose weight, stop drinking and smoking so much, as well as spend more time with our family, in addition to investing more time down at the gym.

Mostly our vision extends no further than our own noses. To add insult to injury, we usually don't follow through on our "Me Orientated" resolutions and goals. In a matter of months, and sometimes even weeks, we've forgotten all about our "new improved" character, which results in feelings of frustration and failure.

Most 'experts' tell us not to elevate our expectations too high. On the other hand, perhaps we fail because we don't set out goals high enough.

What if we looked outward instead of inward when making our declarations? Would we then be able to complete a year feeling satisfied rather than contemptuous about ourselves?

I'd like to take a risk and suggest one resolution that might last a year, or, maybe even, a lifetime. A resolution that makes you feel good about yourself whilst simultaneously including others.

It's not my idea so I don't want to take any credit for it. In fact, the idea originated from a movie called "Pay It Forward" directed by Mimi Leder. If there's one video you need to see this year - then this is the one.

The idea is simple. You do something good for other people. These people cannot 'repay' you - they are encouraged to "pay it forward" - in turn, doing something good for someone else. And so on and so forth.

The mathematics is simple. If I'll do something constructive for 3 people and these 3 people in turn do something for 3 other people - we have already impacted 9 people in total. These 9 people will make a difference in 27 people's life, which in their turn will touch 81 people's hearts.

See how fast it grows?

Until today, this simple mathematical principle was abused through multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes.

This year, you can use the same principle to make the world a better place.

Of course, there will be those people that break the chain. However, others still, will reach out and touch more people than you could possibly imagine. Just open your heart and give. Trust in the goodness of man and allow yourself to be overwhelmed.

There are many ways to touch people's heart. An action, a hug, a word, a smile.

Make "Pay It Forward" your resolution this year, and remember:

• It takes ONE NATION to make a difference in this WORLD.
  
• It takes ONE COMMUNITY to make a difference in this NATION.
  
• It takes ONE FAMILY to make a difference in this COMMUNITY.
  
• It takes ONE PERSON to make a difference in this FAMILY.

You are the ONE!

Go ahead and make someone's day. See how it makes YOU feel. Then when they smile back and thank you, ask them to "Pay It Forward."

Copyright © - Nisandeh Neta. - Reprinted with permission.

To purchase the "Pay It Forward" video, click on the movie title or image below.

Pay It Forward (2000) - Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Angie Dickinson & Bon Jovi - VHS - Beginning as a seventh-grade class assignment to put into action an idea that could change the world, young Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment - The Sixth Sense) comes up with a plan to do good deeds for three people who then by way of payment each must do good turns for three other people. These nine people also must "pay it forward" and so on. If successful, the resulting network of do-gooders ought to comprise the entire world. Trevor's attempts to get the ball rolling include befriending a junkie and trying to set up his recovering-alcoholic mother with his burn-victim teacher, who posed the assignment.  DVD or VHS - Subtitled in Spanish

Send someone you love a FREE e-New Year's Day card. . .

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Too much of a "Happy New Year?" Read: A Sure Cure for a Hangover.

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