New Year's Resolution

Its that time again. We all mentally review the past year -- the decisions we have made, the places we have gone, the people we have met -- and begin to make plans for the coming year. New Years invites reflection. It presents another chance to get things right, to start over and to wipe the slate clean -- complete with fresh ideas, goals and wishes. To kick off the New Year, most of us will hold ourselves to a resolution -- usually they are so lofty we can't keep them going for longer than a month. But, hopefully this year will be different for me. My resolution this year is to do 366 good deeds in 2008. The good deeds can range from the very small - holding the door open for someone with full hands -- to the very large -- building houses for habitat for humanity and volunteering at the Special Olympic Games. Each day (or more realistically, each week) I will update my blog with my progress and let you know all about my good deeds.

After making this decision a few weeks ago - I have been very excited to get started. And, let's be honest. I will need all the time I can get to do the 366 good deeds. So, I began the resolution a few days early.

Good Deed #1. My first good deed occurred by circumstance, not by planning. Brian and I went to a local Irish Pub to watch the New England Patriots game the other night. We sat across from a group that had approximately 10 people in their party. They ordered beer and shots one after another. When it came down to paying the bill - they of course all wanted to pay separately. We've all been there before - breaking down the bill, counting the cash, writing the credit card charges down by name and amount -- it's not that hard. But, at the end of it all, everyone was gone except for 2 people (both well over the age of 40 and were previously bragging to us that they were from the Laguna Beach area and now living in one of the rich areas in Boise). The waiter politely approached the remaining 2 people and said their party still owed $8.25. After a short discussion and raised voices, the waiter finally let it go. He would just make it up later or would be short for the night.

Thinking this is ridiculous, I decided this is a perfect opportunity for a good deed. I got a ten dollar bill and called the waiter over. I explained my New Years Resolution and handed him the ten dollars and told him that was for the drinks and his tip. Simple as that. A good deed was accomplished and I only have 365 more good deeds remaining.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe New Year!

Becky