It is that wonderful time of the year when some commit themselves to New Year’s resolutions. These resolutions may be cheesy and perhaps not obtainable. Others, however, are thoughtful and can certainly bring about improvements to our own lives and the lives of others. While the following may not be incredibly specific, they are a change of pace from “eat healthier, workout more and get a new job.” Here are a8888 few New Year’s resolutions that I found to be thoughtful and achievable goals (and not politicizing). These mainly come from friends on social media and everyday conversations.

Turn “I’m sorry” into “thank you”

Instead of saying “I’m sorry that I am late” try out “Thank you for waiting for me.” This changes the dynamic of being late. Instead of self-shame, you are now expressing gratitude towards the person you are meeting with while still being polite. There are many situations where “I’m sorry …” can be swapped with “thank you for …” phrase.

I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.

A friend posted this on social media. This sounds like an empowering resolution to “be the change we want to see in the world.” Fun fact however, Gandhi never said that. The phrase does not even fit his way of life, it is apolitical. It suggests that our responsibilities begin and end with ourselves. What Gandhi actually said lines up nicely with this resolution: “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”

Volunteer

Simple, yet hard to do. There are so many places to volunteer like hunger centers or animal shelters. Volunteering opportunities also may occur in the workplace and at home. Going the extra mile for a boss may help out in the long run. Helping a neighbor may make their day a little brighter. Volunteering can manifest itself in many ways.