Every year millions of people around the world make resolutions most of which are broken by the end of January.  So, what if this year we all made just one resolution and stuck to it.

 

What if our one resolution was to treat everyone we meet with respect and dignity.  What if we speak in a civil tone even if we disagree with each other.  What if we appreciated another political viewpoint even if it’s wildly different from our own as long as it wasn’t destructive or violent in nature.  And what if we went out of our way to be nice to another human being that was lonely just once a day or even once a week.

 

Now, this may sound a little utopian but it’s really simple if you think about it.  It’s a heck of a lot easier than cutting out chocolate cake or running two miles every day.  So, if it’s so simple, why has it become so hard?  Why has the discourse in this country become so mean spirited?  Why do people feel they have permission to say things online about someone that they would never dream of saying to someone’s face.   Why has the bar been lowered so much?

 

Many people blame it on public figures.  But the reality is no one can really make us mean.  We become that way all on our own.  We may excuse ourselves by saying “well if they do it, why can’t I do it?”  Remember that old expression that your mom probably told you once or twice “if someone else jumped off a bridge, would you follow them?”  Let’s remind ourselves of that the next time we give ourselves permission to say something nasty.  It doesn’t mean that we can’t voice our opinion but there is a right way and a wrong way to do it and I’m sure most of us are smart enough to figure which is which.

 

So, this year, let’s all make a resolution that we can keep if we only try; be nicer, be more respectful, help someone who needs it.  And then pat yourself on the back if you succeed because you raised the bar a little bit higher and you set a great example for others including our children.   FirstLantic wishes you and your family a happy (and nice) 2021!