Shannon Yee

Things that I am resolving (which means according to Merriam-Webster, to deal with successfully, to reach a firm decision about) to do in the upcoming year are: 1) Serve others by God’s grace, not my own efforts to earn their approval or praise, but as a response of love – giving a gift to God (as I would to a friend or someone that might a special something). 2) Obey God and move forward in what He has already given me to do, even if it’s scary or difficult or seemingly unimportant or non-essential.

In the past my resolutions have been the same as everyone else on the planet, to eat healthier, to exercise more, read more of the Bible, etc. I have done very well with these goals for the most part. One example is running a marathon in 2003, but this year I feel like I do those things anyway or at least I try to do those things regularly every day. So, for this year, I want to be nicer. That’s what I told Brian my resolution was going to be: Be Nicer! I think that is something that I really want to do and can successfully do with God’s help. Still, “Be Nicer” isn’t a very clear or specific goal and in order for me to accomplish anything in this regards it needs to be very specific and measurable as well as achievable.

You may be thinking about what being nicer would look like to you… For me, it includes many things. For starters, not yelling or slamming doors or even pouting or thinking about how unfair and terrible it all is when my kids and husband are not doing exactly what I want is much nicer than my current modus operandi. Also, I’d like to help those who need it, like watching a friend’s kids so she do whatever she wants, chatting with a lonely person, providing a meal or clean home to a friend or stranger, or most helpful diligently praying for others. Most challenging for me is probably so easy for everyone else, but being nicer to the strangers I encounter every day – cashiers, wait staff, other drivers and shoppers. I think it’s very reasonable for me to smile and share a friendly greeting, even when provoked or annoyed. There are, of course, many other nice things that I could do, but I think this will be a good start for me…

Going back to my resolutions as numbered above, these both fall into the broad category of being nice. Number One is an attempt to specifically, yet generally, define being nicer to others. Number Two is the reasoning behind my resolutions and sort of a catch all for anything that I might have left out or forgotten (or am not ready to admit/deal with just yet).

Here’s to a Happy New Year!