Reach Out Maybe It’s Time Teens Made An Effort To Help Others

It is New Year’s Day! Now what?

Sure, it’s time to make your New Year’s resolution, but give it some real thought this time around. As you think about your New Year’s resolution this year - whether it be losing weight, doing all your homework or to stop smoking - don’t forget about a resolution to be kind to others.

When you think of a resolution, you often think of what you are going to do for yourself, right? But what about the others around you? Being kind is often a forgotten quality in our lives. The story below shows that even simple things can make a difference whether you’re aware of it or not.

“A Simple Gesture,”

by John W. Schlatter

Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of his books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball hat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles.

Since they were going the same way, Mark helped carry part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy’s name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball and history, that Bill was having a lot of trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with his girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill’s home first and Mark was invited for a Coke and to watch television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home. They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together twice, then graduated from junior high school.

Later, they ended up in the same high school where they had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks after graduation, Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day years ago when they first met.

“Do you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn’t want to leave a mess for anyone else to clean up. I had stored away some of my mother’s sleeping pills and I was going home to commit suicide. But after we spent time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow, So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You saved my life.”

Life today is very hard and lots of times others need help, even from a stranger. Maybe one day you can make a difference in someone’s life. All the little things you do for people can really make a difference in their lives, whether you know it or not, good or bad.

Even if you don’t know someone, it doesn’t mean you can’t help them or be kind. What would have happened if Mark had never helped Bill? Being good-hearted and respectful is the easiest way. Do you have to say that mean thing about the boy or girl who might be just a bit like Bill. Would you just die if you didn’t say it?

If you say something bad about someone you don’t even know, think about how it would feel if someone said that about you. How would you feel?

We often forget about others and only think about ourselves. Being kind is a simple resolution, but it is the simple gestures that make life worth living. Kindness and the willingness to help others should be an everyday occurrence, but it is not.

Maybe if your New Year’s resolution is to be kind, it will become an everyday event and make our world a better place to live. You can’t just want to be nice, you have to be active in your motives. Maybe a resolution will help you with that.

Everyone must work together. Universal kindness can’t happen unless everyone helps, no matter how little or big your contribution is - even if it is just a smile.

So have a wonderful day!