Quit smoking.  Lose weight.  Enjoy life.  Help others.  These are four of the most common new year’s resolutions according to most everyone who surveys such things.  Chances are that a couple of these are on your list as well.  Sadly, less than 1 out of every 3 people will fulfill one of their new year’s resolutions.  In fact, statistically speaking, about 1 in five of us will have already given up trying by the end of January.

I’ve never been a smoker, so I can’t help you keep that resolution.  I know a few things about losing weight, although COVID has added a few pounds back.  However, I do know a heck of a lot about enjoying life, and maybe even a little bit about helping others.  Let’s resolve together to enjoy life more and to do more to help others.

In my experience, this pair of resolutions is basically two sides of the same coin.  When we are inspired to help another in this world, we almost always find a little joy for ourselves in the process.  Here are three simple rules to remember which can help you resolve to both help others and enjoy life more.

First, give local.  This is not to say that there aren’t causes worthy of your support far beyond Door County.  Of course there are.  But charity begins at home for a reason.  When you give to local charities you are impacting the community you love.  It’s a beautiful thing to know that your contributions are touching the lives of people whose paths you might cross at the grocery store or who sit at the other end of the pew at church on Sunday.  Charity begins at home because it’s there that giving is most personally rewarding. 

Second, give more than money.  As good as it feels to share of your financial abundance with the less fortunate, giving of your time can even be more rewarding.  If you have a strong personal connection to your favorite Door County charity, imagine how wonderful it would feel if you could actually be there, actively involved in their work.  Through your volunteer service, you will build a deep understanding of how the organization works.  Assuming the charity is working well, then you will draw great satisfaction from where your contributions of time and money are going.  If the non-profit needs a little help to improve, you’ll be in a position to do something about it – which can be even more personally satisfying.

Third, give as a family.  However you define your family – you and your children, your close friends, your church, or service club – when you go through the experience of donating and volunteering as a group, it reinforces the bonds and connections that exist between you.  We are never more noble then when we act selflessly – and charitable giving is a selfless act.  When we are charitable, we are at our very best.  By giving as a family, we are offered the wonderful opportunity to see each other at our very best.  It reminds us of why we are blessed to call these people our family and friends.

So let’s all make at least two resolutions together for 2022 and let’s commit to reminding each other of what they are.  Let’s resolve to help others, and in the process, let’s enjoy life more.

Of course, it would make my lovely wife happy if you’d also remind me about my resolution to lose weight.  But then again, I wasn’t really serious about that one.

Bret Bicoy is President & CEO of the Door County Community Foundation.  Contact him at bret@givedoorcounty.org.