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Eat Less Chocolate, Do More Good

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2008

I promised myself I wouldn't do a preachy New Year's column. But damn it, I can't help it sometimes!

It started when I visited the "Peace by Piece" display in Safety Harbor. A couple of local artists had an idea after a trip to Burma to make a display of homemade peace signs sent in from folks all around the world to draw attention to the children in Burma's orphanages.

The lighted display covers their already wacky and whimsical house and yard. Donations are collected, and every penny is used for the children.

I was struck when I read a quote on one of the posters from Voltaire, the French philosopher and writer:

"Every man is guilty of all the good he didn't do."

Those words put an "ear worm" in my brain, you know like when you can't stop humming the lyrics to some goofy song? I get stuck on "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" a lot.

When I see Oprah building schools for girls in Africa and Brad Pitt building homes for victims of Katrina in New Orleans, I feel inspired. And guilty. That's some big good. Little good doesn't get much press.

It's easy to say when we win the lottery we'll do something big, something worthwhile. Until then we can sit back, talk about why we can't do much good at all, and wait. Here's a news flash: You're not going to win the lottery, and neither am I.

So with the combination of Voltaire's words and the pressure of the New Year's resolution requirement, I ask: What can you (and I) resolve to do this year, this month, tomorrow? I already know you're going to lose weight, get a new job, go back to school and get that degree, and clean out your garage, but what good - little or big - are you going to do? Here are a few thoughts to get you started:

Can you sit down with your kids and spouse and give them your undivided attention a few minutes every day?

Can you share some talent or skill with folks who can only pay with applause and smiles and a thank you?

Can you donate all that stuff in your house and garage you'll never use to somebody who can?

Can you include a few personal words every once in awhile with those forwarded e-mails you send to friends and family?

Can you give up just one grudge you've been holding?

Can you lighten the loneliness in one person's life, for just a few minutes?

Can you say something nice instead of nothing at all?

Can you, like Maya Angelou wrote, "move while you still can"?

Need more incentive for doing a little good? Here's a secret I discovered a long time ago: The more I do for others, the better I feel. On those days, I need less chocolate, no extra strength pain reliever and not an ounce of whisky passes over my lips!

The sad thing, though, about New Year's resolutions is that they rarely hold up over time. I'll venture to say it's partly because we think nobody's watching.

Oh, we mean well, but it's the lack of accountability that dooms us.

So who's watching to see if you do some good this year? OK, there's Santa Claus, but besides him?

All right then, here's a deal for you: You send me one or more of your "Do a Little Good" New Year's resolutions, and every so often I'll check in to see how you're doing. Who am I? Well, I'm a community columnist, entrusted by the powers that be at this fine paper to occasionally deliver a few hundred words to you. Maybe I can even give a bit of press to your little good deeds. You've given me an inch by reading this far, if I don't ask for a mile, how will I know?

And remember, I'm not saying you should feel guilty if you don't do some good this year. Voltaire is.

Sandra Webber is a freelance writer living in Clearwater.

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