It seems that every year, millions of people make New Year's resolutions that end up failing by February. Gym memberships are bought en masse in January, and the gym is noticeably busier for about three weeks... but then the newcomers suddenly stop showing up. Some decide to strive for better fiscal responsibility, to learn a new skill, or to read more, but without a structured plan, it is often impossible to truly follow through. The core idea of New Year's Resolutions is certainly a positive one; people want to make a positive change in their lives. However, they have often received a bad rap at this point because of their high failure rates. What resolution is possible for every single individual that doesn't require money or time?

*Show More Kindness*

We live in a dog-eat-dog world where nearly every topic imaginable is up for debate or argument. Americans, specifically, live in a selfish, individualized society where the only thing that matters is you. Clearly, with the current atmosphere, we find ourselves in, this ideology is not working. Depression and anxiety rates are at all-time highs, teenage suicide has skyrocketed, and divorce rates are astronomical. The selfish society we live in is not conducive to human health.

"Isn't it cliche to say 'show more kindness'?" Maybe. But here's the thing. Kindness is free. It doesn't have to take up a large amount of your time (unless you'd like it to). Everyone seems so benevolent and kind during the Christmas season, so why is that only specific to a month of the year? If putting smiles on people's faces at Christmastime is important to you, why wouldn't it be important the other eleven months of the year?

My advice? Hold the door open for more people. Smile at others when you walk past them on the sidewalk, in the store, or wherever you may go. Call your family more often and show genuine interest in other people's lives. Send more "I love you" or "I'm thinking about you" texts. Stop having to always be right, and don't put up a fight on insignificant topics that will only end up hurting someone else's feelings. Use kind language when speaking with others, or about others. Always say "thank you" to service employees, coworkers, friends, family, or whoever else helps you in your daily life. Remind others of their worth, and celebrate people's successes instead of feeling envious about them. These things are absolutely free and take very minimal time. Showing more kindness is a New Year's resolution we can all get behind.