Consider altruism this new year
JOBURG - The new year signifies a milestone on the calendar that reminds us of the progression or lack of progression made in our lives.
Although more common new year’s resolutions are premised on self-improvement and self-advancement, consider making resolutions that will have a broader impact on the environment and people around you.
This new year, we take a look at some resolutions that might improve the well being of the community you live in.
1) Limit road rage
High traffic and high stress in the city sometimes sees even the most amiable people lose their temper on the road. It’s a communal effort, and up to each individual driver to ensure that they adhere to the rules of the road and display a more forgiving and less irritable demeanour.
2) Volunteer
Giving of yourself and your free time to worthy causes, whether that’s helping out the chairlady/ chairman of the residents’ association, organising rosters or reading to children at orphanages. An opportunity to give back to others can be fully rewarding in and of itself.
3) Stay positive
The economy is stunted, the cost of living is rising and national news has been excessively negative.
Negativity among the masses can sometimes spread like an infectious virus, any anecdotal evidence can be made against the prospects of this country, being negative is seemingly easy and automatic. Maintaining a positive outlook on the other hand appears to be more challenging.
4) Controlling noise
Whether it’s barking dogs, a faulty alarm, house parties playing loud music, or insufferably screaming children.
Bearing in mind that people have subjective responses to noise irritations, being a little more conscientious to your neighbours might make for a marked difference in your relationship with them for the rest of the year.
5) Keeping public spaces clean
There has been strengthened community initiatives over the years to maintain public spaces throughout the suburbs.
Zoo Lake, Emmerentia Dam, George Hay Park, and James and Ethel Gray Park are popular public spaces and are heavily relied upon by residents as affable places to gather.
Though the onus is on the municipality to maintain these parks, members of the public can affect a great deal of change simply by cleaning up after themselves.
