Consider this post your personal invitation to join the growing global kindness revolution; helping you make ONE of your 2012 new year’s resolutions, a resolution for social good:

1. Give Blood, give plasma
Help save a life!  One in three people will need a life-saving blood transfusion in their lifetime, yet only 1 in 30 people donate.  Make it your New Year’s resolution to save a life, and give blood or plasma, more here.

2. Make a volunteering resolution – experience first hand how good it feels to help another, read about how to get started here

3.  This birthday, make it a pay-it-forward birthday
This birthday, rather than collect more stuff why not choose your favourite cause and instead ask your friends or family to donate their gift-giving-budget to a charity.  Have a look what my kids did last year for their own pay-it-forward birthday here.

4. Seek out gifts that are socially kind
From calendars, to lipsticks, underwear, children’s books, micro-loans –  there are lots of gifts you can give that support charities or good causes.  Be socially-kind in your gift giving and choose the gift that gives twice!

5. Dedicate a run / ride / inspired adventure in 2012 to a charity
Combine your fitness-new-years-resoltion with a charity one, and dedicate your efforts to a cause.  It is easy, simply ask your friends/contacts to sponsor you per kilometre and set up your own fundraising page eg. EverydayHero or contact Inspired Adventure and join one of intrepid adventures!

6. Organise your work team / friendship group to do some do-gooding
All it takes is one motivated individual (YOU) to organise the others.  Seek out a local community groups who you can help with specific tasks such as building a garden, tree planting, cooking for the homeless or donating your professional skills. Stuck for an idea, then please email at tara@socialmoney.com.au

7. Buy locally, live sustainably
Remember your dollar is your vote, make it count! Next time you are shopping, have a think about the organisation behind the brand on the shelf – yes, the one you are supporting with your purchase.  Are you inadvertently supporting child-labour or the destruction of rain forests? Get your pocket guide to Ethical Shopping (available in hardcopy or iphone app) …or better still, plant your own kitchen garden or start your own compost heap. (Some great books on these topics are Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion and Indira Naidoo’s The Edible Balcony)

8. Boycott plastic bags
… for one whole month – or better still all of 2012?  Set yourself a challenge and see how long you can last.  If we all made a small committment to use 20 less plastic bags in 2012, imagine the collective difference we could make?  Have a look at Small Steps Project Intro from Amy Hanson on Vimeo – these kids who literally live in dumps around the world – among many emotions you will feel, I am hoping it will make you think twice about adding more to landfill.

9. Do a spring clean, declutter and help a cause
Charities are always looking for lots of things, including building materials, unused toiletries or hotel shampoos, and more.  Clear out the garage, clear out under the stairs and donate it to a worthy charity.  Have you heard about the GIVIT List yet?  GIVIT.org.au is a unique web-based philanthropic community where people donate items to people in need, sign up to receive the GIVIT list each Wednesday.

10. Befriend a neighbour
A simple smile, a wave hello or a sincere hi, how are you is enough to change someone’s day for the better.  You get what you give – so why not give an extra smile of kindness.  For more tips read my R U OK? Day post.

Have I missed something off my list?  Please leave me a comment with your socially kind New Year’s resolution, I would LOVE to hear about it!

Still looking for inspiration?  Then, check out The Cause Blog with their list of socially kind New Year’s resolutions.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!