I shared this idea with my Sacred Circle group and private clients. As you think about New Year’s resolutions, consider this…

As the year comes to a close and we begin to look ahead to next year, I wanted to share a story. This story was originally told by Sai Baba when he gave a series of discourses to help people interpret and practice the lessons of the Bhagavad Gita. These discourses have now been translated into two books: Bhagavad Gita Part I and Bhagavad Gita Part II. This story was taken from Part II.

Once, there was a family in a village. They were very poor. There was a daughter in the family. The poor parents wanted to get their daughter educated, but there were no educational institutions in that remote village. Therefore, they had to send her to the neighboring village for education.

In between her village and the neighboring one, there was a small forest. However, village people were accustomed to go through small forests. For them, it was a daily routine. That girl used to go to the neighboring village for study and return in the evening daily.

In those days people were of charitable disposition. Some virtuous people built a small choultry (resting place for visitors) on this route in the forest. One day, while going to school, this girl saw a sickly person lying in a miserable condition in the choultry. He was not in a position to go by walk to either the village on this side or that. Therefore, he could not get the help of anybody and his body was sinking day-by-day due to lack of food and water.

The girl noticed his condition. From that day onwards, she made it a point to carry some food and water to him daily in a tiffin carrier and a water bottle while going to the school and pick up the empty containers while returning. This routine went on for a few days and the man could recover and pick up some energy.

One day, while the girl was returning from school, he caught hold of her hands and asked her in a pitiable voice “My dear Child! You have provided food and water all these days and saved my life. Where from could you procure this? Did your parents know about it? Or, did you steal them from somewhere for my sake? Or, are you bringing your share of food to me, while starving yourself? Please tell me the truth.”

The girl replied, “Sir! The habit of stealing is not there in me. Nor am I bringing you food, hoodwinking my parents. Whatever food I am bringing to you daily, is with the full knowledge of my parents. Ours is a poor family. In fact, we have no means to feed an outsider. Still, I am bringing food to you, with whatever little amount I am able to earn daily with my sweat and toil.”

Surprised at the little girl’s confident reply, the man questioned her further: “you are a little girl still attending the school. How could you earn money?”

The girl replied: “there is a tree which yields “Regu” fruits. On my way to school, I collect the fruits fallen on the ground and sell them to little children for a few coins. With that amount so earned, I purchase and bring food for you. Neither I trouble my parents nor I steal food from somewhere. It is all my hard-earned money.”

The patient was very much pleased with the sacrifice, tact and compassion of that little girl. Hence, he enquired from her again as to how could she develop this charitable disposition at such a tender age. She replied: “this is taught by my parents right from childhood. They taught me that ours was a poor family and that we should give charity to the extent possible, whenever we came across somebody who is in poorer and miserable condition than ours. I am able to live up to their teaching today.” So saying, she left for her home.

This story really touched me. I thought about this little girl and if I would have the same compassion she did to help another. It came to my mind again as I drove by a local street median where a homeless man stood with a sign, “Any help appreciated!”

Would I be willing to visit him every day and bring food and water until he gets back on his feet? Would I be willing to do this even if my family and I barely had enough food to eat?

This is a time of year when you hear a lot about New Year resolutions and what you WANT in 2012. My challenge to you as we begin a New Year is not to focus on some material object you want, but rather pick a virtue to embody this next year.

Maybe it is compassion like this little girl. Maybe it’s patience, forbearance, courage, tolerance, forgiveness, faith or gratitude. Whatever it is, pick one and then continue to focus on it throughout the year.

See the word written in various places. Notice when people speak the word. Use the word in conversation. And, most importantly, embody the word. Become it. When you become the virtuous quality, you help yourself grow in ways far beyond getting something you want.

Think of what you wanted 10 years ago. Did you get it? Did that satisfy you? But, if you worked on patience or forgiveness, think of how that has helped you now.

It’s not wrong to have a goal of writing a book, growing a business or eating healthier. However, focus on the virtuous quality needed to bring it about. By doing so, you not only gain the business growth or good health, etc., but also a quality that will help you in all aspects of your life.

Much love to you as you close out 2011! =)

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