‘Tis the season to find a quiet place amidst baking, decorating and out-of-town guests to do a little reflecting and planning. Yes, it’s time for New Year’s Resolutions.

                I’m proposing (for myself and anyone who wants to come along) a new type of resolution--not one that is based in deprivation and punishment like a fad diet, but a far simpler, smaller lifestyle change, rippling out to affect others and make the world better for everyone. Still with me? 

               There is a premise in crime prevention called “the broken window theory.” Simply stated, it says that if a broken window remains broken in a building on any street, more and more broken windows will follow. If, however, someone fixes the window within hours or days, fewer (if any) broken windows will appear over a longer period of time. Broken windows are signs of apathy in a neighborhood—the residents don’t care, have a perception of not being able to fight the vandals or have escaped by moving away.

               Here’s the thing: over the past couple of years I’ve noticed more and more “broken windows” in society that seem, in part, to stem from the widespread American policy of instant gratification. Discussing this with a friend of mine awhile back, he said, “We’ve moved beyond ‘Me First’ into the realm of ‘Me NOW.’” So true. Without reliving the whole look-out-for-number-one-I’m-worth-it philosophy of the 1980’s and ’90’s, let’s just acknowledge that general common courtesy these days leaves a lot to be desired.

               Just recently I’ve witnessed blatant disregards for said courtesy and even the law. Waiting in a parking lot one afternoon, I began counting cars running the stop sign next to me.  A solid one-third of them never even slowed down—for a STOP sign.

              An appalling incident involved two semi-trucks on I-70 who refused to pull over for a Barnesville ambulance, siren blaring and lights flashing, on its way to Wheeling. The ambulance was frantic, moving from left lane to right, trying to, obviously, save a person’s life. More than a mile later, once the trucks got up a hill and passed a slower vehicle, they moseyed over to allow the e-squad to move on. I was sick to my stomach after that display and wondered how the truckers would feel if they or one of their loved ones were fighting for life in the back of that ambulance.

             Cell phones in public are the bane of our existence. I try to walk away from these one-sided conversations and even left a store empty-handed one day, fed-up and unable to concentrate, encountering a cell conversation down every aisle. I was also recently unfortunate enough to be seated in a restaurant booth behind a woman describing the grisly details of her mother’s medical procedure. Oddly enough, I’m someone who does not want my personal business to become public knowledge, nor do I have any interest in your banking activity, grocery list, court case or child’s homework.   

             To me these are broken windows, signs of apathy for our “neighbors.” Society has let little things that used to be considered disrespectful slide until they are mainstream, and the world is a bit shabbier for it. A series of insurance commercials and an episode of “Cougar Town” illustrate how performing one small good deed spreads to several people beyond. In “Cougar Town” the effect also reverses when someone does something spiteful that ripples in a bad way.

             Back to my New Year’s Resolution. At the risk of sounding like Pollyanna or John Lennon, let’s imagine that each of us resolves to “fix” just one of our broken windows in 2012. Letting voice mail pick up while shopping or dining out, taking used books or magazines to hospitals or nursing homes, driving the speed limit, recycling--these are all do-able things and, let’s face it, are what we should be doing anyway. Given that ripple effect, what would fixing simply one window each do to clean up our global neighborhood? Imagine, then do. More common courtesy, less chaos and noise. Goodwill toward men, peace on earth.  And a happier, safer new year to all.  

             Valenti can be reached at gvalenti@timesleaderonline.com.