HEADS UP, THIS IS A RANT POST.
Robert Frost said,
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
Well, at least SOMEONE knows how to keep their promises.
Let's be PERFECTLY clear on what it means to make a promise.
It is an OATH. It is an Unbreakable Vow. It is a 'cross my heart and hope to die' pact made which gains the trust of the other person.
And it is a universal rule that unless there is no other choice, you do NOT. Break. Promises!
And I for one think that promises should be kept. Promises should be made your TOP PRIORITY.
This includes promises you've made to your friends, your enemies, your teachers, colleagues, just random people you know, children, adults, and yourself!
And today we live in a world full of 'white lies' and fake promises. People are using the term "Don't worry, I'll do it. I promise." WAY TOO OFTEN. It's being flung and thrown around like it's nothing, like it doesn't mean anything.
Well I have something to say about that.
If you can't keep a promise, don't make it! Because chances are the other person is counting on you to do what you must and hold up your end of the rope. I don't care if you just said to make that person feel better or to get them off your back. No, you make a promise, you stick to it!
"I'll get you a present later, I promise."
"I'll finish up the project, I promise."
"I'll buy you the biggest chocolate there is if you behave. I promise."
"I'll stay here. I'll never leave. I promise!"
"I won't tell anyone. I'll keep it a secret, I promise."
"I'll keep in touch, I promise!"
REALLY, NOW? Are you REALLY gonna go find the biggest chocolate there is and buy it? White lies.
You'd BETTER keep that a secret! Zip those lips!
You promised you'd stay. Don't you DARE walk out and just leave!
How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of these promises? Just think for a moment about all the times you were let down. Maybe if you started keeping your promises to other people, they would begin keeping their promises to you? Whether they do or not, if you can't do it don't say the words 'I promise'!
"I'm going to study really hard for this test!"
"Just five minutes of TV and then I'm going to go do something more productive."
"I'm quitting all my bad habits. Starting today! It's time I turn over a new leaf!"
"I'm going to hit the gym and lose all this unnecessary flab."
"No more junk food."
"I'm finally going to keep my new years resolutions."
"This is the last chance I'm going to give that person. Final chance. No more."
"I'm not going to care what other people think anymore. I'm just going to be me and keep moving forward."
"I'm going to spend more time doing this now."
The list is endless...
Promises to yourself are probably the most important, and most underrated kind of promise... Promises made to yourself are just taken for granted, aren't they? Even if the whole world is letting you down, the least you can do is not betray yourself. Right?! If you betray yourself, if you can't even trust yourself, then what sort of life are you living?
Trust me when I say you'll feel a lot better knowing you at least keep promises you make to yourself.
So do yourself a favor and keep the promises you make to yourself.
Don't break a promise unless you absolutely CAN'T do it, and you have no other choice. If you're sure you won't be able to keep it, don't do it. But once you make a promise, be it to someone else or to yourself, DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP IT.
Robert Frost said,
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
Well, at least SOMEONE knows how to keep their promises.
Let's be PERFECTLY clear on what it means to make a promise.
It is an OATH. It is an Unbreakable Vow. It is a 'cross my heart and hope to die' pact made which gains the trust of the other person.
And it is a universal rule that unless there is no other choice, you do NOT. Break. Promises!
And I for one think that promises should be kept. Promises should be made your TOP PRIORITY.
This includes promises you've made to your friends, your enemies, your teachers, colleagues, just random people you know, children, adults, and yourself!
And today we live in a world full of 'white lies' and fake promises. People are using the term "Don't worry, I'll do it. I promise." WAY TOO OFTEN. It's being flung and thrown around like it's nothing, like it doesn't mean anything.
Well I have something to say about that.
If you can't keep a promise, don't make it! Because chances are the other person is counting on you to do what you must and hold up your end of the rope. I don't care if you just said to make that person feel better or to get them off your back. No, you make a promise, you stick to it!
Promises to other people:
"I'll get you a present later, I promise."
"I'll finish up the project, I promise."
"I'll buy you the biggest chocolate there is if you behave. I promise."
"I'll stay here. I'll never leave. I promise!"
"I won't tell anyone. I'll keep it a secret, I promise."
"I'll keep in touch, I promise!"
REALLY, NOW? Are you REALLY gonna go find the biggest chocolate there is and buy it? White lies.
You'd BETTER keep that a secret! Zip those lips!
You promised you'd stay. Don't you DARE walk out and just leave!
How would you feel if you were on the receiving end of these promises? Just think for a moment about all the times you were let down. Maybe if you started keeping your promises to other people, they would begin keeping their promises to you? Whether they do or not, if you can't do it don't say the words 'I promise'!
Promises to yourself:
"I'm going to study really hard for this test!"
"Just five minutes of TV and then I'm going to go do something more productive."
"I'm quitting all my bad habits. Starting today! It's time I turn over a new leaf!"
"I'm going to hit the gym and lose all this unnecessary flab."
"No more junk food."
"I'm finally going to keep my new years resolutions."
"This is the last chance I'm going to give that person. Final chance. No more."
"I'm not going to care what other people think anymore. I'm just going to be me and keep moving forward."
"I'm going to spend more time doing this now."
The list is endless...
Promises to yourself are probably the most important, and most underrated kind of promise... Promises made to yourself are just taken for granted, aren't they? Even if the whole world is letting you down, the least you can do is not betray yourself. Right?! If you betray yourself, if you can't even trust yourself, then what sort of life are you living?
Trust me when I say you'll feel a lot better knowing you at least keep promises you make to yourself.
So do yourself a favor and keep the promises you make to yourself.
Don't break a promise unless you absolutely CAN'T do it, and you have no other choice. If you're sure you won't be able to keep it, don't do it. But once you make a promise, be it to someone else or to yourself, DO EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER TO KEEP IT.
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