Growing up, one of the things my parents did exceptionally well was to keep promises. It didn’t matter whether that promise was picking my sister and me up from school on time or taking us on a trip for spring vacation. Promise is a sacred word in my family. It is only offered when the person intends on following through.
Childhood Promises
The only time I can even remember a “broken” promise in my childhood occurred when I was 9-years-old, and my sister and I pleaded with my father to have a pond in our backyard. We moved from that home before the pond was built, but my dad exchanged the promise of a pond for a pool in our new house. I clearly remember Dad sitting us down and the three of us agreeing that the promise had been fulfilled.
Feels good to keep a promise!
What promises have you made to yourself and others?
I wrote down all the promises I haven’t kept to myself and to others last night. The list included 15 items. Some were as small as not sending an e-mail and others were as significant as not completing my book. When I don’t do all that I say I will, no matter how minor, it nags at me and prevents me from completely enjoying the present moment. This is largely the reason I articulate all I want to accomplish. In voicing my dreams, I am propelled to take action and held accountable by others.
What are you willing to promise?
- promise (n.)
- (as defined by etymology.com)
- c.1400, from L. promissum “a promise,” noun use of neuter pp. of promittere “send forth, foretell, promise,” from pro- “before” + mittere “to put, send” (see mission). Ground sense is “declaration made about the future, about some act to be done or not done.” The verb is attested from c.1420. Promised land (1538) is a ref. to the land of Canaan promised to Abraham and his progeny (Heb. xi.9, etc.; Gk. ten ges tes epangelias). Promising “showing signs of future excellence” is from 1601.
Hi~~I promise to keep my study until the graduate entrance examination ~
That’s great, Thomas! Go for it!
This is an excellent exercise,thanks for sharing. Much too often a “promise” has become synonymous with a white lie. I once had someone in my life who would turn everything I said into “you promised”, the fact was that I would say that I would try to do something and if in the end I could not or did not do it, she would exclaim that “You promised”. I am very careful with the word promise, like you I take promises very seriously. Everything a person said turned into a promise for this person and in the end created much angst for everyone.
Thanks for sharing, tobeme. It’s interesting how words can hold such power and sometimes be used to manipulate.
Ciao Jackie,
I liked this one. I also take the word and concept of “promise” very carefully. Often ppl or – even worse – dear friends give me a weird and puzzled look when I tell them I cannot promise “I would go visit them” or “I would send them the pictures” or anythig that people usually ask between friends. I prefer to say “I will do my best, but cannot promise”. It may sound silly, but I don’t like answering “yes” when I am not sure I can keep the promise to that deat person, so I prefer to disappoint them from the start by saying “not sure!”. Maybe this is a subtle way to NOT keep promise or be bound to it? I don’t know…sure, your post gave me material to think about.
I’m keeping eyes on my mailbox…un bacio!
I know what you mean, Lu. As a good friend of yours, I would always rather you tell me you’ll try instead of “promise” if you’re not sure. 😉
I really enjoyed this post. I promise to stop wasting so much time on Facebook games (guiltyguiltyguilty) and promise to start training for that 10k.
I like this.
I’m happy to hear how important promises are for other people! Thanks to all of you for commenting!
PROMISES…..An interesting concept to think about before we even make one of them to any soul on this Earth…….