This Could Change the World
When I was nine years old, I told my mother that she was denying me my constitutional rights. I had learned in school that the United States Constitution (I have since been corrected... The Declaration of Independence...) grants all American citizens the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I thought I was being denied happiness because she didn't do what she told me she was going to do. I thought it was a good argument. But, I have always been a little over the top – even at age nine.
However, if the truth were known, the circumstances that prompted that patriotic proclamation of my denial of rights still affect me. Not the specific instance. Rather, the general instance, which is not following through on a promise.
For my whole entire life I have had one simple expectation from other people – do what you say you're going to do, when you say you're going to do it.
Is that so hard of a principle to master? Is it so difficult to just do what you've committed yourself to? Is it that impossible to fulfill through action the promise made with words?
Imagine the worldwide impact it would have if every single person in the world made this one specific alteration to his or her lifestyle. All they have to do is what they say they're going to do. It wouldn't cost anything, but the payoff would be huge. And the only investment it would require would be consideration of word choice.
If we all simply did what we said we were going to do, there would be no more disappointed children. No more fake politicians. No more broken marriages.
I have never understood what is so hard about fulfilling commitments or keeping promises. If you cannot fulfill the obligations, then don't commit to them. If you can't promise the outcome, then don't say, "I promise." (I will try. I will attempt. I will see what I can do. Those are all substitutions for the word ‘promise’ that, at least, acknowledge that your plans could change.)
Yes, if people would just do what they say they're going to do, it would change the world. And I would be constitutionally happy.
However, if the truth were known, the circumstances that prompted that patriotic proclamation of my denial of rights still affect me. Not the specific instance. Rather, the general instance, which is not following through on a promise.
For my whole entire life I have had one simple expectation from other people – do what you say you're going to do, when you say you're going to do it.
Is that so hard of a principle to master? Is it so difficult to just do what you've committed yourself to? Is it that impossible to fulfill through action the promise made with words?
Imagine the worldwide impact it would have if every single person in the world made this one specific alteration to his or her lifestyle. All they have to do is what they say they're going to do. It wouldn't cost anything, but the payoff would be huge. And the only investment it would require would be consideration of word choice.
If we all simply did what we said we were going to do, there would be no more disappointed children. No more fake politicians. No more broken marriages.
I have never understood what is so hard about fulfilling commitments or keeping promises. If you cannot fulfill the obligations, then don't commit to them. If you can't promise the outcome, then don't say, "I promise." (I will try. I will attempt. I will see what I can do. Those are all substitutions for the word ‘promise’ that, at least, acknowledge that your plans could change.)
Yes, if people would just do what they say they're going to do, it would change the world. And I would be constitutionally happy.
posted by kassi at 7:41 AM
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