Commitment

Commitment.
That's a huge word in many different ways. We attach so much meaning to words or just create what we think they mean in our head. One is one person's commitment is merely a guideline or a suggestion to another person. What we feel is so huge in the word 'commitment', some people just don't see or understand. We can commit to dinner plans. We can commit to a philosophical or spiritual truth. We can commit to a dogma or an ideal. We can commit to boycotting a company because of their funding or non-funding of an event or something we find reprehensible. We can commit to a shoe brand, a musician or type of music, a laundry detergent, a company, a country, a religion, a god, or even another person. We can commit to being charitable, spiritual, open minded, even handed, globally aware, believing in sustainability, or being green. We can simply commit to being on time for a change.

We pledge commitment to many issues, from personal growth to financial success, from happily ever after to happy never to see you again. Every day conscious commitments spin our interactions throughout the day. From whom we choose to be personal/ intimate with to where we'll eat lunch and with whom. We decide everything based upon our relationships and commitments we have with the world around us. From the toilet paper we use to the people we vote for, all of these daily and seemingly random decisions are based upon a conscious commitment. But how much of our lives are also controlled or even ruled by our unconscious commitments? How much of our daily routine revolves around commitments we've made that we aren't even aware of? And how many of these commitments, if brought to our attention, would we deny?

If you're in a meeting do you dread being asked your opinion? Is it because you self-sabotage yourself by thinking no one wants to hear what you think, or is it because you're afraid to look like a fool? Do you avoid committing yourself socially? Is it because you're shy or because you don't really want to be around the people involved in the activity? Do you dread going to a party, a club, or a bar? Is it again because you're shy or are you already presupposing that you won't have a good time, meet someone, or find it worthwhile? Do you go back on your word so often that people stop asking you to participate either in work or social situations? Do you start an disagreement with a co-worker, friend, or family member so you have an excuse not to attend or participate in an event or function, or even a discussion?

It's one thing to consciously make choices, but we sell ourselves short by relying on the unconscious ones. When you sit back and look at the 1000's of things we do on a daily basis, how many are done by rote and how many do you actually pay attention to? I'm not talking about things like breathing or walking, but things like participation, who we talk to & who we don't, taking advantage of opportunities or letting them slide by, being bullied or standing up for yourself, letting yourself be happy or just letting things be? Why are we so determined to shop at the 'right' stores, buy local & organic, drive the 'right' car, vote the 'right' way, associate with the 'right' people, and live in the 'right' area but not to spend that same kind of energy in finding out what is 'right' within ourselves. And if we don't think it's right, why can't we be honest enough or committed enough to own up to it and make the 'right' change for ourselves.

I'll make a commitment to you gentle readers, along with an apology.
I re-started this blog in order to write again. Put my words and feeling out into the ether in order to heal and to grow. But I forgot the basic tenent & rule of blogging . . . You Have To Write Every Day! You Have To Give The Reader A Reason To Come Back And Read Your Blog! So I apologize dear readers for not being consistent, no matter what excuses I can try and justify there is no reason I should not live up to our unspoken agreement. "If I write . . . They will read." I am, therefore, committing to putting text to blog on a daily basis. I ask one thing in return from you out in the blog-o-sphere, interact with me! Give me feedback, ask me questions, tell me what you want from me, and I promise to read and interact back with you.
Until tomorrow!