For the past several weeks, we have had multiple people scheduled for the podcast, and here we are three weeks straight we have had to cancel or reschedule.  Yeah, I know we are not a huge deal.  We are not even in the top 1000 podcasts I am sure, but still we like to do it, put a lot of time into it, prepare well and put out a good podcast (at least I think).  I work pretty hard at getting on social media and getting interesting people to come on so that it will be something that people want to listen to.  I don’t have a podcast just to hear myself talk.

I understand that things come up, life gets in the way, sickness or whatever happens.  Every single day one thing or another comes up that we do not expect that change they way that we expect our day to go.  Accidents happen.  Kids do whatever they do to screw up whatever plans you have made.  Sickness seems to be everywhere and running rampant.  Work always gets in the way and seems to never go away.  It is life.  We should be used to it.  We should be used to the change, the variety, the unknown, the craziness, yet I still feel as if I should have some form of expectation of commitment.

Should I feel this way?  Am I the same way?  I try not to be and if I am even to the smallest degree, I need to self-reflect and make a change.  My daughter just asked me last week if I would be available to go look at a new car with her.  My response is always the same…” maybe.”  “Dad!”  She hates that.  I understand, but I also have always been taught that it is better to never make a vow than to make one and break it.  Is there a difference between a commitment, an oath and a vow?  I don’t know but if you are giving your word, your word should mean something.

Is that something that is out the door today?  Your word actually carrying some weight, where people can depend on you?  Or is it more common and acceptable for everyone to break commitments, and everyone just understands that is the way it is now?  I really hope not.  I hope people still put value in their word, value in their commitments and make it a priority to keep their word, once they have given it.  To me, it is attributed to character and whether a person can be trusted or not.  To not be trusted is one of the worst attributes that anyone can have.  I never want to be known as this or described as this.

I have lately been very non-committal.  I know things come up.  I know life happens.  I never want to disappoint anyone with making promises and then not being able to keep my end of the deal, but I am the one who needs to change.  You make time for the things you love and care for, so if you care enough about someone or some thing to make a formal commitment or give your word, you need to do whatever it takes to keep that.  A man is only as good as his word.  When I was growing up, a handshake was all you needed to know that someone would keep their word.  My, how times have changed.

What can we do to change times back to the way they were?  What can I do?  Eleanor Roosevelt was known as a lady who always worked hard to keep her word.  When things in Washington went a rye, she would always ask what she could do (herself) to make a change instead of blaming everyone else.  It was always an inward focus instead of outward.  What can I do to be a better person?  I may not ever be able to convince everyone else that this is a big deal, but I know it is to me.  If I want to create change, I must start with a change in ME.